Chapter 2: The Message That Arrived Too Soon
I stared at the card on the counter.
*Adrian Moretti.
Chief Operations Officer.
Moretti Group.*
"You want to hire me," I said slowly.
"To say no to your father."
"Among other things."
"That's not a job.
That's a death wish."
Dana made a small sound behind me.
Reuben had gone completely still near the grill.
Adrian didn't blink.
"My father respects exactly two things.
Strength and honesty.
You showed him both in under four minutes.
Do you have any idea how rare that is?"
"I showed him I wasn't interested in being his target practice."
"Yes." Something shifted in his expression.
"And he hasn't stopped thinking about it since he got in the car."
That made me pause.
"What does that mean?"
Adrian glanced toward the window.
The rain was heavier now.
His jaw tightened slightly, like he was deciding how much to say.
"It means my father made a phone call on the way out.
One call.
To someone he hasn't spoken to in a very long time."
"Who?"
Adrian looked back at me.
"That's what I need you to help me find out."
The diner was completely silent.
Then my phone buzzed on the counter.
Unknown number.
One text message.
*You should have kept your head down, Emily Carter.
Now it's too late.*
---
What does that message really mean — and who sent it before Emily even touched Adrian's card?
The full story reveals a secret that goes back further than anyone in that diner could imagine.
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