His Dangerous Obsession

Chapter 6: The Man In The Photograph

Elena couldn't speak.

The photograph trembled between her fingers.

Adrian's uncle had killed her father.

And now he had taken her mother.

None of it made sense.

"If he killed my father," Elena said slowly, "why would he take my mother?"

"Because she knows where he's been."

"And you?"

"I've been looking for him."

"For sixteen years?"

"Yes."

Elena stared at him.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

Adrian's expression hardened.

"Because knowing makes you a target."

"I'm already a target."

"I know."

"People are dying around me."

"I know."

"My mother is gone."

"I know."

"Then stop saying you know!"

Her voice echoed through the hallway.

Adrian didn't react.

Elena wiped angrily at her eyes.

"I don't need another person deciding what I can handle."

He looked at her for a long moment.

Then he reached into his jacket.

He pulled out a folded photograph.

"Your father gave this to me."

Elena froze.

"My father?"

"Before he died."

She took it.

It was old.

The edges were worn.

The photograph showed her father standing beside Adrian's father.

And behind them stood the same man from the other photograph.

Adrian's uncle.

But there was something else.

A young girl stood between them.

Elena.

She was perhaps seven years old.

Her father had one hand resting on her shoulder.

Adrian's father stood behind her.

And the other man was looking directly at the camera.

On the back, someone had written:

The girl is the key.

Elena's stomach twisted.

"What does that mean?"

"I don't know."

"You expect me to believe that?"

"I don't expect anything from you."

"Then why show me?"

"Because I think we finally have enough pieces to understand what happened."

Elena looked at him.

"And my mother?"

"We'll find her."

"You promise?"

Adrian hesitated.

Then he said, "Yes."

Something about the certainty in his voice made her believe him.

Not completely.

But enough.

A guard suddenly rushed toward them.

"Mr. Blackwood."

Adrian turned.

"What?"

"We found a vehicle."

"Where?"

"Near the eastern gate."

Adrian's expression changed.

"Get everyone outside."

The guard nodded.

Elena followed Adrian.

"You're not leaving me behind."

"I didn't say you were."

They reached the garage.

Three black vehicles were already waiting.

Adrian opened the rear door of the first.

"Get in."

Elena stopped.

"Where are we going?"

"Somewhere safe."

"That's not an answer."

"It's the only one you're getting."

She climbed inside.

Adrian followed.

The vehicle sped away from the estate.

For several minutes, neither spoke.

Elena stared out the window.

The city passed in blurred lights.

Finally she asked:

"Who was my father really?"

Adrian looked at her.

"His name was Daniel Vale."

"I know his name."

"He was an accountant."

"That's what I was told."

"He was more than that."

Elena turned toward him.

"He worked for the Black Rose."

"Not exactly."

Adrian leaned back.

"He infiltrated them."

Elena frowned.

"Why?"

"Because your father discovered they were involved in something much bigger than corruption."

"What?"

"Human trafficking."

Her blood ran cold.

"He tried to expose them."

"Yes."

"And that's why they killed him."

"Partly."

"What's the other part?"

Adrian looked away.

"Your father stole something."

"What?"

"We don't know."

"You don't know?"

"No."

"Then why does everyone think I'm the key?"

"Because your father hid it before he died."

"Where?"

Adrian looked directly at her.

"Inside you."

Elena stared at him.

"What does that mean?"

"We don't know."

She laughed nervously.

"That's impossible."

"Your father left something behind. A memory, a message, information—we aren't certain."

"How could something be inside me?"

"He may have used you as a hiding place."

Elena's expression changed.

"He wouldn't."

"Maybe not willingly."

She remembered something.

A strange memory from childhood.

A small wooden music box.

Her father had given it to her shortly before he died.

She hadn't thought about it in years.

"Wait."

Adrian noticed.

"What?"

"My father gave me something."

"What?"

"A music box."

"Where is it?"

"I don't know."

Adrian leaned forward.

"When did he give it to you?"

"The day before he died."

His face became serious.

"Do you remember what it looked like?"

"Wooden. Small. There was a bird carved on the lid."

Adrian immediately took out his phone.

He called someone.

"Search Daniel Vale's old house."

Elena frowned.

"I don't live there anymore."

"Neither does anyone else."

"Then why—"

"Because if your father hid something, that's where he'll have left a clue."

The call ended.

Elena watched him.

"You really have been searching for answers all these years."

"Yes."

"Why?"

Adrian's eyes met hers.

"Because your father saved my life."

She went silent.

"What?"

"Sixteen years ago, my father ordered someone to kill me."

Elena stared at him.

"Why would he do that?"

"Because I found out what he was doing."

"How old were you?"

"Thirteen."

Her expression softened despite herself.

"And my father saved you?"

"He took me away."

"Where?"

"Somewhere the Black Rose couldn't find me."

Elena swallowed.

"So you knew me."

Adrian nodded.

"You were there."

She stared at him.

"Where?"

"At the house."

Her heart began pounding.

"You remember me?"

"I never forgot you."

The words hung between them.

Elena looked away.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"Because you were too young."

"And now?"

"Now you're old enough to know the truth."

The car suddenly stopped.

Elena lurched forward.

Adrian caught her arm.

"What happened?"

The driver looked back.

"Roadblock."

Adrian looked through the windshield.

Three vehicles blocked the road ahead.

Men stood beside them.

Armed.

Adrian immediately drew his weapon.

"Stay down."

Elena's heart raced.

"You said this place was safe."

"It was."

He looked at the men outside.

"Until now."

The first bullet struck the windshield.

The driver ducked.

Adrian pulled Elena down.

"Don't move."

More gunfire erupted.

The windows shattered.

Elena covered her head.

Adrian fired back through the broken glass.

"How many?"

The driver shouted, "At least six!"

Adrian looked at Elena.

"Can you run?"

She nodded.

"When I tell you, get out and stay behind the vehicle."

"What about you?"

"I'll be right behind you."

"Promise?"

He looked at her.

"I promise."

Then he opened the door.

"Go!"

Elena ran.

Bullets struck the road around her.

She crouched behind the vehicle.

Adrian emerged seconds later.

But he wasn't alone.

A man had grabbed him from behind.

They struggled.

Elena watched helplessly.

Then the man pulled Adrian's weapon away.

"Adrian!"

Adrian looked toward her.

His expression changed.

"Run!"

The man raised his gun.

Elena froze.

A shot rang out.

Adrian dropped.

"Adrian!"

She ran toward him.

But before she could reach him, another figure stepped from behind the attackers.

A man in a long black coat.

The scar across his face was unmistakable.

Adrian's uncle.

He looked directly at Elena.

Then smiled.

"You look exactly like your mother."

Elena stopped.

He slowly lowered his weapon.

"Come with me."

She shook her head.

"Where's my mother?"

"Alive."

"Where?"

"With me."

Elena glanced at Adrian.

He was lying motionless on the ground.

The stranger noticed her hesitation.

"If you stay, he'll die."

Elena's eyes filled with tears.

"What do you want?"

The man's smile disappeared.

"The thing your father hid."

"I don't have it."

"Oh, Elena."

He stepped closer.

"You've had it your entire life."

He reached into his coat and pulled out a small wooden object.

A music box.

Elena's breath caught.

The bird carved into the lid.

Her father's music box.

The man smiled.

"Now you understand."

Elena stared at it.

Then at him.

"What did my father hide inside me?"

The man's expression became almost sympathetic.

"Not inside you."

He opened the music box.

A tiny melody began to play.

"Inside your memories."

Elena's blood ran cold.

And somewhere behind her, Adrian opened his eyes.