Chapter 19 — The Person Behind the Messages

Lena's hands shook as she pressed them against Adrian's wound.

“Adrian, you're bleeding.”

“I noticed.”

“This isn't funny.”

“I wasn't joking.”

He tried to stand, but his face tightened with pain.

Lena caught his arm.

“Don't move.”

“We can't stay here.”

“I know.”

The voices behind them were getting closer.

“Search the trees!”

“They have to be nearby!”

Lena looked around desperately.

There was nowhere to hide.

Then she noticed a faint light between the trees.

A small cabin.

“Adrian, over there.”

He followed her gaze.

“Can you make it?”

“I don't have much choice.”

She slipped his arm over her shoulder, and together they moved toward the cabin.

Every step seemed to hurt him more.

By the time they reached the door, Adrian was barely putting weight on his injured side.

Lena pushed the door open.

The cabin was empty.

Old furniture covered in sheets filled the room, and dust floated through the moonlight coming from the windows.

Adrian leaned against the wall.

“Lock it.”

Lena shut the door and pushed the old wooden bolt into place.

For a few seconds, neither spoke.

Then Adrian slowly slid down the wall.

Lena dropped beside him.

“Let me see.”

“Lena—”

“Just let me help you.”

He finally lifted his shirt.

The bullet had torn through the side of his abdomen, but it hadn't gone in deep.

Lena released a shaky breath.

“It missed the worst of it.”

“Told you.”

“You're still an idiot.”

A faint smile touched his lips.

“You were worried.”

“Of course I was worried.”

The smile disappeared.

Adrian looked at her.

“Why?”

Lena stared at him.

“What do you mean?”

“Why are you so worried about me?”

Her heart beat faster.

“Because you're hurt.”

“That isn't what I asked.”

She looked away.

“I don't know.”

Adrian reached for her hand.

“You do.”

Lena met his eyes.

“I thought I was going to lose you.”

His fingers tightened around hers.

“You won't.”

“You can't promise that.”

“No.”

His voice softened.

“But I can promise I'll try.”

Lena swallowed.

For a moment, the danger outside seemed far away.

Then her phone vibrated.

They both looked down.

Another unknown message.

YOU'RE SAFE FOR NOW.

Lena's stomach tightened.

A second message appeared.

BUT ADRIAN ISN'T.

She showed him.

Adrian's expression immediately changed.

“Turn the phone off.”

“Why?”

“Because they may be tracking it.”

Lena switched it off.

Silence returned.

Then Adrian looked at her.

“There's something we need to talk about.”

“What?”

“The photograph.”

Lena knew exactly which one.

“The baby.”

He nodded.

“I lied earlier.”

Her heart sank.

“About what?”

“I have seen another copy.”

“Where?”

“In my father's study.”

“When?”

“Years ago.”

Lena stared at him.

“What did it show?”

“A baby. My mother. Your mother. And Michael.”

“Was I the baby?”

“I don't know.”

“But the message said the baby wasn't me.”

“I know.”

“Then who was it?”

Adrian shook his head.

“That's what we need to find out.”

Lena lowered her eyes.

“What if my entire life was built around a lie?”

Adrian moved closer.

“Then we'll find the truth.”

“We?”

“Yes.”

She looked at him.

“You still don't trust me?”

“I trust you more than anyone right now.”

Something warm moved through her chest.

“Even after everything?”

“Especially after everything.”

Before she could answer, they heard a car outside.

Lena immediately stood.

Adrian reached for the weapon he'd taken from one of the men earlier.

The headlights stopped directly in front of the cabin.

Lena held her breath.

A door opened.

Footsteps approached.

Then someone knocked.

Three slow knocks.

Adrian motioned for her to stay behind him.

Another knock.

“Adrian.”

Lena froze.

She knew that voice.

It was Daniel.

Adrian opened the door only slightly.

Daniel stepped inside, breathing heavily.

“Are you both okay?”

Lena rushed toward him.

“Dad, how did you find us?”

“I tracked Adrian's phone.”

Adrian looked at Lena.

“I told you.”

Daniel's eyes immediately went to Adrian's wound.

“What happened?”

“We were followed.”

Daniel's expression darkened.

“By whom?”

“We don't know.”

Daniel closed the door.

“There is something you need to know.”

Lena stared at him.

“What?”

Daniel reached into his jacket and pulled out a small envelope.

He handed it to Lena.

“I found this in your mother's house.”

Lena looked at the black triangle printed on the front.

Her blood ran cold.

“What's inside?”

Daniel looked at Adrian.

“Something your mother hid for twenty-four years.”

Lena opened the envelope.

Inside was a handwritten letter.

She recognized her mother's handwriting immediately.

Her eyes moved across the first line.

Lena, if you're reading this, then they finally found you.

Her breath caught.

She kept reading.

There is something I never told you about the night you were born.

Lena's hands began to tremble.

Then she reached the final sentence.

The baby they were searching for wasn't you. You were the child I chose to save.