Chapter 7 - Blood spread across Adrian's shirt.Claire's hands shook.

“Adrian!”

He tried to stand.

“I'm fine.”

“You've been shot!”

“Grazed.”

Marcus fired toward the van.

It disappeared into traffic.

Claire pressed both hands against Adrian's shoulder.

“You're bleeding.”

“It missed the artery.”

“How do you know?”

“I've been shot before.”

“That isn't reassuring!”

Despite the pain, the corner of his mouth lifted.

“There she is.”

“What?”

“The woman who argues with me.”

Claire stared at him.

“This is not funny.”

“No.”

His expression softened.

“But you're here.”

She stopped.

He was looking at her.

Not the wound.

Her.

Marcus interrupted.

“We need to leave.”

They returned to the estate.

A doctor treated Adrian.

The bullet had grazed his shoulder.

Nothing more.

Claire sat outside the medical room.

She should have left.

Instead she stayed.

Again.

When Adrian emerged, his shirt was changed.

He looked exhausted.

Claire stood.

“You need rest.”

He raised an eyebrow.

“That sounded familiar.”

She didn't smile.

“I'm still angry.”

“I know.”

“You lied.”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

Adrian looked at her.

“Because the moment you know too much, you become a target.”

“I already am.”

His eyes lowered.

“You're right.”

Claire crossed her arms.

“You don't get to decide what truths I can survive.”

He nodded.

“That is fair.”

Silence.

Then Adrian said:

“Rebecca didn't trust anyone.”

“Except my father.”

“She trusted him because he saved her life once.”

Claire frowned.

“When?”

“After Lily was born.”

Adrian sat down.

His voice became quieter.

“Rebecca had postpartum complications. The hospital nearly lost her.”

“My father treated her.”

“Yes.”

Claire stared into the distance.

“And afterward?”

“Rebecca began investigating something.”

“What?”

“Mercer Holdings.”

Claire's brows furrowed.

“Your own company?”

Adrian nodded.

“She discovered accounts that shouldn't have existed.”

“Money laundering?”

“Worse.”

He looked at her.

“Human trafficking.”

Claire felt sick.

Adrian continued.

“A subsidiary had been moving women through private ports.”

“Your company?”

“Not officially.”

“But someone inside was doing it.”

“Yes.”

“Who?”

“Rebecca believed it was someone I trusted.”

Claire whispered:

“Marcus?”

Adrian's eyes sharpened.

“No.”

“Then who?”

“I don't know.”

A knock sounded.

Marcus entered.

“We found something.”

Adrian stood.

“What?”

Marcus placed a file on the table.

“Security footage from the clinic.”

He pressed play.

The grainy video showed Rebecca entering the clinic.

Claire stared.

The date was six days before Rebecca's death.

Rebecca walked into the building.

Then a second figure followed her.

Tall.

Male.

Claire couldn't see his face.

But Rebecca turned.

She smiled.

She knew him.

The timestamp changed.

The man removed his coat.

A ring flashed beneath the light.

Claire froze.

She knew that ring.

She had seen it at the Mercer estate.

On the hand of the man who had held Lily's birthday party last month.

Adrian whispered:

“That's impossible.”

Claire looked at him.

“Who is he?”

Adrian didn't answer.

Marcus did.

“Sebastian Mercer.”

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