Chapter 7 - MARCUS’S SECRETAdrian found Marcus before the police did.
Marcus was sitting in an old church outside the city.
He didn’t look surprised to see Adrian.
“You took your time.”
Adrian walked toward him.
“Did you know Leo was kidnapped?”
Marcus looked offended.
“No.”
“Richard Vale is alive.”
Marcus’s expression changed.
That was enough.
“You knew.”
“I knew he might be.”
Adrian grabbed his brother’s coat.
“Tell me everything.”
Marcus looked at him.
For the first time, there was no smile.
“Your son is safe?”
“Yes.”
Marcus exhaled.
“Good.”
Adrian released him.
“Talk.”
Marcus looked toward the stained-glass window.
“Richard worked for Father.”
“I know.”
“He moved money.”
“I know.”
“Daniel Morgan discovered it.”
Adrian’s face hardened.
“And?”
“Father ordered Richard to fix the problem.”
“What does that mean?”
Marcus looked directly at him.
“It means Father wanted Daniel scared.”
Grace’s name was not spoken.
But she was there between them.
“Richard went too far.”
“The fire.”
Marcus nodded.
“Father didn’t start it.”
Adrian’s voice trembled.
“But he covered it up.”
“Yes.”
Adrian looked sick.
Marcus continued.
“I tried to stop them.”
Adrian stared.
“You?”
“Yes.”
“You were involved with criminals.”
“I was young.”
“That doesn’t answer me.”
Marcus stood.
“I found out Richard was going after Daniel.”
“What did you do?”
“I went to the house.”
Adrian stopped breathing.
Marcus’s eyes filled with something Adrian had never seen.
Regret.
“I was too late.”
Grace’s scratched message returned to Adrian’s mind.
HE DIDN’T SAVE ME.
“What happened to Grace?”
Marcus looked away.
“She was trapped upstairs.”
Adrian froze.
“You found her.”
“Yes.”
“And?”
“I carried her out.”
“Then why would she write that you didn’t save her?”
Marcus whispered, “Because I left her there first.”
Adrian stepped backward.
Marcus continued.
“I heard people coming.”
“Who?”
“Richard’s men.”
“I panicked.”
Adrian stared at him.
Marcus’s voice broke.
“I left her.”
Silence.
“Then I came back.”
Adrian’s face filled with disgust.
“You left a five-year-old child inside a burning house.”
“I know.”
“She could have died.”
“I KNOW!”
Marcus shouted.
The church echoed.
Then Marcus lowered his voice.
“That’s why I disappeared.”
Adrian laughed bitterly.
“You disappeared because you were guilty.”
“Yes.”
The honesty was almost worse.
Marcus reached into his pocket.
He pulled out a small key.
“What is that?”
“Your father kept a second archive.”
Adrian took it.
“Where?”
“Blackwood headquarters.”
Marcus looked at him.
“There’s a recording.”
“Of what?”
“Your father.”
Adrian stared.
“A confession.”
Before Adrian could respond, gunshots exploded outside.
Marcus shoved him down.
A bullet shattered the church window.
Adrian hit the floor.
“Get down!”
More shots.
Marcus pulled a gun from beneath his coat.
Adrian stared.
“You have a gun?”
“Long story.”
Marcus fired toward the door.
“Who is shooting?”
“Richard.”
Adrian crawled toward cover.
“This is your fault!”
Marcus almost laughed.
“Now you sound like Father.”
The shooting stopped.
Then a voice echoed from outside.
“Grace Morgan belongs to us!”
Adrian froze.
Richard wasn’t after him.
He was after Grace.
Marcus looked at Adrian.
“You need to get her out of the mansion.”
Adrian immediately called.
No answer.
Grace.
Again.
No answer.
Adrian’s face lost color.
Marcus looked at him.
“What?”
Adrian whispered:
May you like
“Grace is alone with Leo.”
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