Chapter 5 — The Man Who Knew

Lena couldn't move.

The stranger's final words kept repeating inside her head.

I'm the reason you never found her.

She looked at Adrian, waiting for him to say something.

But he didn't.

He stood completely still, his eyes fixed on the phone in her hand.

“Adrian?”

Nothing.

“Adrian!”

He finally looked at her.

“Did he say he was there when I was born?”

“Yes.”

Adrian's jaw tightened.

“Then he knows more than we do.”

Lena's hands began to shake.

“My mother is with him.”

“We don't know that.”

“He answered her phone.”

“That doesn't mean she's with him.”

“But he said she couldn't talk.”

Adrian walked toward her.

“Listen to me. Panicking won't help.”

“My mother could be in danger!”

“I know.”

“Then do something!”

The anger in her voice echoed through the office.

Adrian didn't react.

Instead, he reached for his phone.

“Daniel.”

He made the call.

“Trace the number that contacted Lena. I want the location immediately.”

A pause.

“No. I don't care how difficult it is. Find it.”

He ended the call.

Lena watched him.

“You're going to help me find her?”

Adrian looked at her.

“Yes.”

“Why?”

His expression softened for a fraction of a second.

“Because she's your mother.”

Lena swallowed.

“And?”

He looked away.

“And because I owe her the truth.”

Before Lena could ask what he meant, Daniel rushed into the office.

“Sir.”

Adrian turned.

“What did you find?”

Daniel handed him a tablet.

“The number was routed through several private servers. We're having trouble tracing the original location.”

“Can you identify the owner?”

Daniel hesitated.

“We found a name.”

Adrian's eyes narrowed.

“Who?”

“Victor Hale.”

Lena frowned.

“I don't know him.”

Adrian's face changed.

He knew the name.

“Neither do I,” Daniel said. “But the name appears in several old Blackwood records.”

“What kind of records?” Lena asked.

Daniel looked at Adrian before answering.

“Security contracts.”

Adrian took the tablet.

Victor Hale had worked for Blackwood Enterprises twenty years ago.

Not as an employee.

As private security.

Lena looked at Adrian.

“He knew my parents.”

Adrian nodded slowly.

“He was assigned to protect my family.”

“Then why would he take my mother?”

“I don't know.”

“Maybe he knows who betrayed you.”

Adrian stared at the screen.

“Maybe.”

Lena stepped closer.

“Then we find him.”

“You're not coming.”

“Yes, I am.”

“No.”

“You're looking for my mother.”

“And that's exactly why you're staying here.”

“I won't sit in this office while someone has her.”

Adrian's voice hardened.

“Lena, this isn't a game.”

“I know!”

Her eyes filled with tears.

“My mother is the only family I have left.”

Adrian went silent.

Lena wiped her cheek quickly.

“I don't care how dangerous it is. I'm going.”

Adrian studied her.

Then he sighed.

“You're stubborn.”

“You noticed?”

For the first time, a faint smile appeared on his face.

It disappeared almost immediately.

“Stay beside me.”

Lena nodded.

Daniel looked uncomfortable.

“Sir, there's another problem.”

“What?”

“Victor Hale disappeared eight years ago.”

Adrian's expression darkened.

“Where?”

“No one knows.”

“Then how did he contact Lena?”

Daniel looked at the tablet.

“That's what doesn't make sense.”

A notification suddenly appeared.

Daniel's eyes widened.

“Sir.”

“What?”

“The number is active again.”

Adrian took the tablet.

A location appeared.

Lena moved closer.

It was an abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of the city.

“That's where he is,” she whispered.

Adrian immediately grabbed his coat.

“Daniel, get the car.”

Lena followed.

“I'm coming.”

“I know.”

They hurried through the hallway.

As they entered the elevator, Lena noticed Adrian staring at her.

“What?”

He didn't answer.

“What are you looking at?”

“Your face.”

She frowned.

“Why?”

“Because every time I look at you…”

He stopped.

“Every time you look at me what?”

Adrian's eyes shifted away.

“You look like her.”

Lena's heart skipped.

“My mother?”

“Yes.”

The elevator doors opened.

They stepped into the lobby.

But before they could reach the exit, Adrian's phone rang.

He answered.

“Blackwood.”

A man's voice spoke.

Adrian's expression immediately changed.

Lena watched the color drain from his face.

“What did you do to her?”

There was a pause.

Then Adrian's hand tightened around the phone.

“Don't touch her.”

Lena moved closer.

“Who is it?”

Adrian didn't answer.

The man's voice came through the phone loudly enough for Lena to hear.

“You want your woman back?”

Adrian froze.

Lena's heart stopped.

Your woman.

Not her mother.

Not Lena.

Her.

The stranger continued.

“Come alone, Adrian.”

The call ended.

Lena stared at him.

“Why did he call me your woman?”

Adrian looked at her.

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

Then his phone vibrated again.

A photograph had arrived.

Lena looked at the screen.

It showed her mother tied to a chair.

And beside her stood Victor Hale.

But written across the bottom of the photograph was a message that made Lena's blood run cold.

Come alone, Adrian. If you bring Lena, her mother dies.