Chapter 2 - The Men at the Door
Gabriel Mercer entered first.
Six-foot-three.
Black suit.
Gray at his temples.
No wasted movement.
He did not look at Adrian.
He looked at me.
For eleven years, I had kept my brothers away from my marriage.
I had believed distance protected everyone.
Standing there with my wrists tied above my head, I finally understood how wrong I had been.
Gabriel's expression didn't change.
But his eyes did.
Behind him came Daniel, Luke, Michael, and Noah.
Five boys had grown up beside me in our grandmother's house.
Five men now stood in Adrian's ballroom.
Several armed members of their private protection team remained near the doors.
Gabriel lifted one hand.
“Lower your weapons.”
His men obeyed immediately.
Adrian laughed nervously.
“What is this?”
Gabriel ignored him.
He walked toward me.
One of Adrian's guards blocked his path.
“Sir, you need to—”
Daniel moved between them.
“Don't.”
One word.
The guard stepped back.
Gabriel reached me.
His eyes traveled over the ropes.
My shoulder.
My lip.
The marks across my dress.
His jaw tightened.
“Evie.”
I hadn't heard that name in years.
“I’m okay.”
“No, you're not.”
He pulled a small knife from his pocket and cut the rope.
My arms collapsed.
Gabriel caught me.
The moment my forehead touched his shoulder, everything I had been holding inside cracked.
I didn't sob.
I didn't need to.
He simply held me.
Behind us, Adrian found his courage again.
“This is my home.”
Gabriel slowly released me.
“No.”
Adrian blinked.
“What?”
Gabriel turned.
“This house is owned by Mercer Residential Holdings.”
Adrian stared.
Gabriel continued.
“Your wife controls Mercer Residential Holdings.”
I watched the blood disappear from Adrian's face.
His father stepped forward.
“That is impossible.”
I finally spoke.
“No, Richard.”
Everyone looked at me.
“The mansion was purchased through an investment company after our wedding.”
Adrian's mother scoffed.
“You told us Adrian bought it.”
“I never told you that.”
Silence.
“You assumed.”
Vanessa lowered her glass.
Adrian's eyes narrowed.
“You're lying.”
Gabriel almost smiled.
“Would you like to see the deed?”
Adrian looked at me.
“You set me up.”
I laughed.
“No.”
“You hid this from me.”
“I protected assets that existed before our marriage.”
“You lied.”
“And you tied your wife up at her birthday party.”
Michael stepped forward.
“Maybe focus on that part.”
Adrian pointed at the armed men.
“You brought gunmen into my house!”
Gabriel looked toward the exits.
“They are licensed private security. They entered after your employees unlawfully prevented guests from leaving.”
A woman near the wall suddenly spoke.
“He did.”
Everyone turned.
It was Judge Helen Ward, an old family friend of Adrian's father.
“I tried to leave after the second strike. Security locked the door.”
Another guest raised his hand.
“So did I.”
“Me too.”
Then another.
Adrian looked around.
For the first time, he realized the witnesses weren't his friends anymore.
They were evidence.
His security chief quietly stepped away from him.
Adrian noticed.
“Mark?”
The man hesitated.
Gabriel looked at him.
“Were guests prevented from leaving?”
Mark swallowed.
“Yes.”
Adrian snapped.
“You work for me!”
Mark's face hardened.
“I did.”
Gabriel glanced toward the front doors.
Red and blue lights flashed outside.
Adrian froze.
I looked at Gabriel.
“You called the police?”
“No.”
He looked at me.
“Someone inside did.”
Vanessa suddenly dropped her wine glass.
It shattered.
Then she whispered something that changed the room.
“I called them.”
Adrian turned toward his mistress.
May you like
And the rage in his face terrified even her.
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