Before You Found Me

TRUTHS BETWEEN THEM

Adrian drove her to a quiet lakeside park.

It was far from the busy streets of the city.

No reporters.

No crowds.

No expensive buildings.

Just a calm lake stretching into the distance, surrounded by tall trees whose leaves moved gently in the afternoon breeze.

Isla sat quietly in the passenger seat.

She watched the scenery through the window.

For the first time in days, nobody seemed to be following them.

At least, she hoped so.

Adrian parked beneath a large tree and turned off the engine.

Neither of them moved.

For several seconds, the only sound was the soft ticking of the cooling engine.

Finally, Adrian spoke.

"I owe you an explanation."

Isla folded her arms.

"I'd say so."

He looked toward the lake.

"My company has enemies."

"Power attracts greed."

Adrian nodded.

"That's true."

"Then what's different about these enemies?"

"They don't just want money."

Isla looked at him.

"What do they want?"

"Control."

"Of your company?"

"Of everything connected to it."

She frowned.

"That's a lot."

"My company has investments in several industries. Technology. Finance. Construction. Transportation."

"And someone wants all of it?"

"Someone wants what comes with it."

"Money."

"Influence."

Adrian's voice became quieter.

"Power."

Isla stared through the windshield.

"So this is all about business?"

"At first, I thought it was."

"At first?"

He nodded.

"Four years ago, my older brother died."

Isla remembered the photograph.

The man beside Adrian.

The brother whose death had supposedly been an accident.

"What was his name?"

"Daniel."

"Was he involved in the company?"

"He was."

"Then his death wasn't really an accident."

Adrian's hands tightened around the steering wheel.

"I don't know."

"But you don't believe it was."

"No."

He looked at the lake.

"Daniel discovered something."

"What?"

"I'm still trying to find out."

Isla turned toward him.

"You mean you don't know what your own brother discovered?"

"Not exactly."

"What happened?"

Adrian took a slow breath.

"Three weeks before he died, Daniel told me that someone inside the company was selling information."

"Information to who?"

"We never found out."

"Didn't you investigate?"

"I did."

"And?"

"I found nothing."

Isla shook her head.

"That doesn't make sense."

"I know."

"What happened after that?"

"Daniel died."

The words were simple.

But the pain behind them wasn't.

Isla lowered her voice.

"I'm sorry."

Adrian nodded.

"After his death, I started investigating on my own."

"And that's when you found the enemies?"

"No."

He looked at her.

"That's when they found me."

A chill ran through Isla.

"How?"

"Threats."

"What kind?"

"Messages. Warnings. Attempts to sabotage the company."

"Like the accident?"

"Eventually."

Isla looked at him.

"So someone really tried to kill you."

"Yes."

"And now they think I'm important to you."

Adrian's eyes met hers.

"Yes."

She laughed bitterly.

"They don't even know me."

"I know."

"But criminals don't wait for facts."

Adrian didn't answer.

For the first time, Isla saw fear in his eyes.

Not fear for himself.

Fear for her.

She hadn't seen that expression before.

He had always seemed calm.

Controlled.

Almost impossible to read.

But now...

He looked genuinely afraid.

"You're scared," she said quietly.

Adrian looked away.

"I'm concerned."

"That's what you called it before."

"And?"

"You're still scared."

He didn't deny it.

Isla's expression softened.

"Why?"

Adrian looked at her again.

"Because I know what these people are capable of."

"You barely know me."

"I know enough."

"What do you know?"

He hesitated.

"I know you're brave."

She smiled slightly.

"That's not exactly a secret."

"I know you don't trust easily."

"That's because you've given me plenty of reasons not to."

He almost smiled.

"I know you're stubborn."

"Definitely not a secret."

"And I know you don't run when someone needs help."

Isla looked down.

Adrian continued.

"That's what worries me."

"Why?"

"Because the next time someone is in danger, you'll probably run toward them again."

She laughed softly.

"Maybe."

Adrian shook his head.

"That's not funny."

"Why?"

"Because one day, there might not be anyone there to pull you back."

The smile disappeared from her face.

She realized he wasn't exaggerating.

He was genuinely afraid of losing her.

But why?

They had known each other for only a few days.

"Adrian."

"Yes?"

"Why do you care this much?"

He didn't answer.

The silence stretched between them.

Isla waited.

Finally, he said,

"Because you saved me when you had nothing to gain."

She looked at him.

"You don't owe me anything."

"I know."

"Then stop acting like you do."

Adrian smiled faintly.

"I'm trying."

They got out of the car.

The park was quiet.

They walked toward the lake.

Birds moved across the water.

Children played in the distance.

An elderly couple sat on a bench nearby.

For a few minutes, everything felt normal.

Isla breathed in the cool air.

"I used to come to places like this with my grandmother."

Adrian looked at her.

"Here?"

"Not this exact park."

She smiled.

"There was a lake near where we lived."

"What did you do there?"

"Nothing special."

She shrugged.

"We'd sit and talk."

"What did you talk about?"

"Everything."

"Did she give good advice?"

"The best."

"What was the best advice she ever gave you?"

Isla thought for a moment.

"She told me that people aren't always what they appear to be."

Adrian smiled.

"Smart woman."

"Very."

She looked at him.

"She also said that money doesn't make someone important."

"She was right."

"Are you agreeing with me?"

"Don't get used to it."

Isla laughed.

For a moment, the tension between them disappeared.

Then Adrian's phone rang.

His expression changed immediately.

He answered.

"Yes?"

He listened.

His eyes moved toward the road.

"What?"

Another pause.

"Are you certain?"

Isla watched him.

Adrian's jaw tightened.

"Don't approach them."

He ended the call.

"What happened?"

He looked at her.

"We need to leave."

"Why?"

"Now."

His voice was calm, but urgent.

Isla looked around.

"What did you see?"

"I didn't see anything."

"Then why are we leaving?"

Adrian looked toward the far end of the park.

"There was a car following us."

Isla's heart dropped.

"What kind?"

"Black sedan."

"Is it still there?"

"No."

"Then maybe they left."

"Maybe."

He took out his keys.

"But I'm not taking that chance."

They walked back toward the car.

Isla glanced behind her.

Nothing.

The park still looked peaceful.

But she knew better now.

Peace could be an illusion.

They got into the car.

Adrian started the engine.

Before driving away, he looked at her.

"Isla."

"What?"

"If things get worse..."

She waited.

"Don't trust anyone who approaches you claiming they work for me."

"Not even your security?"

"Not unless I personally confirm them."

She nodded.

"And Adrian?"

"Yes?"

"If you think I'm in danger..."

"Yes?"

"Don't lie to me."

He looked at her.

"I won't."

The car pulled away from the lake.

Neither of them noticed the man sitting on a bench several yards away.

He lowered his phone.

A photograph of Adrian and Isla was displayed on the screen.

He typed a message.

They're getting closer.

A reply came almost immediately.

Good.

The man looked toward the road.

Let them.

Then he smiled.

Because the plan was no longer about Adrian Hale.

It was about the woman beside him.

And neither Adrian nor Isla knew that the greatest danger was still ahead.