The Girl He Was Promised

Chapter 16 — The First Move

The next morning, the Smith estate was quiet.

But inside Anastasia's private study, the atmosphere was anything but peaceful.

A large screen displayed the photograph of the man who had escaped from the hotel the previous night.

Marcus Reed.

Anastasia stood in front of the screen with Vivian, Chloe, and Elena.

Alexander stood on the opposite side of the table with Lorenzo, Daniel, and Tyler.

This was the first time all eight of them had gathered to investigate the same enemy.

Daniel opened a folder.

"Marcus Reed was formerly a security consultant."

Chloe looked at the screen.

"Formerly?"

Daniel nodded.

"He resigned two years ago."

"Where did he work?" Anastasia asked.

Daniel changed the screen.

A company name appeared.

BLACKWOOD CAPITAL.

Anastasia's expression immediately became serious.

"That's the connection."

Alexander looked at her.

"You recognize it?"

"Yes. Blackwood appeared in an investigation I conducted six years ago."

Vivian crossed her arms.

"So Victor is connected to Blackwood."

"Indirectly," Anastasia replied.

Lorenzo leaned forward.

"And Blackwood is connected to Horizon International Holdings."

Alexander nodded.

"The same company that owns the vehicle monitoring the Smith estate."

Elena looked at the information.

"Then Victor is using multiple companies to hide his movements."

"That's what it looks like," Daniel said.

Tyler leaned back.

"So we're not chasing one organization."

Anastasia shook her head.

"We're following a network."

Alexander looked at her.

"And the network leads back to Victor."

Anastasia nodded.

"Eventually."

Chloe suddenly turned her laptop around.

"I found something else."

Everyone looked at her.

She opened a security recording from the hotel.

Marcus Reed appeared on the screen.

He was walking through the service corridor.

But someone was following him.

A second man.

Anastasia narrowed her eyes.

"Enhance the image."

Chloe worked quickly.

The man's face became clearer.

Daniel immediately recognized him.

"He's an executive from Blackwood Capital."

Lorenzo frowned.

"So Marcus wasn't working alone."

"No," Anastasia said.

"He's part of the network."

Alexander studied the footage.

"Where is the executive now?"

Daniel checked the database.

"He's still in the city."

Anastasia smiled slightly.

"Then we don't confront him."

Tyler raised an eyebrow.

"Why not?"

"Because he'll know we've discovered the connection."

Vivian nodded.

"And he'll disappear."

Anastasia pointed at the screen.

"We follow him instead."

Elena smiled.

"Let him lead us to someone higher."

"Exactly."

Alexander looked at his friends.

"Lorenzo, Daniel, Tyler—you'll monitor the executive."

Then he looked at Anastasia.

"Vivian, Chloe, Elena will stay with you."

Anastasia raised an eyebrow.

"I don't need babysitting."

"I know."

Alexander's voice remained calm.

"I'm assigning them because they're capable."

Vivian smiled.

"I like him."

Anastasia looked at her.

"Don't encourage him."

Tyler laughed.

"Too late."

Three hours later, the plan was underway.

The Blackwood executive finally left his office.

Daniel immediately alerted everyone.

"Target is moving."

Lorenzo was waiting near the parking area.

"Vehicle confirmed."

Tyler looked down the street.

"He's heading north."

Anastasia and her three friends were inside a vehicle several cars behind.

Chloe was driving.

Elena monitored the route.

Vivian watched the surrounding vehicles.

Alexander and Daniel followed separately.

Nobody stayed too close.

Nobody made a careless move.

For almost twenty minutes, the Blackwood executive followed the main road.

Then he suddenly turned into an industrial district.

Elena checked the map.

"There's an abandoned warehouse ahead."

Anastasia frowned.

"That's not part of his usual route."

Alexander's voice came through the communication device.

"Don't approach yet."

Anastasia smiled.

"We're not."

They watched from a safe distance.

The Blackwood executive parked outside the warehouse.

He got out.

Then he entered the building.

Everyone waited.

Five minutes passed.

Then another vehicle arrived.

Anastasia looked at it.

Her expression changed.

"That's Victor's vehicle."

Alexander immediately responded.

"You're certain?"

"I've seen it before."

Daniel checked the plate.

"She's right."

The atmosphere changed instantly.

They had finally found a direct connection.

Victor had come to the warehouse.

Anastasia opened the car door.

Alexander's voice came through the communication device.

"Anastasia."

She smiled.

"I'm only going inside to look."

"That's exactly what worries me."

She laughed softly.

"Don't worry."

She stepped out of the vehicle.

"I know how to look after myself."

Alexander sighed.

"I know."

He opened his own car door.

"That's why I'm going with you."

Anastasia looked across the road at him.

For a moment, she simply smiled.

"Fine."

Behind them, Lorenzo, Daniel, Tyler, Vivian, Chloe, and Elena prepared themselves.

Lorenzo checked the loading bay.

Daniel reviewed the warehouse layout.

Tyler watched the road.

Vivian, Chloe, and Elena checked the side entrance.

Everyone knew their position.

Nobody was waiting to be rescued.

They were there because they had chosen to be part of the fight.

Anastasia looked at Alexander.

"Ready?"

He nodded.

"Always."

Together, they walked toward the warehouse.

The door stood slightly open.

Inside waited the first real answer to the mystery that had begun six years ago.

And for the first time, Victor Hale had made a mistake.

He had brought Anastasia Smith exactly where she wanted to go.

The warehouse.

The network.

And the first real move.