CHAPTER 2 — THE DEAD MECHANIC’S SON
Adrian moved Milo inside the gatehouse before Celeste could reach them.
“Lock the estate down,” he ordered. “No one enters. No one leaves.”
The head of security, Grant Keller, hesitated.
“Sir, Mrs. Vale has full access.”
“Not anymore.”
Grant glanced toward the mansion.
“Understood.”
Luis disconnected the sedan’s battery while another mechanic inspected the undercarriage. Within minutes, he found a thin electronic controller hidden behind the rear axle.
“This wasn’t rushed,” Luis said. “Whoever did this knew the car’s custom system.”
Milo sat on a leather bench, clutching his burned notebook.
Adrian crouched in front of him.
“Tell me what happened to your father.”
Milo swallowed.
“Dad worked at your private garage. One night, he came home scared. He said somebody had asked him to change safety reports.”
“Who?”
“He didn’t tell me. He said names could get us hurt.”
Adrian’s jaw tightened.
“He packed some clothes and told me we were leaving town. But before we could go, two men came to our apartment.”
Milo’s hands began shaking.
“They took him. I hid under the sink.”
Adrian softened his voice.
“You saw their faces?”
“One of them.”
Milo looked through the gatehouse window at Grant.
Adrian followed his gaze.
The security chief was standing outside, speaking quietly into his phone.
Milo whispered, “That’s him.”
Adrian didn’t move.
Grant Keller had protected Adrian for twelve years. He knew every camera, every route, every emergency code.
“Are you sure?” Adrian asked.
“He had a silver ring shaped like a wolf.”
Adrian looked at Grant’s right hand.
A silver wolf wrapped around his finger.
Adrian rose slowly.
“Stay here.”
He walked outside.
Grant ended the call.
“Everything secure, sir.”
“Good.”
Adrian smiled faintly.
“Give me your phone.”
Grant’s expression barely changed.
“Why?”
“Because I asked.”
For three long seconds, neither man moved.
Then Grant reached inside his jacket.
Adrian expected a phone.
Instead, Grant pulled out a handgun.
Luis shouted from beside the sedan.
Grant grabbed Adrian by the collar and shoved the weapon against his ribs.
“Tell the boy to hand over the notebook.”
Adrian’s eyes hardened.
“You sabotaged my car.”
“I followed instructions.”
“From my wife?”
Grant gave a humorless smile.
“Your wife doesn’t give the real instructions.”
A sharp crash came from inside the gatehouse.
Milo had thrown a chair through the back window.
The boy climbed through the broken frame and ran toward the trees.
Grant spun around.
That moment was enough.
Adrian drove his elbow into Grant’s arm. The gun fell onto the gravel. Luis kicked it beneath the disabled sedan as the other guards rushed forward.
Grant fought wildly, but four men forced him down.
Adrian grabbed his jacket.
“Who gave the order?”
Grant laughed through a split lip.
“You still think this is about your marriage?”
Adrian pressed him harder.
“Where is Jonah Hayes?”
Grant’s smile disappeared.
Then Adrian heard tires screaming outside the estate.
A delivery truck smashed through the side gate.
Its rear doors flew open.
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Three masked men jumped out.
And they were heading straight for Milo.
