Chapter 2 - THE MAN BEHIND THE GLASS
The first thing Emily noticed was that Adrian Blackwell never raised his voice.
Not when he ordered six armed men to search the hotel.
Not when his security chief told him Daniel Reed had vanished through the service entrance.
Not even when a black SUV pulled away from the curb outside and Adrian watched it disappear into the rain.
He simply stood there.
Silent.
Still.
Dangerous.
Emily sat in a private medical room on the second floor while a nurse cleaned the cut on her hand.
“It’s barely anything,” Emily said.
The nurse smiled politely. “That’s what everyone says before they faint.”
“I’m not going to faint.”
From the corner of the room, Adrian looked at her.
“You said that about the bleeding.”
Emily glared at him.
He looked away.
The nurse finished bandaging her palm and left.
The moment the door closed, Emily stood.
Adrian did not move.
“Where are you going?”
“Home.”
“No.”
Emily stared at him.
“No?”
“You’re not going home.”
“You don’t get to decide that.”
“No,” Adrian said. “But I can advise you.”
“I don’t need your advice.”
“Your ex knows where you work.”
Emily froze.
Adrian continued.
“He knows your name. He knows you were at my event. He knows you have information he wants.”
Emily's throat tightened.
“I can take care of myself.”
“Perhaps.”
“Perhaps?”
Adrian looked at her.
“Being brave and being safe are not the same thing.”
The words irritated her because they sounded reasonable.
“I have lived alone for three years.”
“And survived.”
“Yes.”
“Which is not the same as being safe.”
Emily turned away.
The room felt too small.
She had spent three years building a life where Daniel no longer existed.
A tiny apartment.
A quiet job.
A routine.
She had convinced herself that the past could only hurt her if she allowed it back in.
But Daniel had returned.
And Adrian Blackwell knew him.
Worse, Adrian claimed Daniel had once tried to kill him.
Emily looked over her shoulder.
“What happened three years ago?”
Adrian's face became unreadable.
“Not here.”
“Then where?”
“Somewhere secure.”
She laughed bitterly.
“Of course.”
His eyes narrowed.
“What does that mean?”
“It means men like you always say things like that.”
“Men like me?”
“Powerful men. Dangerous men. Men who expect people to follow them without asking questions.”
Adrian studied her.
“You think I expect you to follow me?”
“You told me I wasn’t going home.”
“I told you no.”
“Exactly.”
A strange silence settled between them.
Then Adrian smiled.
Not warmly.
But enough to surprise her.
“You’re difficult.”
“So I’ve been told.”
“By Daniel?”
“Among others.”
The smile disappeared.
Adrian looked at the bandage on her hand.
“Tell me what you know.”
Emily felt the old fear return.
She wrapped her arms around herself.
“I can’t.”
“Why?”
“Because I don’t know who I can trust.”
Adrian's expression hardened.
“Neither do I.”
For the first time, Emily realized something.
He was not asking because he wanted to control her.
He was asking because he was afraid.
Not for himself.
For the people around him.
That frightened her more than his reputation.
Adrian walked to the door.
“Come with me.”
Emily hesitated.
“Where?”
“My home.”
“No.”
“Then to a hotel.”
“No.”
“Your apartment?”
She said nothing.
Adrian's eyes sharpened.
“Exactly.”
Emily hated that he had noticed.
She had no idea whether Daniel knew her current address.
She had changed apartments twice since leaving him.
But Daniel had found her tonight.
That meant someone had helped him.
Adrian opened the door.
“You have ten minutes to decide.”
Emily frowned.
“Decide what?”
“Whether you want to remain in danger alone or temporarily remain in danger with people capable of protecting you.”
“That is a terrible sales pitch.”
“I’m not selling anything.”
“No. You’re threatening me.”
“No.”
Adrian looked at her.
“I’m telling you the truth.”
And somehow, that was worse.
Twenty minutes later, Emily sat inside Adrian Blackwell’s armored SUV.
Chicago slid past the tinted windows.
Rain blurred the city lights.
She kept her hands folded in her lap.
Adrian sat across from her.
Neither spoke.
Finally, Emily asked, “Did Daniel really try to kill you?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Money.”
“That simple?”
“No.”
“Then what?”
Adrian looked at the rain.
“Betrayal.”
The word was quiet.
But it carried weight.
Emily turned toward the window.
Three years ago, she had found a file hidden inside Daniel’s desk.
She had not understood everything in it.
But she had recognized one name.
Blackwell.
And beneath that name had been a photograph.
A photograph of Adrian.
She had taken a picture of the documents with her phone.
Daniel had caught her.
That was the night everything changed.
Emily closed her eyes.
Adrian noticed.
“What are you remembering?”
She opened them.
“Nothing.”
“Another lie.”
She looked at him.
“Do you always do that?”
“Do what?”
“Act like you know when people are lying.”
“Yes.”
“Are you always right?”
“No.”
That answer surprised her.
“Then why do it?”
“Because people lie for different reasons.”
“And what reason do you think I have?”
Adrian looked directly at her.
“Fear.”
Emily said nothing.
The SUV turned through a private gate.
A massive black building rose beyond the rain.
It was not a mansion.
It looked more like a fortress disguised as a modern home.
Glass.
Steel.
Concrete.
Security cameras.
Men stationed at the entrance.
Emily stared.
“You live here?”
“Yes.”
“It looks welcoming.”
“It isn’t.”
Despite herself, she almost smiled.
Adrian noticed.
And for one brief moment, the most feared man in Chicago looked almost human.
Then his phone rang.
He answered.
His face changed.
“Where?”
He listened.
Then stood.
“Lock down the building.”
Emily felt the smile vanish from her face.
“What happened?”
Adrian looked at her.
“Someone was waiting outside your apartment.”
Her blood turned cold.
“Who?”
“We don’t know.”
“Did they get inside?”
“No.”
“Then how do you know?”
Adrian's eyes became hard.
“Because they left something.”
“What?”
He hesitated.
Then said:
“A photograph of you.”
Emily could not breathe.
“Taken when?”
May you like
Adrian looked at her.
“Yesterday.”
