Her Father Called Him a Killer. Seven Years Later, She Discovered He Went to Prison for Her.
CHAPTER 2
By sunrise, Adrian had taken Eleanor to the abandoned boxing gym where they had first met.
The building looked smaller than she remembered.
The windows were broken.
The old sign hung crooked above the entrance.
Inside, the smell of leather and dust brought memories rushing back.
Adrian walked toward the far wall.
Eleanor followed.
“You haven’t changed this place.”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Some places are easier to remember when you leave them broken.”
He stopped beside a damaged brick wall.
Then he pulled one brick free.
Behind it was a metal box.
Eleanor stared.
“What is that?”
“Something I should have shown you seven years ago.”
Inside the box was an old photograph.
She picked it up.
Her breath caught.
Adrian stood beside Marcus Hale.
The man who had died in the ring.
But Marcus wasn’t wearing boxing gloves.
He was holding a newborn baby.
Eleanor turned the photograph over.
Three words were written on the back.
VALE’S LAST SECRET.
“What does this mean?”
Adrian didn’t answer.
Instead, he pulled out another photograph.
Eleanor stared at it.
It showed herself.
Seven years earlier.
Standing outside the arena.
And behind her was Richard Vale.
Her father.
Watching.
Adrian’s voice was low.
“I found this two weeks before the fight.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because your father came to see me.”
“What did he want?”
“He offered me money.”
“To leave me?”
“Yes.”
Eleanor laughed bitterly.
“He always hated us.”
Adrian shook his head.
“It wasn’t about money.”
He showed her another photograph.
Eleanor’s face went pale.
It showed her leaving university.
Another showed her entering the boxing gym.
Another showed her sitting inside Adrian’s car.
Someone had been following her.
For months.
“Your father said people were watching you.”
“Who?”
“I didn’t know.”
“And you believed him?”
Adrian looked at her.
“He threatened your life.”
Eleanor stepped closer.
“You should have told me.”
“I was twenty-three.”
“So was I.”
“I thought I could protect you.”
“You didn’t protect me.”
Her voice trembled.
“You destroyed me.”
Adrian lowered his eyes.
“I know.”
She turned away.
Then noticed something else.
A photograph of Marcus holding the baby.
“Who is the child?”
Adrian remained silent.
“Adrian.”
“His name was Noah.”
“Was?”
“I don’t know if he’s alive.”
Eleanor looked at him.
“Then why have you kept this photograph for seven years?”
Adrian’s expression hardened.
“Because Marcus asked me to.”
“What did he say?”
Adrian remembered the night.
The lights.
The crowd.
Marcus standing across the ring.
The strange fear in his eyes.
Then the words whispered so quietly nobody else could hear.
If I die, protect the boy.
Adrian looked at Eleanor.
“He told me Noah was more important than both of us.”
Before she could respond, a car stopped outside.
Three men entered the gym.
One carried a knife.
The black crown was carved into its handle.
Adrian stepped in front of Eleanor.
The first man smiled.
“Cross.”
Adrian’s fists tightened.
“You should have stayed in prison.”
Adrian answered quietly.
“I tried.”
The man looked at Eleanor.
“But apparently someone needed me.”
And then the first punch was thrown.
