Chapter 2 - Aunt Helena
Adrian walked into Helena Cross’s penthouse with a lie already prepared.
Marcus waited two floors below with a secure audio feed.
Helena stood by the windows overlooking the river.
She opened her arms.
“My poor boy.”
Adrian let her hug him.
He hated himself for remembering how many times that same perfume had meant safety.
She touched the bruising near his temple.
“Victor nearly killed you.”
“Nearly.”
Helena poured tea.
No assistants.
No staff.
She had always preferred private conversations when money or family were involved.
Adrian watched her hands.
On her right index finger sat a narrow emerald ring.
His mother’s.
He had searched for it after Eleanor died.
It had never been found.
Helena noticed him looking.
“What?”
“That ring.”
She glanced down.
“Old habit.”
“It belonged to my mother.”
A pause.
Then Helena smiled.
“She gave it to me.”
“When?”
“The night before she died.”
Adrian’s fingers tightened around the teacup.
His mother’s official timeline said she spent that night alone at home.
He kept his face still.
“Why?”
“She was frightened.”
“Of Victor?”
Helena looked at him carefully.
“Among others.”
Adrian changed direction.
“We found surveillance on Ernesto.”
Her expression did not change.
“Victor was a thorough man.”
“It wasn’t his account.”
“Shell systems overlap.”
“Cross Foundation paid for it.”
Helena’s fingers stopped on the spoon.
Then moved again.
“Victor used foundation vendors constantly.”
“Without asking you?”
“He was family.”
“So was my father.”
That landed.
Helena set the spoon down.
“What exactly did you find?”
Adrian watched her.
He deliberately changed the phrase.
“An instruction that said keep the kid nearby.”
Helena answered immediately.
“Keep the boy in position.”
Silence.
Her eyes lifted.
She knew.
Adrian let the silence stretch.
Helena smiled slowly.
“You’re testing me.”
“I’m asking questions.”
“You always did that badly when emotional.”
“Did you place Ernesto under the bridge?”
“No.”
“Did you know he would be there?”
“No.”
“Did you know the car would go into the river?”
Her mouth tightened.
“No.”
Adrian stood.
Helena did not.
“You should rest,” she said.
“You should explain my mother’s ring.”
“She gave it to me.”
“The night before her overdose.”
“Yes.”
“What did she say?”
For the first time, Helena looked away.
“She said you would need someone after she was gone.”
Adrian’s skin went cold.
“She knew she was going to die?”
“I didn’t say that.”
“You almost did.”
Helena stood now.
Her warmth vanished.
“Be careful, Adrian.”
“Why?”
“You survived a traumatic event. Your judgment will be watched.”
There it was.
Not concern.
A warning.
His phone buzzed once in his pocket.
Marcus’s prearranged signal.
Leave.
Adrian stepped toward the door.
Helena called after him.
“One more thing.”
He turned.
She held up the emerald ring.
“Your mother didn’t ask me to protect you from Victor.”
Adrian’s breath slowed.
“Who, then?”
Helena smiled.
May you like
“Your father.”
CUT.
