7. Bella
— ? —
Bella
The morning after Adrian and I solidify our commitment to each other, I wake with a sense of purpose I haven’t felt in years.
The sun streams through my bedroom window, and for the first time since my wedding day, I don’t feel the crushing weight of humiliation and betrayal. Instead, I feel powerful. Determined.
Ready to fight.
Adrian is already awake, propped up on one elbow, watching me with an expression so tender it makes my heart ache.
“Good morning, beautiful,” he murmurs, brushing a strand of hair from my face.
“Good morning,” I say, stretching languidly. My body is deliciously sore from last night, a reminder of the passion we shared. “What time is it?”
“Early. Six-thirty.” Adrian leans down to press a soft kiss to my lips. “I was thinking we could go into the office together today. We turned in our evidence already to the DA. We should start coordinating our next moves against Marcus.”
The mention of Marcus’s name sends a chill through me, but I push it aside. I’m not going to let fear control me anymore. “Sounds perfect. Let me shower and get ready.”
Adrian’s eyes darken with desire. “Need company in that shower?”
I laugh, swatting his chest playfully. “If you join me, we’ll never make it to the office.”
“That’s the idea,” Adrian says with a wicked grin, but he releases me. “Go. I’ll make coffee.”
Twenty minutes later, I emerge from the bathroom dressed in a sharp navy suit, my hair pulled back in a sleek ponytail, my makeup flawless. I look professional, competent, strong. I look like a woman who’s ready to take down a criminal empire.
Adrian hands me a travel mug of coffee, his eyes appreciative as they roam over me. “You look incredible.”
“Thank you,” I say, taking a sip. Perfect, as always. “Ready?”
“Always.”
We take Adrian’s car to Sterling Industries, arriving just after seven-thirty.
The building is mostly empty at this hour, just a few early risers scattered throughout the floors.
I like it this way - the quiet, the sense of possibility, the feeling that we’re the only two people in the world working toward this goal.
Adrian and I spend the morning in his office, reviewing the evidence we’ve compiled against Marcus.
It’s extensive - financial records showing embezzlement and fraud, emails proving bribery, witness testimony linking him to David Reed’s murder.
We have enough to bury him, but Adrian wants to make sure the case is airtight before we turn everything over to the district attorney.
“We need to establish a clear timeline,” Adrian says, spreading documents across his desk. “Show that Marcus knew about the safety violations at the Riverside development, that he paid off inspectors, and that when David Reed threatened to expose him, Marcus had him killed.”
I lean over the desk, studying the documents. “These emails show Marcus communicating with Derek Thompson, his assistant. Derek was the one who made the actual payments to the inspectors.”
“Right. And Derek is willing to testify in exchange for immunity.” Adrian pulls up another file on his computer.
“But we need to connect Marcus directly to the murder. The encrypted emails to the hitman are good, but a defense attorney could argue they were sent by someone else using Marcus’s computer. ”
“What about phone records?” I ask. “If Marcus called the hitman directly-”
“He was too smart for that,” Adrian says grimly. “He used burner phones. But we have testimony from the hitman himself that Marcus was the one who hired him. That, combined with the financial trail showing Marcus made a fifty-thousand-dollar withdrawal the day before the hit, should be enough.”
I sit back in my chair, my mind racing. “This is really happening. We’re really going to take him down.”
Adrian reaches across the desk and takes my hand. “We are. And when we do, you’ll finally have closure. Justice.”
“It’s not just about me,” I say quietly. “It’s about David Reed. About all the people Marcus has hurt over the years. About making sure he can’t hurt anyone else.”
“I know,” Adrian says, squeezing my hand. “That’s why I love you. You’re not doing this for revenge. You’re doing it because it’s right.”
I’m about to respond when my phone buzzes on the desk. I glance at the screen and freeze.
It’s a text from an unknown number.
We need to talk. Meet me at the Riverside construction site. One hour. Come alone.
My blood runs cold. I know who this is. I know what he wants.
“Bella?” Adrian’s voice is sharp with concern. “What is it?”
I show him the phone, and I watch his expression darken. “Marcus,” he says flatly.
“He wants to meet,” I say, my voice steadier than I feel. “At the Riverside site.”
“Absolutely not.” Adrian stands, his body tense with barely controlled anger. “You’re not going anywhere near him.”
“Adrian-”
“No, Bella. This is a trap. He’s desperate, cornered. He knows we’re coming after him, and he’s trying to intimidate you into backing off.” Adrian takes my phone, staring at the message like he can will it out of existence. “I won’t let you put yourself in danger.”
“What if he has information?” I ask. “What if he’s willing to confess, to make a deal?”
“Then he can do it through his lawyer,” Adrian says firmly. “You’re not meeting him alone. End of discussion.”
I want to argue, but I know Adrian is right. Marcus is dangerous, and meeting him alone would be foolish. But the text has unsettled me, reminding me that Marcus is still out there, still a threat.
“What do we do?” I ask.
Adrian is quiet for a moment, his jaw tight. Then he makes a decision. “We ignore it. We don’t respond, we don’t engage. We continue building our case, and when we’re ready, we turn everything over to the DA. Marcus can’t touch you, Bella. I won’t let him.”
I nod, trying to calm my racing heart. “Okay. Okay, you’re right.”
But even as I agree, I can’t shake the feeling that this isn’t over. That Marcus won’t give up so easily.
The rest of the day passes in a blur of work. Adrian and I review documents, coordinate with his legal team, and finalize the timeline of Marcus’s crimes. By the time evening rolls around, I’m exhausted but satisfied. We’re close. So close to bringing Marcus to justice.
Adrian insists on driving me home, and I don’t argue. The text from Marcus has left me on edge, and I’m grateful for Adrian’s protective presence.
“Stay with me tonight,” Adrian says as he pulls up in front of my apartment building. “I don’t like the idea of you being alone.”
“I’ll be fine,” I say, though I’m not entirely convinced. “Marcus is just trying to scare me. He won’t actually do anything.”
“Bella-”
“I need to prove to myself that I’m not afraid of him,” I interrupt. “I need to know that I can stand on my own two feet, that I don’t need constant protection.”
Adrian’s expression is conflicted, but he nods slowly. “Okay. But call me if anything - anything - feels off. I’ll be here in five minutes.”
“I will,” I promise, leaning over to kiss him. “Thank you. For everything.”
“I love you,” Adrian says, cupping my face. “Be careful.”
“I love you too.”
I climb out of the car and head into my building, waving at Adrian as he drives away. The lobby is quiet, the elevator empty. I ride up to my floor, my keys already in my hand.
I’m halfway down the hallway to my apartment when I see him.
Marcus is leaning against my door, arms crossed, his expression cold and calculating. He’s dressed in an expensive suit, his hair perfectly styled, looking every inch the successful businessman. But I can see the desperation in his eyes, the barely controlled rage.
I freeze, my heart hammering in my chest. “What the hell are you doing here?”
“You didn’t respond to my text,” Marcus says, pushing off the door and taking a step toward me. “I thought we should have a conversation.”
“I have nothing to say to you,” I say, my voice shaking despite my best efforts to sound strong. “Leave, Marcus. Now.”
“Or what?” Marcus asks, his smile cruel. “You’ll call your boyfriend? Adrian Sterling, the great white knight, coming to rescue the damsel in distress?”
“Get away from my door,” I say, pulling out my phone. “I’m calling the police.”
Marcus moves faster than I expect, closing the distance between us and grabbing my wrist. His grip is tight, painful, and I drop my phone. It clatters to the floor, the screen cracking.
“You’re not calling anyone,” Marcus hisses, his face inches from mine. “You’re going to listen to what I have to say, and you’re going to do exactly what I tell you.”
Fear floods through me, but I force myself to meet his eyes. “Let go of me.”
“Not until you understand the situation,” Marcus says. His other hand comes up to grip my shoulder, pinning me against the wall. “You think you’re so smart, working with Sterling, digging into my business. But you have no idea what you’re dealing with, Bella. You have no idea what I’m capable of.”
“I know exactly what you’re capable of,” I say, my voice steadier now. Anger is replacing fear, hot and fierce. “I know about the embezzlement. The bribery. David Reed. Never mind what you did to me.”
Marcus’s eyes narrow, like he knows I’m talking about how he implicated me in his bullshit, but neither of us is willing to reveal that card to the other so we both flirt around the topic. “Careful, Bella. You’re treading on dangerous ground.”
But I’m sick of his little warnings that are nothing more than dressed-up threats. And I’m sick of him.
“You had him killed,” I continue, my voice rising. “You paid someone to murder him because he was going to expose you. And now you’re going to pay for it.”
Marcus’s grip tightens, and I wince. “No, I’m not.
Because you’re going to keep your mouth shut.
You’re going to tell Sterling to back off, to drop his investigation.
And if you don’t…” He leans in closer, his breath hot on my face.
“Well, let’s just say accidents happen. It would be a shame if something happened to you. Or to your precious Adrian.”