BENEATH HIS SECRET

THE TRUTH IN THE DARK

The lights went out.

Amara barely had time to react before a strong hand pulled her down.

"Stay down!"

Adrian's voice.

She crouched beside him, her heart pounding.

Another loud sound came from outside.

Then silence.

Absolute silence.

"Everyone okay?" Adrian whispered.

"I'm fine," Amara answered.

Elena's voice followed.

"I'm here."

Adrian's father remained near the doorway.

"Nobody move."

Adrian looked toward him.

"Dad?"

"Not now."

His voice was firm.

"Someone is outside."

Adrian reached for his phone and turned on the flashlight.

The beam swept across the room.

Nothing.

Then he noticed the broken window.

Someone had been standing outside.

His father walked toward the desk.

"Where is the file?"

Adrian frowned.

"What file?"

"The blue file."

Everyone went silent.

Adrian looked at Amara.

She shook her head.

"We don't have it."

His father stared at them.

"Then Richard has it."

Daniel stepped forward.

"Richard is alive."

Adrian's father nodded.

"I know."

Amara's eyes widened.

"You knew?"

He looked at her.

"Your mother told me."

Amara felt a lump in her throat.

"My mother?"

"Claire was trying to protect you."

"From Richard?"

"From everyone."

Adrian stepped closer.

"Why did you disappear?"

His father's expression changed.

"I didn't disappear."

"Then where were you?"

"Running."

"From whom?"

"Richard."

Adrian stared at him.

"Why didn't you come home?"

"Because I couldn't."

His father looked toward the window.

"Richard had people everywhere. If I returned, he would have come after you."

Adrian's voice broke slightly.

"You could have told me."

"I tried."

"When?"

"Five years ago."

Adrian frowned.

"I never received anything."

"Because Richard intercepted it."

Silence.

Amara looked at Elena.

"Did you know?"

Elena shook her head.

"No."

Adrian's father walked toward the desk and opened a hidden drawer.

Inside was a small envelope.

He handed it to Amara.

"This belonged to your mother."

Amara stared at it.

Her name was written on the front.

AMARA.

Her hands trembled as she opened it.

Inside was a single letter.

She unfolded it.

The handwriting was unmistakable.

Her mother's.

Amara began reading.

The letter explained that Claire had discovered Richard's involvement in the financial crimes.

But there was something else.

Richard wasn't the person who had started everything.

He had been protecting someone more powerful.

Someone whose identity Claire had never been able to confirm.

Amara's eyes moved down the page.

Then she stopped.

There was one final sentence.

If they ever find you, look for the person who has always been closest to you.

Amara slowly lowered the letter.

Adrian watched her.

"What does it say?"

She looked at him.

Before she could answer, his father spoke.

"Don't tell anyone."

Adrian turned.

"Why?"

"Because whoever is behind this may already know."

Suddenly, the lights came back on.

Everyone froze.

The room looked exactly as it had before.

Except for one thing.

The photograph of Adrian's father and Richard was gone.

Adrian rushed toward the desk.

"Someone was here."

His father shook his head.

"No."

He looked toward the doorway.

"They never left."

Amara's heart dropped.

"What?"

His father pointed toward the hallway.

"There is another entrance."

Adrian followed his gaze.

A narrow door stood partially open.

He rushed toward it.

The door slammed shut.

Adrian pulled it open.

Nothing.

Only a long empty corridor.

Then he saw something on the floor.

A small black envelope.

He picked it up.

Inside was a photograph.

Amara stepped closer.

Her breath caught.

It showed her, Elena, and Adrian standing outside Blackwood Publishing.

But the photograph wasn't from that morning.

It was from years earlier.

Amara stared at it.

"I've never seen this."

Elena looked at the photograph.

Her face went pale.

"I have."

Amara turned toward her.

"What?"

Elena swallowed.

"I took that photograph."

Amara's eyes widened.

"You?"

"Yes."

"When?"

Elena looked at her sister.

"Five years ago."

Amara couldn't understand.

"Why would you photograph us?"

Elena's eyes filled with tears.

"Because Mom told me to."

Adrian stepped forward.

"What exactly did she tell you?"

Elena looked at him.

"She told me that one day, you and Amara would have to work together."

Adrian frowned.

"Why?"

"Because she knew your families would eventually be forced to face the truth."

Amara stared at her sister.

"And what is the truth?"

Elena hesitated.

Then she whispered:

"Our families aren't enemies."

She looked at Adrian.

"They were both victims."

A sudden noise came from outside.

A car engine.

Adrian rushed to the window.

A black vehicle sped away from the estate.

He turned back.

"We're not alone."

His father looked at Amara.

"There's something you need to know."

"What?"

He took a deep breath.

"Your mother didn't die five years ago."

Amara froze.

"What?"

"She disappeared."

The room went silent.

Adrian stared at his father.

"You told me she was dead."

"I was told she was."

Amara's voice trembled.

"Then where is she?"

His father looked at her.

"We don't know."

A tear slipped down Amara's cheek.

For five years, she had mourned her mother.

For five years, she had believed she was gone.

Now everything she thought she knew was collapsing.

Then Adrian's phone vibrated.

A new message appeared.

SHE'S ALIVE.

Another message followed.

AND SHE'S BEEN WAITING FOR YOU.