Before You Found Me

THE MORNING WARNING

The next morning, Isla ignored the message.

She couldn't afford to miss work.

Bills didn't disappear because someone had threatened her.

Her rent was still due.

The café still needed her.

And despite everything that had happened over the past few days, she refused to let fear control her life.

She got dressed earlier than usual.

Before leaving, she checked the windows.

Locked.

She checked the door.

Locked.

Then she looked at her phone.

No new messages.

For a moment, she wondered if the previous night's warning had been nothing more than an attempt to scare her.

Maybe nobody was coming.

Maybe she had allowed herself to become too paranoid.

She slipped her phone into her bag.

"I'll be fine."

The words sounded unconvincing.

Still, she left.

The streets were already busy.

People rushed toward work.

Cars filled the roads.

Buses stopped at crowded stations.

Everything looked normal.

Isla walked quickly toward the café.

She kept looking behind her.

Nothing.

No black SUV.

No man in a hoodie.

No suspicious faces.

She finally reached the café.

The familiar sign hung above the entrance.

She unlocked the door and pushed it open.

The smell of coffee immediately filled the room.

For the first time that morning, she relaxed.

She switched on the lights.

Then she heard footsteps behind her.

She turned.

Her manager stood in the doorway.

"There you are."

Isla smiled.

"Morning."

He looked relieved.

"You look like you've seen a ghost."

"I almost did."

Her manager frowned.

"What does that mean?"

"Nothing."

She placed her bag behind the counter.

"I just didn't sleep well."

He studied her face.

"You've been acting strange for days."

"I'm fine."

"You said that yesterday."

"And I'm saying it today."

He sighed.

"You're stubborn."

"I've heard that before."

He laughed.

"Well, at least you're still yourself."

Isla smiled.

Then he glanced through the front window.

His expression changed.

"What?"

He didn't answer.

He kept staring outside.

Isla followed his gaze.

Two expensive black SUVs had just parked across the street.

The vehicles were large, polished, and completely out of place beside the small cafés and shops lining the street.

The café gradually became quiet.

Customers turned toward the windows.

One of the SUVs opened.

A man in a dark suit stepped out.

Then another.

Then another.

Isla's stomach tightened.

She knew who was coming.

The rear door of the second SUV opened.

Adrian stepped out.

He looked serious.

Very serious.

He adjusted the sleeve of his suit before walking toward the café.

Every customer inside turned to look.

The door opened.

The bell above it rang.

Adrian stepped inside.

The entire café fell silent.

Isla stared at him.

Her manager whispered,

"Do you know that man?"

Before she could answer, Adrian walked straight toward her.

He stopped in front of the counter.

His eyes immediately scanned the café.

Then they returned to her.

"You shouldn't have come."

Isla frowned.

"I have bills to pay."

"So do I."

She crossed her arms.

"Then you understand."

Adrian looked at her for a moment.

"And mine include keeping you alive."

Her manager's eyes widened.

Isla stared at Adrian.

"You can't just walk into my workplace and say things like that."

"I can when you're ignoring warnings."

"I wasn't going to let someone scare me out of my job."

"I understand."

"No, you don't."

She lowered her voice.

"I've worked here for years."

"I know."

"You can't expect me to hide in my apartment every time someone threatens me."

"I don't."

"Then what do you expect?"

Adrian stepped closer.

"I expect you to understand that this isn't a normal threat."

The café remained silent around them.

Isla glanced at the customers.

Everyone was watching.

"Can we talk somewhere private?"

Adrian nodded.

They moved toward the back of the café.

Her manager followed them with his eyes.

As soon as they were out of earshot, Isla turned to Adrian.

"What happened?"

"Nothing yet."

"Then why are you here?"

"Because someone told you not to come."

She looked at him.

"And you did the exact opposite?"

"I didn't receive the message."

"You received the photograph."

"Yes."

"Then you knew."

Adrian nodded.

"I knew enough."

Isla sighed.

"You're impossible."

"So are you."

She almost smiled.

Then Adrian's expression became serious.

"Did you notice anything unusual on your way here?"

"No."

"Did anyone follow you?"

"Not that I noticed."

"Did anyone approach you?"

"No."

He nodded slowly.

"Good."

"What?"

"I'm glad."

"That's it?"

"For now."

Isla looked toward the front windows.

The two SUVs were still parked outside.

"Why did you bring all those people?"

"Security."

"You brought half a security team to a café."

"Only half."

She stared at him.

"That's not funny."

"I wasn't joking."

She sighed.

Adrian looked toward the entrance.

"How many people are working today?"

"Three."

"Where's the back exit?"

"Why?"

"Show me."

She hesitated.

Then pointed toward the kitchen.

"There."

Adrian walked toward it.

He inspected the door.

Then the hallway.

Then the windows.

"What are you doing?"

"Checking your exits."

"You're acting like we're under attack."

"We might be."

She swallowed.

"Adrian..."

He turned toward her.

"There's something else."

"What?"

"The message you received wasn't just a warning."

"What do you mean?"

"It was a test."

Isla frowned.

"A test?"

"Someone wanted to know whether you'd obey."

"And I didn't."

"Exactly."

Her expression changed.

"So what happens now?"

Adrian looked at her.

"Now they know you won't."

A chill moved through her.

He continued.

"And that means they'll probably change their approach."

Before Isla could respond, a loud crash came from the front of the café.

Everyone jumped.

A glass had shattered.

Isla turned toward the sound.

One of the customers stood beside a table.

"I'm sorry," the man said.

Adrian immediately moved in front of Isla.

"Stay here."

She looked at him.

"It was just a glass."

"I know."

But his eyes remained fixed on the stranger.

The man apologized again.

Then walked toward the exit.

Adrian watched him leave.

Something about the man's movements bothered him.

"Who was that?" Isla asked.

"I don't know."

"Adrian..."

He reached for his phone.

"Check the security cameras."

One of his security men immediately moved toward the back office.

A few seconds later, he returned.

"Sir."

Adrian looked at him.

"What?"

"We have a problem."

"What kind?"

The guard lowered his voice.

"Someone accessed the external camera system."

Isla's face went pale.

"When?"

"About ten minutes ago."

Adrian's expression hardened.

"Can you trace it?"

"We're trying."

"Do it."

The guard nodded and moved away.

Isla stared at Adrian.

"They were watching the café."

"Yes."

"Then they knew I was coming."

"Probably."

"Then the message..."

"Was designed to make you stay home."

She understood.

"If I had stayed home..."

"They wouldn't have needed to come here."

She looked toward the street.

The black SUVs were still there.

Suddenly, the café didn't feel safe anymore.

"Adrian."

"Yes?"

"Did they want me to come here?"

He didn't answer.

His silence was enough.

She whispered,

"Why?"

Adrian looked directly into her eyes.

"Because they wanted me surrounded by people."

"Why would that help them?"

"Because it makes it harder for me to protect you."

Isla's heart began pounding.

Before she could ask another question, Adrian's phone rang.

He answered.

"Yes?"

The voice on the other end spoke quickly.

Adrian's face changed.

"Are you sure?"

A pause.

"Where?"

Another pause.

His eyes moved toward the café windows.

Then he looked at Isla.

"Nobody leaves."

He ended the call.

"What happened?" she asked.

Adrian didn't answer immediately.

Finally, he said,

"The black SUVs outside aren't the only vehicles watching this café."

Isla looked at him.

"How many?"

"Three."

Her heart sank.

"Three?"

Adrian nodded.

"And one of them has been following you since you left your apartment."

The café suddenly felt much smaller.

Adrian stepped closer.

"You're coming with me."

"Where?"

"Somewhere they can't reach you."

"And my job?"

"I'll explain everything to your manager."

Isla shook her head.

"You can't keep taking me away."

"I know."

He looked at her.

"But right now, I don't have another choice."

Outside, one of the black SUVs slowly pulled away.

Then another followed.

The third remained parked.

Inside the café, nobody noticed the man sitting behind the dark windows of the remaining vehicle.

He held a phone to his ear.

"She's with Adrian."

A voice answered.

"Good."

The man watched Adrian escort Isla toward the back of the café.

"Do we move now?"

"No."

"Why?"

The voice on the other end was calm.

"Because we're finally seeing exactly what we wanted."

"What?"

"How far Adrian Hale will go to protect her."

The man smiled.

"And once we know that..."

He looked toward the café.

"...we'll know exactly how to break him."