BENEATH HIS SECRET

THE PERSON BEHIND THE VOICE

Amara couldn't move.

The voice echoed through the warehouse again.

"Come back, Amara."

Her heart sank.

She knew that voice.

It was familiar.

Too familiar.

Adrian looked at her.

"Who is it?"

Amara swallowed.

"Elena."

Daniel's expression changed.

"Your sister?"

Amara nodded.

"But that's impossible."

"Why?"

"Because Elena left the mansion before us."

Adrian stared at him.

"How do you know?"

Daniel didn't answer.

A shadow appeared at the end of the corridor.

Then Elena stepped into the light.

Amara's eyes widened.

"Elena?"

Her sister looked completely different.

She wasn't frightened anymore.

She looked calm.

Too calm.

"Amara," she said softly. "You shouldn't have come here."

Adrian stepped in front of Amara.

"Stay away from her."

Elena looked at him.

"You still don't understand, Adrian."

"Understand what?"

"Your father didn't disappear because of Victor Hale."

Adrian's expression hardened.

"Then who took him?"

Elena looked at Amara.

"Someone he trusted."

Amara felt a chill run through her.

"You?"

Elena shook her head.

"No."

She took another step forward.

"I tried to protect you."

Adrian frowned.

"Then why are you here?"

Elena looked at Daniel.

"Because he knows the truth."

Daniel remained silent.

Amara looked between them.

"Someone please explain what's happening."

Elena sighed.

"Our mother discovered that someone was using the Blackwood company to move money illegally. She tried to expose them."

"And Daniel?"

"He helped her."

Adrian looked at Daniel.

"Then why did you disappear?"

Daniel's face tightened.

"Because I was blamed for everything."

"By whom?"

Daniel looked at Elena.

"By your father."

Adrian froze.

"My father?"

"Yes."

Amara shook her head.

"That doesn't make sense."

Daniel reached into his coat and pulled out a folded document.

"Your mother discovered that someone had forged financial records using my name."

He handed the document to Adrian.

"Your father believed I had betrayed him."

Adrian read the page.

His face became pale.

"But if this was forged..."

"Then someone wanted your father to believe I was guilty."

Amara looked at Elena.

"Who?"

Elena hesitated.

Before she could answer, a loud noise came from behind them.

Everyone turned.

The warehouse door had been forced open.

Several footsteps echoed through the building.

Daniel's expression changed.

"They found us."

Adrian grabbed Amara's hand.

"We need to go."

"But Elena—"

"She can come with us."

Elena nodded.

They hurried toward the emergency exit.

Daniel led them through a narrow passage behind the storage lockers.

They reached a metal door.

Daniel pushed it open.

Cold night air rushed inside.

They ran outside.

Adrian looked back at the warehouse.

Several figures were moving through the entrance.

"Keep moving."

They reached the car.

Adrian unlocked it.

Everyone got inside.

He started the engine and drove away.

For several minutes, nobody spoke.

Finally, Amara turned toward Elena.

"Tell me the truth."

Elena looked down.

"I am."

"No. You're not."

Amara's voice trembled.

"You knew Daniel was alive."

Elena remained silent.

"You knew about the warehouse."

Silence.

"You knew about the evidence."

Elena finally looked at her.

"Yes."

Amara felt betrayed.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"Because I was trying to keep you alive."

"By lying to me?"

"Yes."

The answer stunned Amara.

Elena's eyes filled with tears.

"Every time I told you nothing, it was because I was afraid someone was listening."

"Who?"

Elena looked toward Adrian.

Then at Daniel.

"Someone inside the Blackwood family."

Adrian's hands tightened around the steering wheel.

"Who?"

Elena shook her head.

"I don't know."

Daniel suddenly spoke.

"I do."

Everyone turned toward him.

Adrian looked in the rearview mirror.

"Who?"

Daniel hesitated.

Then he said:

"Your father's brother."

Adrian's face went blank.

"My uncle?"

Daniel nodded.

"Richard Blackwood."

Amara remembered the name.

She had seen it in the documents.

"Where is he now?"

Daniel looked at her.

"He's been dead for three years."

Silence filled the car.

Amara frowned.

"Then how could he be responsible?"

Daniel looked at her.

"Because he isn't dead."

Adrian immediately stopped the car.

"What?"

Daniel's voice was quiet.

"Richard Blackwood disappeared three years ago. Everyone believed he died."

He looked toward the dark road behind them.

"But I saw him last month."

Adrian stared at him.

"Where?"

Daniel's answer sent a chill through Amara.

"At your father's grave."

Nobody spoke.

Then Adrian's phone vibrated.

A message appeared.

YOU'RE GETTING CLOSER.

A second message followed.

BUT YOU STILL DON'T KNOW WHO YOU'RE SLEEPING BESIDE.

Amara looked at Adrian.

He looked back at her.

For the first time, neither of them knew what to say.

Then another message appeared.

This one contained a photograph.

It showed Adrian and Amara standing together outside Blackwood Publishing.

The photograph had been taken that very morning.

Someone had been watching them.

And they were much closer than Amara had ever imagined.