Chapter 2 - THE BROTHER WHO SMILED
The mansion erupted into chaos.
Security personnel flooded the corridors.
Doors slammed shut.
Footsteps thundered across the marble floors.
Adrian Blackwood remained perfectly still.
The gunshot had come from the west hallway.
But the shooter was gone.
Marcus moved quickly toward the corridor.
“Boss, stay with Elena.”
Adrian's eyes never left her.
“Find Caleb.”
Marcus hesitated.
“You think he did this?”
Adrian looked at him.
“I think everyone in this house is a suspect.”
Marcus nodded and disappeared.
Elena sat on the kitchen floor, pale and shaking.
Adrian crouched in front of her again.
“You're going to the hospital.”
“No.”
“Yes.”
“I can't.”
“You have a broken arm.”
“That isn't the problem.”
Adrian's eyes narrowed.
“What is?”
Elena looked at the hallway.
“Caleb knows I saw him.”
“Saw him doing what?”
She pressed her lips together.
Adrian leaned closer.
“Elena, if you want to survive tonight, you need to start trusting me.”
She gave him a bitter smile.
“You're the most dangerous man in this house.”
“Exactly.”
The answer stunned her.
Adrian stood and lifted her carefully.
Elena gasped.
“Put me down.”
“No.”
“I can walk.”
“You can barely breathe.”
His arm was beneath her knees.
Her good hand gripped his coat.
For the first time, Elena was close enough to smell the rain on him.
And something else.
Smoke.
Gunpowder.
She had heard stories about Adrian Blackwood.
Everyone had.
But none of those stories had mentioned the strange gentleness of the way he held an injured woman.
He carried her through the kitchen.
The household staff stood frozen.
Every face turned toward them.
Adrian looked at no one.
“Doctor. Now.”
A few minutes later, Dr. Mason arrived.
He examined Elena in a private sitting room.
The fracture was serious but clean.
Her arm would require surgery.
The bruises around her neck were more concerning.
“Someone grabbed her,” Mason said carefully.
Adrian's eyes became dangerous.
Elena looked down.
Mason continued.
“She also has bruising on her ribs.”
Adrian's hand tightened into a fist.
“Who did this?”
Mason glanced at Elena.
She said nothing.
Adrian turned away.
For the first time in years, he felt something unfamiliar.
Not rage.
Rage was easy.
This was worse.
Helplessness.
While the doctor prepared Elena for transport, Adrian walked into the hallway.
Caleb was standing near the staircase.
Perfectly dressed.
Perfectly calm.
He held a glass of whiskey.
His blond hair was neatly combed.
His expression was almost amused.
“Brother,” Caleb said.
Adrian stopped.
“Where were you?”
Caleb smiled.
“That's a warm welcome.”
“Where were you?”
“I was upstairs.”
“Doing what?”
“Having a drink.”
Adrian walked toward him.
The guards in the hallway immediately moved back.
Caleb's smile faded slightly.
“I heard there was an accident.”
Adrian stopped inches away.
“An accident?”
“That's what I heard.”
“Interesting.”
“What is?”
“That you heard about the accident before anyone told you.”
Caleb's eyes flickered.
Only for a fraction of a second.
But Adrian saw it.
“You're imagining things.”
“Am I?”
Caleb took a drink.
“You've been under pressure lately.”
Adrian looked at his jacket.
A section near the cuff was torn.
Exactly where the black fabric had been found in the kitchen.
Caleb noticed his gaze.
“You have something to say?”
Adrian reached into his pocket and pulled out the torn piece of cloth.
Caleb's smile disappeared.
“Where did you get that?”
“Kitchen.”
“Maybe someone stole one of my jackets.”
“Maybe.”
Adrian stepped closer.
“Or maybe you were there.”
Caleb's jaw tightened.
“Are you accusing me?”
“Not yet.”
“Of course not.”
Caleb laughed softly.
“You always were paranoid.”
Adrian stared at him.
Six years earlier, their father had died.
Caleb had been the only person with him that night.
The only witness.
And now Elena claimed his father had been murdered.
Adrian suddenly heard Elena's voice in his mind.
Your father didn't die naturally.
“Where were you the night Father died?” Adrian asked.
Caleb's expression changed.
It was subtle.
But the warmth disappeared.
“Why are you asking me that?”
“Answer me.”
“I already did.”
“No.”
Adrian stepped closer.
“You told the police you were at the club.”
“I was.”
“Then why did the security footage show you leaving the estate at 10:17?”
Caleb went silent.
The hallway seemed to freeze.
Adrian had spent six years searching for that footage.
He had never found it.
Until three days ago.
A former security contractor had sent him a copy.
Caleb's face hardened.
“You've been investigating me.”
“I've been investigating Father.”
“And you think I killed him?”
“I think you know more than you told me.”
Caleb's eyes became cold.
Then he smiled again.
“You really should be careful, Adrian.”
“Is that a threat?”
“No.”
Caleb leaned closer.
“It's advice.”
Before Adrian could answer, a scream came from the sitting room.
He turned instantly.
Elena was gone.
The doctor was unconscious on the floor.
The window was open.
Adrian rushed inside.
On the carpet lay Elena's broken bracelet.
And beneath it was a folded piece of paper.
Adrian opened it.
Only six words were written.
ASK YOUR BROTHER WHO THE REAL ENEMY IS.
Adrian looked toward the window.
May you like
Then slowly turned around.
Caleb was gone.
