ust as Leah was tyi

five-year-old huffed, his little

m his forehead. "I know, champ. But to

in a way far too matur

ng-firmer

er doorbell at this hour. Not here. Not in this quie

door cautiously, peeki

fr

ri

charcoal suit, tie undone, and

e found h

he door halfway, blocking the entrance

aste time.

"You didn't ev

nt. "Leah. I'm not here to a

d his head around her l

d. And then the worl

eyes. His hair. Even his

ath caught i

aid quickly, placing a gentl

ut

ow

ded up the stairs, his little fee

didn't leave

," he whispered. "Af

held firm. "I didn't come back

d unreadable. "You didn't co

y. For a life I can build without looking over

step forward, his voice low

er. Her silence

was like being pu

you keep hi

en't safe. You weren't clean, Adrian. You were wrapped in secrets

. "I left that

hen someone from that past comes knocking? Whe

icked toward the

ar in him. The he

he lo

n said softly. "But I am his father. I des

moment so many times-but none of her ver

dn't r

leaving, Leah. Not unti

alked away-not storming off, n

promise hangi

-

that n

ed, brushing his hair b

years hiding hi

nger now... was hidin

re's Secret Heir, flowing naturally from the emotional te

's contact-the one she never deleted, though she'd told herself a hundred times she should. Her mind was in

phone aside and

she right to protect him from the shadows t

her window

spun

ew tha

r and yanked o

ri

to fall, his jacket already soaked. He looked

open. "You sho

d. "But I need y

't say a

ight you left-five year

se?" she snapped. "The night I found blood on your shirt a

ry stabbing him. "Yes. That nigh

re whether to slam the wi

t of a sting to take down a global laundering network. My father... had gotte

breath

ou were pregnant. And I couldn't tell you the

s. "So you let me belie

so you'd live. So o

e distance. The air b

"You should'v

e hoarse. "But I trusted the

there in

she pushed the

he said. "If you want

d

shadows. No more secrets. No more mysterious

smile. "You drive a har

e I will fight like he

That's what I've alw

ed her with a fl

d. "You'll see him

dded. "Th

into the night-again. But this time

to c

o des

o reb

-