Chapter 12: Race Against Time

The room went completely silent.

"Someone tried to kill Alexander?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

Lucas nodded, struggling to catch his breath.

"Our security team reported that a black SUV rammed his car on Interstate 90."

"Is he alive?"

"Barely. His driver managed to force the car off the road before it flipped."

I felt the blood drain from my face.

Just yesterday, Alexander had been smiling as he handed me the key to his apartment.

Now someone wanted him dead.

Vincent immediately grabbed his phone.

"Prepare the jet," he ordered.

"We're leaving for Boston in thirty minutes."

He ended the call before turning toward me.

"You're coming with me."

"I can fly on my own."

"No."

"This wasn't an accident, Sophia."

"Whoever attacked Alexander may come after you next."

I wanted to argue.

But deep down, I knew he was right.

Someone was eliminating every person connected to me.

"Fine," I replied quietly.

"But once this is over, we're having a different conversation."

Vincent gave a slight nod.

"You have my word."

Within twenty-five minutes, we were airborne.

The private jet cut through the cloudy afternoon sky while an uncomfortable silence settled inside the cabin.

Lucas worked on his laptop, tracing phone records connected to Evelyn.

Vincent stood near the window, staring into the distance.

I sat alone with my thoughts.

Everything had changed in less than a week.

I had gone from planning a marriage of convenience to becoming the target of a conspiracy.

"Sophia."

Vincent's voice broke the silence.

"Can I ask you something?"

"Go ahead."

"If none of this had happened... would you still have married Alexander?"

I looked at him for a long moment.

"Yes."

He lowered his eyes.

"Even if you still loved me?"

"Love isn't enough anymore."

"Then what is?"

"Trust."

"Peace."

"Feeling safe."

"Alexander gave me those things without asking for anything in return."

Vincent didn't respond.

For the first time since I'd known him, he had no clever answer.

Two hours later, the jet landed in Boston.

Several black SUVs were already waiting.

One of Vincent's security officers hurried toward us.

"Mr. Moretti."

"Report."

"Mr. Sterling survived the crash."

"He's at Saint Matthew Medical Center."

"The driver wasn't as lucky."

"He died at the scene."

A heavy silence followed.

Alexander had survived.

Someone else hadn't.

"Any suspects?" Vincent asked.

"The attacking vehicle was stolen."

"Professional job."

"No fingerprints."

"No witnesses willing to talk."

Vincent nodded.

"Let's go."

The hospital was surrounded by security.

Two guards stood outside Alexander's room.

When I stepped inside, relief washed over me.

He was awake.

His forehead was bandaged, and one arm rested in a sling.

The moment he saw me, he smiled weakly.

"Looks like I picked the wrong day to drive."

I laughed through tears.

"Don't joke about this."

"I'm sorry."

"I was worried."

"I'm alright."

"Mostly."

Vincent quietly remained near the doorway, allowing us a moment alone.

"Do the police know who did it?" I asked.

Alexander shook his head.

"But I saw something before the crash."

"What?"

"The driver wasn't trying to rob me."

"He looked directly at me."

"Like he was making sure I recognized him."

"Did you?"

"No."

"But he had a tattoo on his neck."

"A black raven."

Vincent immediately looked toward Lucas.

"Find every criminal organization using a raven symbol."

"Already searching," Lucas replied.

Just then, a nurse entered the room.

"Only five more minutes," she reminded politely.

After she left, Alexander reached beneath his pillow.

"There's something else."

He handed me a folded document.

"What is this?"

"It arrived this morning before the accident."

I unfolded it carefully.

It was a copy of a marriage contract.

But it wasn't the one my father had shown me.

Several pages had been replaced.

"These signatures..." I whispered.

"They're forged," Alexander said.

"Someone altered the agreement."

"Why?"

"Because if we signed this version, every Romano asset transferred through the marriage would legally belong to another company."

"Which company?" Vincent asked.

Alexander pointed toward the final page.

"Blackstone Holdings."

Lucas frowned.

"I've never heard of them."

"Neither have I," Alexander replied.

"That's because they don't officially exist anymore."

"They were dissolved eight years ago."

Vincent took the document.

"A ghost company."

"Exactly."

"Someone is hiding behind it."

As the conversation continued, my phone suddenly vibrated.

Unknown Number.

I almost ignored it.

Something told me not to.

"Hello?"

For several seconds, only static answered.

Then a distorted voice spoke.

"Miss Romano..."

"If you want to live, stop looking for Grace Miller."

"Who is this?"

"You're asking the wrong questions."

"The real question is..."

"Do you know who paid Vincent Moretti three years ago?"

My heart stopped.

"What are you talking about?"

"Ask him why he accepted the money."

"Ask him what he promised in return."

The call disconnected.

I slowly lowered the phone.

Vincent noticed my expression immediately.

"What happened?"

"Someone called."

"What did they say?"

I looked directly into his eyes.

"They told me to ask you a question."

His face remained calm.

"What question?"

"Three years ago..."

"Who paid you?"

"And what did you promise them?"

For the first time since this nightmare began...

Vincent's face turned completely pale.

He didn't deny it.

He didn't ask what I meant.

He simply looked away.

That single reaction told me one terrifying truth.

The anonymous caller knew a secret from Vincent's past.

And whatever that secret was...

It had the power to destroy everything between us.