Chapter 7 - A WARNING WRITTEN IN BLOOD
Emily refused to return to the Blackwell residence.
Instead, she stood inside her apartment while police photographed everything.
Nothing had been stolen.
That was what frightened her.
The door had been forced open.
Drawers had been emptied.
Her mattress had been cut open.
Her photographs had been torn apart.
Someone had searched every inch of the place.
And on the wall above her bed, someone had written a message.
Not in paint.
In blood.
YOU SHOULD HAVE TOLD HIM.
Emily stood frozen.
Adrian entered behind her.
His eyes moved over the room.
Then stopped at the wall.
His expression changed.
“Everyone out.”
The police officer looked at him.
“This is a crime scene.”
Adrian's gaze turned cold.
“I said everyone out.”
The officer hesitated.
Adrian took out his phone.
One call.
The officer received another call thirty seconds later.
Then left.
Emily stared.
“You can’t just do that.”
“I just did.”
“This is my apartment.”
“And someone entered it.”
“I know.”
Adrian looked at the message.
“What does it mean?”
Emily shook her head.
“I don’t know.”
“You’re lying.”
She turned on him.
“Stop saying that!”
His face hardened.
“Then stop giving me reasons to.”
Emily stepped closer.
“You think I’m hiding something from you?”
“Yes.”
“Maybe I am.”
Adrian went still.
Emily's heart pounded.
“I don’t know who you are.”
“You know enough.”
“No, I don’t!”
She pointed at the wall.
“You know everything about me. You know where I live. You know my past. You know Daniel. You know who I worked for. You know things about my life I never told you.”
Adrian said nothing.
“And I know almost nothing about you.”
“That’s not true.”
“What do I know?”
He looked at her.
“Your name.”
Emily laughed bitterly.
“Exactly.”
Adrian's expression tightened.
She turned away.
“I can’t do this.”
“Do what?”
“Be dragged into your world.”
“You were already in it.”
“No!”
Emily spun around.
“I was in Daniel’s world. You are the one who brought me into yours.”
Adrian's eyes became cold.
“Daniel brought you into mine three years ago.”
Silence.
Emily stared at him.
Adrian continued.
“You think I forgot?”
“What?”
“The night I was attacked.”
He stepped closer.
“I was leaving a restaurant when someone opened fire on my car.”
Emily's breath caught.
“Michael was with you?”
“Yes.”
“And he died?”
“Yes.”
“Was Daniel there?”
“No.”
“Then how do you know he was involved?”
Adrian's face became empty.
“Because the man who attacked us was wearing a watch Daniel gave him.”
Emily looked at the bloody message.
Her mind raced.
“What if Daniel wasn’t the one who planned it?”
Adrian looked at her.
“What?”
“What if he was working for someone else?”
“I’ve considered that.”
“Then why are you chasing him?”
“Because he knows who.”
Emily stared.
Suddenly, a sound came from the hallway.
Both turned.
Adrian moved first.
He pulled Emily behind him.
A shadow crossed beneath the door.
Then disappeared.
Adrian drew his weapon.
Emily's heart hammered.
The door opened.
A man rushed inside.
Adrian tackled him.
The struggle lasted seconds.
The intruder was pinned to the floor.
Adrian grabbed his collar.
“Who sent you?”
The man smiled.
“Too late.”
Adrian's eyes narrowed.
“For what?”
The man looked past him.
At Emily.
“You already told him.”
Emily went cold.
Adrian's grip tightened.
“Told me what?”
The intruder laughed.
Then bit down.
A moment later, he collapsed.
Emily screamed.
Adrian checked his pulse.
Dead.
Poison.
Adrian stood.
His face was terrifying.
Emily looked at him.
“What did he mean?”
Adrian said nothing.
“Adrian.”
He looked at her.
“What did you tell me?”
Emily's blood ran cold.
“I don’t know.”
The phone in her pocket vibrated.
Unknown number.
A message appeared.
ASK HIM ABOUT THE NIGHT MICHAEL DIED.
Emily looked at Adrian.
Then at the message.
Adrian saw her face.
“What?”
She showed him.
For the first time, Adrian looked genuinely afraid.
May you like
Not for himself.
For the truth.
