Chapter 8 - The Envelope
The sound of the gunshot was a muted, terrifying thwack that seemed to suck all the air out of the room.
I braced for the impact, squeezing my eyes shut and curling my body tightly around Leo. But the pain never came.
Instead, a heavy weight crashed to the floor inches from me.
I opened my eyes. Adrian was on the ground, his white shirt rapidly blooming with a dark, terrifying crimson stain across his shoulder. He had thrown his entire body in front of the bullet meant for me.
"Adrian!" I screamed, the sound tearing from my throat.
Grant stood frozen for a split second, shock registering on his face. He hadn't expected Adrian to sacrifice himself for a maid. That hesitation was his undoing.
Before Grant could realign his weapon, Adrian swept his leg out in a brutal, agonizing arc, catching Grant behind the knees. Grant crashed to the floor, the gun clattering across the Persian rug.
Despite the bullet in his shoulder, Adrian lunged. He pinned Grant to the floor, his forearm pressing ruthlessly against Grant’s windpipe. The mafia boss wasn't entirely gone; the violence in Adrian's eyes was absolute, primitive, and terrifying.
"You don't touch them," Adrian hissed, spit flying from his lips. "You never touch what is mine."
Silas, still gasping on the floor, tried to crawl toward the gun. I didn't think. I scrambled out from under the desk, grabbed the heavy hunting knife Adrian had tossed earlier, and slammed the hilt down as hard as I could onto the back of Silas's head. He went limp.
Sirens wailed in the distance, growing louder by the second. Adrian had triggered a silent alarm when he first entered the room.
Adrian finally released Grant, swaying slightly as he stood. He pressed a hand to his bleeding shoulder, his breathing ragged. He looked at me, his eyes softening as he saw that Leo and I were unharmed.
"Are you hurt?" he rasped.
"You took a bullet for me," I sobbed, rushing forward to press my hands over his to help stop the bleeding. His skin was pale, but his grip was strong.
"I told you," he managed a faint, pained smile. "I protect my family."
The heavy oak doors burst open. Half a dozen heavily armed private security men—the ones loyal only to Adrian—flooded the room, followed closely by local police. They dragged Grant and Silas up from the floor, snapping handcuffs onto their wrists. Grant glared at Adrian, his face a mask of pure hatred, but he said nothing as he was hauled away.
Paramedics rushed in a moment later, pulling Adrian away from me and forcing him onto a stretcher. Leo ran out from under the desk, clutching my leg, crying silently.
"Nora," Adrian called out over the chaos as they wheeled him toward the door. "My desk. The bottom right drawer. There's a false bottom."
I blinked through my tears, nodding. "I'll get it. Just go. Please, let them help you."
"Keep him safe," Adrian ordered, his eyes locking on Leo one last time before he disappeared down the hallway.
The police took my statement. I told them everything about the attack, about Silas and Grant. I left out the mafia connections, sticking to the immediate truth of the attempted kidnapping and assault. By the time the house was cleared, it was nearly dawn.
I put a thoroughly exhausted Leo back to bed, sitting beside him until his breathing deepened into sleep.
Then, I walked into Adrian’s study.
The room was quiet now. I went behind his massive mahogany desk, opening the bottom right drawer. I pressed against the wood until I heard a soft click. The false bottom popped up.
Inside was a thick, sealed manila envelope. Written on the front in bold, black ink were the words: The Truth About Arthur Bennett.
With trembling hands, I broke the seal and poured the contents onto the desk.
There were bank records, original transfer documents showing the forged signatures, and a recorded confession on a small flash drive from the accountant who had actually moved the money on Adrian’s father’s orders.
But beneath it all was a letter. Written in Adrian’s sharp handwriting.
May you like
Nora, I spent five years hunting down the proof my father destroyed to exonerate Arthur. I was waiting until I had dismantled the corrupt parts of this empire before giving this to you, to ensure Grant couldn't retaliate against you. You came here for justice. Here it is. Do whatever you want with it. But know this: you and Leo are the only things in this house worth saving.
I collapsed into the leather chair, clutching the papers to my chest, and wept.
