Chapter 6 - The Man in the Gray Coat|
I didn't tell Tyler about the threatening messages.
He already had enough to worry about.
Instead, I kissed his forehead, promised to visit again, and walked outside the hospital with the mysterious envelope hidden inside my bag.
A black sedan was waiting near the entrance.
The driver's window lowered.
A man in a gray coat looked at me.
“Miss Reed?”
I stopped.
He was in his forties, with neatly combed brown hair and a narrow face.
“Who are you?”
“Someone offering you an opportunity.”
My blood turned cold.
“Did you send the money?”
He smiled.
“Your brother deserves a chance to live.”
I took a step backward.
“Stay away from him.”
“Then make the sensible decision.”
He glanced toward the hospital.
“Children can be expensive, can't they?”
I reached for my phone.
His smile disappeared.
“Don't make this difficult.”
Suddenly, another vehicle pulled to the curb.
A black SUV.
The rear window lowered.
Dominic Vale sat inside.
“Clara.”
I nearly collapsed with relief.
The stranger's expression changed.
Dominic looked at him.
“Marcus?”
My heart stopped.
“You know him?”
Dominic's eyes narrowed.
“Of course.”
The man in the gray coat straightened.
“Evening, Dominic.”
Dominic stepped out of the vehicle.
“What are you doing here?”
Marcus smiled.
“Checking on one of our employees.”
Dominic looked at me.
Then at the envelope clutched in my hand.
“Is that true?”
I shook my head.
“No.”
Marcus's smile vanished.
Dominic slowly turned toward him.
“Get in your car.”
“Dominic—”
“Now.”
Marcus obeyed.
But before driving away, he looked directly at me.
His expression contained a promise.
Not a good one.
Dominic waited until the sedan disappeared.
Then he faced me.
“Tell me everything.”
I handed him the envelope.
He read the note.
His jaw tightened.
“Who sent the messages?”
“The same number.”
He examined the stamped symbol.
Three black circles.
His expression changed.
“Where have you seen this before?”
I reached into my pocket and showed him Noah's silver button.
“Your son gave me this.”
Dominic stared at it.
For several seconds, he said nothing.
Then he whispered:
“Three Bells.”
I frowned.
“What is that?”
“An old charitable foundation my wife supported.”
He took the button carefully.
“The foundation was dissolved after her death.”
I looked at him.
“Then why is someone using its symbol?”
Dominic didn't answer.
Instead, he looked back toward the hospital.
“Marcus Bell has worked for me for fifteen years.”
I swallowed.
“He threatened my brother.”
Dominic's face hardened.
“Then he's going to explain why.”
He opened the SUV door for me.
“You aren't returning to the staff quarters tonight.”
“Why?”
“Because whoever sent that money knows Noah is speaking to you.”
I looked toward the glowing hospital windows.
“And Tyler?”
Dominic's voice became very quiet.
“I'll arrange lawful protection for him, if he'll agree.”
For the first time, I saw something beneath Dominic Vale's terrifying reputation.
Fear.
May you like
Not for himself.
For two boys who had done nothing wrong.
