Chapter 5 - THE PRICE OF COMING HOME
At 3:58 a.m., Claire heard Adrian's voice outside.
Her heart betrayed her immediately.
It leaped.
Owen stood beside her.
Elliot Reed guarded the opposite door.
Claire had learned enough during the drive to understand that Elliot's loyalty was uncertain.
He avoided Vanessa's name.
Avoided Claire's eyes.
Owen checked his weapon.
"Your husband came."
Claire looked at him.
"You sound surprised."
"I told him to."
"No. You're surprised he came alone."
Owen smiled.
"Maybe I underestimated him."
Claire almost laughed.
Everyone underestimated Adrian in different ways.
His enemies underestimated his patience.
His employees underestimated how much he noticed.
Claire had underestimated how easily loving someone could become loneliness.
The warehouse door opened.
Adrian walked in.
Alone.
No coat.
White shirt.
Dark trousers.
Hands visible.
His gaze found Claire immediately.
Everything else vanished from his expression.
"Are you hurt?"
"No."
"The baby?"
"I'm okay."
His jaw flexed.
Owen gestured toward a scanner.
"Authorization."
Adrian did not move.
"Let her go first."
"No."
"Owen."
"That tone used to scare me."
"It should."
Owen raised the gun toward Claire.
Adrian stepped forward.
Claire saw it then.
Fear.
Real fear.
Not for his empire.
For her.
For their child.
"Stop," Adrian said.
Owen smiled.
"Authorization."
Adrian approached the terminal.
Claire's mind raced.
If he unlocked the server, Owen won.
If he refused, Owen might shoot.
Elliot stood behind Owen.
His right hand moved slightly.
One finger tapped his leg.
Twice.
Four times.
Once.
Claire stared.
Elliot knew.
Adrian placed his thumb against the scanner.
The terminal flashed.
ACCESS GRANTED.
Owen exhaled.
Then the lights died.
Gunfire exploded from the far end.
Claire dropped.
Adrian moved toward her.
Owen fired.
A bullet struck metal.
Sparks flew.
Elliot tackled Owen.
The gun skidded away.
Adrian reached Claire and covered her with his body.
"Stay down."
She could feel his heartbeat.
Wild.
For once, Adrian Cole was not controlled.
Federal agents stormed the warehouse through Section 241.
Owen fought.
Elliot pinned him long enough for agents to close in.
Within ninety seconds, it ended.
Owen lay handcuffed on concrete.
Vanessa rushed through the entrance.
"Elliot!"
Her brother stood.
Vanessa slapped him.
Then hugged him.
Claire almost laughed from sheer relief.
Adrian helped her upright.
His hands trembled.
She had never seen that before.
"Claire."
"I'm fine."
"I thought—"
"I know."
He reached toward her face.
Claire stepped back.
His hand stopped in midair.
The hurt in his eyes nearly made her apologize.
She didn't.
Safety did not erase four months.
Rescue did not repair years.
"Thank you for coming," she said.
Adrian looked stunned by the formality.
"You're my wife."
"For now."
The words hit him harder than Owen's bullet ever could.
Outside, dawn was beginning to lighten the harbor.
An ambulance waited.
Claire allowed paramedics to examine her.
The baby appeared unharmed.
Adrian stood several yards away because she had asked for space.
For once, he obeyed.
When the paramedic left, Claire found him still waiting.
"What happens now?" he asked.
"I'm going to the apartment."
"Jamaica Plain?"
Her eyes narrowed.
"You knew?"
"I know now."
"Of course."
"I didn't have you followed before tonight."
She studied him.
"I believe you."
Relief flickered across his face.
"But I'm still leaving."
It disappeared.
"Claire."
"No."
He stopped.
She had never seen Adrian obey that word so quickly.
"I found out I was pregnant yesterday," she said. "And for one stupid hour, I thought maybe that meant I should stay."
He swallowed.
"But then I realized I didn't want our child learning that love means waiting for someone who always has somewhere more important to be."
"There is nowhere more important."
"That's easy to say after almost losing me."
"I know."
She had expected argument.
His agreement disarmed her.
Adrian reached into his pocket.
Her coat button.
He placed it in her palm.
"I can't ask you to trust promises."
"No."
"So I won't."
Claire looked at him.
"What will you do?"
"Change the things that made the promises worthless."
She closed her fingers around the button.
"Do it for yourself."
"I don't know how."
"Learn."
She turned away.
Marcus waited beside a car.
Adrian called after her.
"Claire."
She stopped.
He did not ask her to come home.
He did not remind her she was his wife.
He simply said, "Can I come to the first appointment you'll allow me to attend?"
Claire's eyes burned.
"I don't know."
Adrian nodded.
"Okay."
She got into the car.
As Marcus drove away, Claire looked through the rear window.
Adrian remained alone beside the harbor.
For once, he was the one waiting.
Then Marcus's phone rang.
He answered through the car speaker.
His expression changed.
"What?"
Claire sat forward.
Marcus glanced at her.
"Mrs. Cole..."
"What happened?"
"The federal team opened Owen's server."
"And?"
Marcus swallowed.
"There was a file on you."
Claire's skin chilled.
"Me?"
"Not Adrian."
May you like
He looked at her in the mirror.
"Your father."
