Chapter 4 — The First Dinner

Three days after our wedding, Adrian told me we were attending dinner.

I nearly dropped my coffee.

"Dinner?"

"Yes."

"With who?"

"The Moretti family."

I stared at him.

"Absolutely not."

He continued reading something on his tablet.

"You'll come."

"You don't get to order me around."

"I do according to the contract."

I frowned.

"I hate that contract."

"So do I."

That surprised me.

I looked at him.

He finally looked up.

"Then why did you make it?"

"Because I needed you."

The words were simple.

But they stayed with me all day.

That evening, I wore a dark red dress.

When I entered the living room, Adrian was waiting.

His gaze immediately found me.

He didn't speak.

"Is the dress okay?"

"It's fine."

"Fine?"

He stood.

"It's beautiful."

I blinked.

"Thank you."

He offered his arm.

I took it.

Our fingers brushed.

Neither of us moved away.

The Moretti mansion was even larger than Adrian's.

But it felt different.

Adrian's home was cold.

Moretti's was elegant.

Too elegant.

Like something was being hidden beneath the beauty.

We entered the dining room.

Dante Moretti smiled.

"Adrian."

"Moretti."

His eyes moved to me.

"Mrs. De Luca."

I smiled politely.

"Mr. Moretti."

"Please. Dante."

Adrian's hand tightened around mine.

Dante noticed.

His smile widened.

"How sweet."

Dinner began.

I barely touched my food.

Everyone spoke in coded language.

Business.

Ports.

Shipments.

Territories.

I understood almost nothing.

Then Dante leaned toward me.

"How did you meet Adrian?"

I froze.

Adrian answered before I could.

"Through mutual acquaintances."

Dante smiled.

"Really?"

I looked at Adrian.

He gave me a warning glance.

"Yes," I said.

Dante's eyes narrowed.

"Interesting."

A woman sitting beside him suddenly spoke.

"Where is Isabella?"

The entire table went silent.

My heart stopped.

Adrian's expression became dangerous.

Dante looked amused.

"I was simply wondering."

"Don't," Adrian said.

The woman smiled.

"Why? Your wife should know who Isabella was."

I looked at Adrian.

He didn't look at me.

Dante raised his glass.

"Isabella was supposed to be Mrs. De Luca."

My stomach twisted.

"Enough."

Adrian stood.

The room went silent.

Dante smiled.

"Touchy."

Adrian looked at me.

"We're leaving."

We stood.

As we walked toward the door, Dante called after us.

"Adrian."

He stopped.

Dante's voice became serious.

"You can't hide her forever."

Adrian slowly turned.

"Watch me."

The moment we reached the car, I pulled my hand away.

"You lied."

Adrian stared at me.

"About what?"

"How we met."

"You already knew it was a lie."

"Not like that."

He sighed.

"What do you want to know?"

"Everything."

He looked out the window.

"Isabella was supposed to marry me."

"I know."

"She was part of an alliance between two families."

"And she disappeared."

"Yes."

"Who took her?"

"We don't know."

"Do you love her?"

"No."

Again, that immediate answer.

I studied his face.

"Then why do you look like you're grieving?"

His eyes met mine.

"Because her disappearance is my fault."

I froze.

"What?"

Before he could explain, the car suddenly stopped.

The driver looked through the rearview mirror.

"Boss."

Adrian's hand immediately went to his gun.

"What?"

"There's a car following us."

I looked behind us.

A black SUV.

It was getting closer.

Adrian grabbed my hand.

"Get down."

"What?"

"Elena, now!"

The SUV accelerated.

A gunshot cracked through the night.

The rear windshield shattered.

I screamed.

Adrian pulled me against him as more bullets struck the car.

His body covered mine.

"Stay down!"

The driver sped away.

Another shot.

Then another.

Finally, the SUV disappeared around a corner.

Silence.

I lifted my head.

Adrian was still holding me.

His face was inches from mine.

His breathing was heavy.

"Are you okay?"

I nodded.

"Yes."

His hand moved to my cheek.

He checked me for injuries.

His fingers were surprisingly gentle.

Then his eyes darkened.

He looked toward the broken window.

"Someone knew we'd be there."

I swallowed.

"How?"

He stared at me.

"Because someone inside my organization is giving them information."

I felt cold.

"Someone betrayed you?"

"Yes."

He looked at me.

"And until I find out who..."

His fingers tightened around mine.

"...I can't trust anyone."

A pause.

"Not even you."

I stared at him.

For some reason, those four words hurt more than they should have.

And neither of us noticed the small black phone lying beneath the back seat.

A phone that had been secretly recording our entire conversation.