The Secret Between Us

CHAPTER 9 : THE MAN WHO SHOULD BE DEAD

THE SECRET BETWEEN US

Chapter 9 — The Man Who Should Be Dead

Adrian stared at the photograph for what felt like an eternity.

His hands were shaking.

The image was old, but the details were clear.

His father, Roberto Santos, stood outside the Riverside Hotel.

Beside him was Ethan's mother.

The date printed on the corner of the photograph was impossible.

It was several months after the date Adrian had always been told his father had died.

Adrian swallowed hard.

"Ethan..."

"I'm here."

"I don't understand."

"Send me the photograph."

Adrian immediately sent it.

Several seconds passed.

Then Ethan called.

"Where did you get this?"

"An unknown number."

"Did they send anything else?"

"Only a message."

"What did it say?"

Adrian repeated the words.

Your father didn't die when you were told he did.

Ethan became silent.

"Adrian, don't go anywhere."

"What?"

"Stay inside your apartment."

"Why?"

"I'll come to you."

"Ethan—"

"I'm serious."

The call ended.

Adrian stared at his phone.

He knew Ethan.

Something in his voice had sounded frightened.

Not angry.

Not suspicious.

Afraid.

---

Twenty minutes later, Ethan arrived.

He entered the apartment quickly.

"Are you okay?"

Adrian nodded.

"Yes."

Ethan looked around.

"Did anyone come here?"

"No."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

Ethan took the photograph from Adrian.

He examined it carefully.

"There."

He pointed to the background.

Adrian leaned closer.

"What?"

A black car was parked behind them.

Ethan recognized it.

"That's my father's car."

Adrian looked at him.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

"Then your father was there too."

Ethan nodded.

"Which means this wasn't a secret meeting between our fathers."

"Then what was it?"

Ethan turned the photograph over.

There was another handwritten message.

"The truth begins where the lie began."

Adrian frowned.

"Riverside Hotel."

Ethan nodded.

"We have to go back."

Adrian immediately stood.

"Together."

Ethan looked at him.

"I don't want you in danger."

"You already know I'm coming."

Ethan sighed.

"Yes."

---

They arrived at Riverside Hotel just before sunset.

The building looked even more frightening than before.

Broken windows.

Dark hallways.

Old furniture covered in dust.

Ethan held Adrian's hand as they walked inside.

Neither mentioned it.

They simply needed the comfort.

Room 317 was still locked.

Ethan used the key.

The room looked exactly as they had left it.

Adrian walked toward the table.

"The photograph was taken here."

Ethan examined the window.

"Maybe."

Adrian looked around.

"Why would my father meet your mother?"

Ethan thought.

"Maybe they were working together."

"Against your father?"

"Possibly."

Adrian looked at him.

"But if your mother knew about Mason, why didn't she tell anyone?"

"Maybe she tried."

They searched the room.

Adrian opened the drawers.

Nothing.

Ethan checked the walls.

Then he noticed something.

A small crack near the floor.

"Adrian."

Adrian walked over.

"What?"

Ethan knelt.

"This panel moves."

Together, they pulled it away.

Behind it was a narrow hidden compartment.

Inside was a small metal box.

Adrian's heart began beating faster.

"Another box."

Ethan opened it.

Inside were documents and a small key.

Adrian picked up the documents.

They were medical records.

He read the name.

Roberto Santos.

His face went pale.

"Ethan..."

"What?"

"My father."

The records showed treatment at a private hospital.

But the date was after his supposed death.

Ethan looked at the document.

"He was alive."

Adrian's eyes filled with tears.

"For months."

"Yes."

"Why did no one tell me?"

Ethan didn't answer.

Then Adrian found another document.

It was a transfer record.

Patient transferred under protective identity.

Ethan stared.

"Protective identity?"

Adrian continued reading.

"Location: Unknown."

They looked at each other.

"My father was hiding."

"Or someone was hiding him."

---

They found a second envelope.

It was addressed to Ethan's mother.

Ethan opened it.

Inside was a letter from Roberto.

«I know you want to expose them.

But if we do it now, they will come after Ethan and Adrian.

We have to disappear first.

They must believe I am dead.

Keep Ethan away from Mason.

And never let Adrian know the truth until he is old enough to protect himself.»

Ethan read the letter twice.

"That's why."

Adrian looked at him.

"My father pretended to be dead."

"To protect you."

"But why didn't he come back?"

Ethan looked at the final page.

There was one sentence.

"If I return, they will kill everyone."

Adrian covered his mouth.

Tears fell.

"My father was alive."

Ethan placed a hand on his shoulder.

"I'm sorry."

Adrian looked at him.

"I spent my whole life thinking he abandoned me."

"He didn't."

"He disappeared to protect me."

Ethan pulled him into a hug.

Adrian didn't resist.

He buried his face against Ethan's chest.

For the first time, he allowed himself to cry.

Ethan held him tightly.

"I've got you."

Adrian whispered:

"I miss him."

"I know."

"I never even got to say goodbye."

"You might still get the chance."

Adrian looked up.

"What?"

Ethan pointed to the medical record.

"The hospital."

---

They drove directly to the hospital listed on the documents.

The building was old but still operating.

They approached the records department.

Ethan showed identification.

"We're looking for a patient."

The employee checked the database.

"Name?"

"Roberto Santos."

The employee searched.

Then stopped.

"There is a record."

Adrian stepped forward.

"Is he alive?"

The employee hesitated.

"His file says he was transferred."

"When?"

"Twenty years ago."

"Where?"

The employee shook his head.

"The information is restricted."

"Who restricted it?"

The employee looked at Ethan.

"Your father."

Ethan froze.

"My father?"

"Yes."

Adrian looked at him.

"Why would your father hide my father?"

Ethan didn't know.

Then the employee added:

"There was one emergency contact."

"Who?"

The employee checked.

"Mara Reyes."

Ethan's eyes widened.

"My mother."

---

They returned to the car.

Neither spoke.

Ethan stared ahead.

"My mother helped your father."

Adrian nodded.

"She knew he was alive."

"And she protected him."

"Maybe."

Ethan looked at Adrian.

"Then Mason lied."

"About what?"

"Everything."

Adrian reached for his hand.

"What do we do now?"

Ethan looked at him.

"We find Roberto."

---

That night, they returned to Ethan's house.

Ethan opened an old storage room.

He had never searched it before.

Inside were boxes belonging to his mother.

Adrian helped him.

They found photographs, letters, and journals.

Then Ethan discovered a small notebook.

He opened it.

His mother's handwriting filled the pages.

Most were ordinary.

Until one page.

"Roberto is alive. I helped him disappear."

Ethan froze.

Adrian leaned closer.

The next line was even more shocking.

"Mason believes Roberto died. That is our advantage."

Ethan turned the page.

"If anything happens to me, Roberto must remain hidden."

Then the final entry:

"There is only one person I still fear."

The name had been scratched out.

Adrian stared.

"Who was it?"

"I don't know."

Ethan looked at the next page.

It had been ripped out.

Then they heard footsteps.

Both froze.

Ethan closed the notebook.

"Someone's here."

The footsteps grew louder.

Adrian stood behind Ethan.

The door opened.

Mason appeared.

He looked at them.

His expression was calm.

"Looking for something?"

Ethan stepped forward.

"You knew."

Mason sighed.

"I knew you would eventually find this."

"Where is Roberto?"

Mason's expression changed.

"I don't know."

"You're lying."

"Maybe."

Adrian stepped forward.

"Is my father alive?"

Mason looked at him.

For several seconds, he said nothing.

Then he whispered:

"Yes."

Adrian's heart stopped.

Ethan stared at Mason.

"Where?"

Mason shook his head.

"You can't find him."

"Why?"

"Because he's hiding from the same person who is after you."

"Who?"

Mason looked toward the window.

Then back at them.

"The person who ordered your mother's death."

Silence.

Ethan's face went pale.

"Who?"

Mason didn't answer.

He simply walked away.

Adrian grabbed Ethan's hand.

"Ethan."

Ethan stared at the door.

For years, he had believed his mother died in an accident.

Now he knew it wasn't true.

For years, Adrian believed his father had died.

Now he knew he was alive.

And somewhere in the shadows was the person responsible for both tragedies.

Ethan looked at Adrian.

"We're close."

Adrian nodded.

"Closer than we've ever been."

Their hands remained intertwined.

Neither noticed the small camera hidden inside the storage room.

Someone had been watching them.

Again.

And this time, the person behind the camera smiled.

Because Ethan and Adrian had finally found the one secret they were never supposed to discover.

Roberto Santos was alive.

But finding him would be only the beginning.

TO BE CONTINUED...