ADRIANSPOV *Backtothepresent* Thefamiliarbuzzingofmyphonepulledmefromthedarkness,draggingmebacktoreality.Isatup,mybreathuneven,mypulsehammeringinmyears.Mybodyfelttense,athinlayerofsweatclingingtomyskindespitethecoldairinmylibraryoffice.
Thatdreamagain.
Itneverleftme,hauntingmeeveryyearlikeclockwork.Thescenereplayedinmymind,vividandtorturousmymotherstremblinghands,hertearstreakedface,thefinalwordssheutteredbeforethedeafeninggunshotshatteredmyworld.IhadreliveditsomanytimesthatIhadlostcount.
Nomatterhowmuchtimepassed,thepainneverdulled.
Iranahandovermyface,exhalingsharply.MaybeIshouldstopsleepingaltogetherwhenthisdaycamearound.WhatwasthepointifallIdidwaswakeupdrowninginthesameold nightmare? Myphonebuzzedagain,vibratingagainstthewoodofmydesk.IglancedatthescreenandsawDansnameflashing.RightIhadtoldhimearlierattheofficetogetmeresults.Coulditbethathefinallyhadsomething? Straighteningup,Iclearedmythroatandanswered.Talktome.
Boss,Ihavegoodnews,Dansvoicecamethroughthespeaker,histonesharpwithurgency.Wefoundhim.
Iraisedaneyebrow.Foundwho? Thenutjobwhomessedup ourplans.MadamOliviasfriend.
Ileanedbackinmychair,runningahandalongmyjaw.Thatwasntthemainobjective,butitwasatleastastepforward.Ifhewasin contactwithOlivia,hecouldleadustoherwhereabouts.Shemightevenbestayingwithhim.

Alright,Isaid,myvoicesteady.Thatsagoodstepforward.Nowthatyouknow.wherehesliving,Iwantyouandyour teamtocloselymonitorhim.Attheveryleast,heshouldknowsomethingaboutOliviaswhereabouts.
Copythat,sir.
I Thistime,trynottogetcaught,Iwarned.Sendmeaphotoofthisguy.Iwanttotakealook.
Understood,boss.Sendingitno… Successfullyunlocked! hungupandplacedthephone backonmydesk.Notevenaminute later,anotificationchimed.Danhadsentthephotoandaname.
1/4 CHAPTER020 pickedupmyphoneandopenedthemessage,mygazefallingontheimage.Themomentmyeyesregisteredthefamiliarface,myfingerstightenedaround thedevice.
Thehell?Imuttered.
Izoomedin,studyingthemaninthephoto.Nodoubtaboutit.
Julian?Isaidundermybreath.
Atfirst,Ihadassumeditwassome randomstrangerwhohadhelpedOliviaescape.ButIneverexpectedittobe him.

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OfallpeopleJulian.
Myjawclenched.
Oliviadidnthavemanymalefriends,andthatwasmydecision.Ihadmadesureofit.JulianhadbeentheonlyoneIcouldnevercompletelygetridof.Andnow,afterallthistime,shehadrunstraighttohim.
How predictable.
hadwarnedhercountlesstimestostayawayfromhim.NotbecauseIwasjealous,becauseIknewexactlywhatkindofpersonhewas.Julianneverknewwhentoackoff,alwaysprying intootherpeoplesaffairs.Hewasntjustanosybastardhewasdangerouslygoodatdiggingupinformation.
Themanhadresources.Connections.Ifleftunchecked,hecouldunraveleverythingIhadspentyearsbuilding.
Irubbedmychin,theirritationsimmeringintosomethingdarker.
Whyhim?Hadshebeenincontactwithhimthiswholetime?IhadmadesureshekeptherdistancefromJulianduringourmarriage,goingasfarasthreateningherwithourrelationship.ShehadlistenedorsoIhadthought.
Sowhywasshebackwithhimnow? Iexhaledthroughmynose,grippingtheedgeofmydesk.

Thiswasntgood.
Julianwasntjustapotentialobstacle.Hewasadirectthreat.
IfOliviatoldhimeverything,therewasnotellingwhathe woulddo.Hewoulddig.Hewouldinvestigate.Andifhe lookedhardenough,hemightfindtheskeletonsburiedinmypast.
Istoodup,pacingacrosstheroom.Mypatiencewasrunningthin.
Whycantyoujustmindyourfuckingbusiness?Imutteredundermybreath.
IpickedupmyphoneagainandcalledDan.Heansweredonthesecondring.
Yes,sir.
ThisguyJulian.Hesnot justanyone.Youneedtobeextremelycarefulwithhim,Iwarned.
CH