The Secret Between Us

CHAPTER 10 : THE MAN IN THE SHADOWS

THE SECRET BETWEEN US

Chapter 10 — The Man in the Shadows

The house became silent after Mason left.

Adrian remained beside Ethan, staring at the doorway.

Neither moved.

Finally, Adrian whispered:

"My father is alive."

Ethan nodded.

"Yes."

"All these years..."

"I know."

Adrian's eyes filled with tears.

"But why would he never come back?"

Ethan looked at the notebook in his hand.

"Because someone was threatening him."

"The person who killed your mother."

"Probably."

Adrian wiped his eyes.

"Then we have to find him."

"We will."

Ethan closed the notebook.

"But we can't trust anyone."

Adrian looked at him.

"Not even Mason?"

"Especially Mason."

---

The next morning, Ethan called Marcus.

"I need everything you can find about Roberto Santos."

Marcus sounded surprised.

"I thought Roberto was dead."

"He's alive."

There was silence.

"What?"

"We found medical records proving he survived after his supposed death."

Marcus took a deep breath.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

"Then I'll investigate."

"Quietly."

"Understood."

Ethan ended the call.

Adrian entered the room carrying two cups of coffee.

"Any news?"

"Not yet."

Adrian handed him one.

"Then we wait."

Ethan looked at him.

"You don't seem scared."

"I am."

"But you're staying."

Adrian smiled.

"I promised."

Ethan smiled back.

"Thank you."

---

Hours later, Marcus returned.

He placed a folder on Ethan's desk.

"I found something."

Ethan opened it.

Inside were several photographs.

One showed Roberto leaving a private clinic.

Another showed him entering a black vehicle.

A third showed him meeting a woman.

Adrian immediately recognized her.

"That's my aunt."

Ethan looked at him.

"You're sure?"

"Yes."

The woman's name was Elena Santos.

Adrian's father's younger sister.

"Why would she meet him?"

Marcus answered:

"She visited the clinic several times."

Adrian frowned.

"Then she knew he was alive."

"Apparently."

Ethan looked at the dates.

"These photographs were taken three years ago."

Adrian froze.

"Three years ago?"

Marcus nodded.

"Yes."

"Then my father was still alive recently."

"That's what the evidence suggests."

Adrian sat down.

"I need to find my aunt."

---

They drove to Elena's old house.

Nobody answered the door.

Adrian knocked again.

"Aunt Elena?"

No response.

Ethan checked the windows.

"The house is empty."

Adrian looked worried.

"Maybe she's inside."

They searched around the property.

Behind the house was a small garden.

Adrian noticed something.

"There's a light."

They followed it.

A small storage building stood behind the garden.

Inside, they found boxes.

Most contained old family photographs.

Then Adrian found a journal.

He opened it.

The first pages contained ordinary memories.

Then the writing became darker.

"Roberto called today."

"He says he can't come home."

"Someone is following him."

"He says Ethan's mother helped him escape."

Adrian continued reading.

Then he reached the final entry.

"Roberto knows who ordered the murders."

Adrian stopped.

Ethan looked over his shoulder.

"Keep reading."

Adrian turned the page.

There was only one sentence.

"The person is someone we have trusted for years."

Below it was a name.

But the page had been torn.

Adrian stared.

"Again."

Ethan nodded.

"Someone doesn't want us to know."

---

They returned to the house.

Ethan studied the journal.

"There has to be another clue."

Adrian looked at the pages.

"Maybe the missing page isn't gone."

"What do you mean?"

"Look."

He pointed to the binding.

"There are marks."

Ethan carefully opened the cover.

A thin piece of paper was hidden inside.

Adrian pulled it out.

It contained an address.

Ethan recognized it.

"That's an old warehouse."

"Where?"

"Near the harbor."

---

That evening, they went there.

The warehouse was abandoned.

The metal door was slightly open.

Ethan looked at Adrian.

"Stay close."

They entered.

The smell of dust and rust filled the air.

There were old crates everywhere.

Adrian looked around.

"Do you think Roberto was here?"

"Maybe."

They searched.

Then Ethan found an old desk.

Inside was a cassette recorder.

Adrian stared.

"Another recording."

Ethan pressed play.

Static.

Then Roberto's voice.

"If you're hearing this, you're closer than I expected."

Adrian's eyes filled with tears.

His father continued.

"I need you to understand why I disappeared."

A pause.

"I discovered that the person behind the financial scandal was connected to both our families."

Ethan leaned closer.

"Someone in the Reyes family?"

Roberto continued.

"Yes."

Adrian looked at Ethan.

"But that person was not acting alone."

The recording became distorted.

"There was someone else."

Ethan frowned.

"Who?"

Roberto's voice became faint.

"Someone who has access to your lives."

Then the recording stopped.

Adrian hit the recorder.

"That's it?"

Ethan checked it.

"Maybe there's another tape."

They searched the desk.

Nothing.

Then Adrian noticed a photograph beneath the recorder.

It showed Ethan, Adrian, and their fathers as children.

Behind them stood another person.

A young man.

Adrian stared.

"Who is that?"

Ethan looked closely.

Then his face changed.

"Daniel."

Adrian's eyes widened.

"Daniel?"

"Yes."

"But he was young."

"He was working for my father even then."

Adrian looked at the photograph.

"Then Daniel knew us before we knew him."

Ethan nodded.

---

Suddenly, a loud noise came from the warehouse entrance.

Ethan turned.

Someone had entered.

"Who's there?"

No answer.

Footsteps approached.

Ethan pushed Adrian behind a stack of crates.

A figure appeared.

Daniel.

Ethan stepped out.

"You."

Daniel looked at them.

"I told you not to investigate."

"You knew Roberto was alive."

Daniel looked at Adrian.

"Yes."

"Where is he?"

"I don't know."

"You're lying."

Daniel shook his head.

"I lost contact with him years ago."

Adrian stepped forward.

"You knew my father."

"Yes."

"Why did you never tell me?"

"Because your father asked me not to."

"Why?"

"Because he believed you would be safer without knowing."

Adrian's eyes filled with tears.

"Everyone keeps saying they're protecting me."

Daniel looked at him.

"Because your father loved you."

Adrian looked away.

Daniel continued.

"But there is something you need to know."

"What?"

"Your father wasn't the only one who disappeared."

Ethan's expression changed.

"Who else?"

Daniel looked at him.

"Your mother."

Ethan froze.

"My mother?"

"She didn't die immediately."

Adrian stared at Daniel.

"What are you saying?"

Daniel took a breath.

"Your mother survived the accident."

Ethan's world seemed to stop.

"What?"

"She was alive for several hours."

"Then what happened?"

Daniel looked away.

"Someone came to the hospital."

"Who?"

Daniel's eyes met Ethan's.

"The person who ordered everything."

Ethan's voice became cold.

"Who?"

Daniel shook his head.

"I don't have proof."

"You know the name."

Daniel remained silent.

Ethan grabbed his jacket.

"Tell me!"

Daniel finally whispered:

"Mason wasn't the person giving the orders."

Ethan froze.

"Then who?"

Daniel looked at Adrian.

"Someone you both know."

Before Daniel could continue, the warehouse lights suddenly went out.

A gunshot echoed through the darkness.

Daniel fell.

"Daniel!"

Adrian screamed.

Ethan immediately pulled him behind cover.

Another shot struck the metal wall.

"Stay down!"

Ethan moved toward Daniel.

Daniel was injured but conscious.

"Who was that?"

Daniel whispered:

"They found us."

"Who?"

Daniel looked at Adrian.

"Run."

Ethan grabbed Adrian.

They rushed toward the back exit.

Behind them, footsteps echoed through the warehouse.

They escaped through a side door and ran toward the road.

A black car sped away.

Ethan watched it disappear.

Then he turned toward Adrian.

"Are you hurt?"

Adrian shook his head.

"I'm okay."

Ethan pulled him into a tight embrace.

Adrian held him.

For several seconds, neither spoke.

Then Adrian whispered:

"I'm scared."

"So am I."

"What if we never find my father?"

"We will."

"What if whoever is behind this comes after you?"

Ethan pulled away and looked into his eyes.

"Then we'll face it together."

Adrian nodded.

Ethan touched his cheek.

"I made you a promise."

"What promise?"

"That I wouldn't leave you."

Adrian's eyes filled with tears.

"Don't break it."

"I won't."

Their foreheads touched.

The fear surrounding them seemed to disappear for one brief moment.

Then Ethan's phone vibrated.

A message appeared.

You want the truth?

Another message followed.

Come to the old Reyes mansion alone.

Ethan stared at the screen.

Adrian looked at him.

"What is it?"

Ethan showed him.

Adrian shook his head.

"You're not going alone."

"I have to."

"No."

"Adrian—"

"You promised."

Ethan looked at him.

Adrian held his hand.

"We face this together."

Ethan finally nodded.

Together, they looked toward the dark road.

They didn't know who was waiting at the old Reyes mansion.

They didn't know whether the message was a trap.

And they didn't know that the person they had been searching for was already waiting for them.

Somewhere in the darkness, a man watched their car disappear.

He smiled.

"Finally."

He picked up an old photograph.

It showed Ethan and Adrian as children.

Then he whispered:

"Let's finish what we started."

TO BE CONTINUED...