Chapter 4 - His Brother's Betrayal
Lucas Bellini was everything Adrian was not.
Warm.
Charming.
Polished.
He smiled at waiters.
Remembered birthdays.
Donated to children's hospitals.
Politicians loved him.
Mara didn't trust him.
Not after Adrian told her what happened.
Lucas arrived at the penthouse the next morning wearing a tailored gray suit.
He hugged Adrian.
Then he kissed Mara's cheek.
"You're the famous housekeeper."
Mara stiffened.
"Apparently."
Lucas laughed.
"I've heard quite a story."
Adrian watched them.
"From whom?"
Lucas looked at him.
"People talk."
Mara noticed something.
A tiny black mark beneath Lucas's fingernail.
Grease.
The same grease she had seen on Adrian's coat.
Her heart accelerated.
Lucas noticed her looking.
"Something wrong?"
Mara shook her head.
"No."
But Adrian had seen her reaction.
He said nothing.
That night, Mara searched the staff records.
Lucas had entered the warehouse twice in the previous month.
But his name had been removed from the security log.
Someone had altered it.
Mara brought the evidence to Adrian.
He stared at it.
"Lucas."
"Maybe."
"You don't sound surprised."
"I've been suspicious for months."
"Then why keep him close?"
Adrian looked away.
"Because he's my brother."
Mara softened.
"Sometimes family is exactly why you need to be careful."
Adrian looked at her.
"You're talking about your father."
"Yes."
Silence.
Adrian reached toward her hand.
The gesture was so gentle that Mara almost stepped away.
He stopped before touching her.
"Your hand."
The glass wound had reopened.
Mara looked down.
Blood stained her sleeve.
Adrian took a clean cloth from the cabinet and wrapped her palm.
His fingers were surprisingly careful.
"You're not what I expected," Mara whispered.
"Neither are you."
Their eyes met.
For a moment, the criminal empire disappeared.
There were only two damaged people standing in a quiet kitchen.
Then Adrian's phone rang.
His face hardened.
"What?"
He listened.
"Where?"
He looked at Mara.
"Your apartment."
Mara froze.
"What?"
"Someone broke in."
She ran.
Adrian followed.
Her apartment had been destroyed.
Drawers emptied.
Mattress sliced.
Photographs ripped.
But one thing remained untouched.
Her father's old toolbox.
Mara opened it.
Inside was a small envelope.
Her father's handwriting.
She unfolded the paper.
Mara, if they come looking for the ledger, don't trust the Bellini who smiles.
She looked up.
Adrian was standing in the doorway.
His face had gone pale.
"Your father knew."
Mara nodded.
Then she noticed another sentence written underneath.
And if Adrian finds you, tell him I was sorry.
Mara looked at Adrian.
"Why would your father need to apologize to you?"
Adrian didn't answer.
Because he knew.
His father hadn't merely worked with Thomas Bennett.
May you like
He had betrayed him.
And perhaps Adrian had been involved without ever knowing.
