Chapter 3 Secrets in the Rain

"Amelia!"

Ethan's arm slammed across her chest.

The world exploded.

Metal screamed.

Glass shattered.

The Rolls-Royce spun violently across the rain-soaked road.

Amelia's head snapped sideways.

Pain shot through her shoulder.

For several terrifying seconds, she couldn't tell which way was up.

Then everything stopped.

Silence.

A horrible, suffocating silence.

Her ears rang.

Rain pounded outside.

Somewhere nearby, a car alarm wailed.

Amelia blinked.

The front windshield was cracked.

The driver groaned.

Blood trickled down his forehead.

"Ethan..."

Her voice shook.

Ethan didn't answer.

Fear gripped her chest.

"Ethan!"

Finally, he moved.

Relief nearly made her cry.

He turned toward her, checking quickly for injuries.

"Are you hurt?"

His voice remained calm.

Too calm.

Like a man used to surviving disasters.

"No."

His jaw tightened.

"Stay inside."

Before Amelia could respond, he pushed open the door and stepped into the storm.

"What are you doing?" she shouted.

Ignoring her, Ethan scanned the street.

His eyes narrowed.

The SUV that had hit them was empty.

The driver had vanished.

Something wasn't right.

People didn't smash their vehicles into a billionaire's car and run unless they were hiding something.

Or someone.

Suddenly, Ethan froze.

Amelia followed his gaze.

The back door of the abandoned SUV hung open.

Empty.

A chill crawled up her spine.

"Where are they?" she whispered.

As if answering her question, a gunshot echoed through the night.

CRACK.

The bullet struck the pavement near Ethan.

Amelia screamed.

"Ethan!"

His bodyguards appeared from nowhere.

Black SUVs surrounded them.

Men in dark suits rushed forward.

"Sir!"

"Take cover!"

More gunshots exploded across the street.

Pedestrians ran.

Cars screeched away.

Chaos erupted.

One bodyguard grabbed Amelia.

"Miss Hart, move!"

She resisted.

"Ethan!"

Through the rain, she saw him.

Not running.

Not hiding.

Watching.

Like he was looking for someone.

Then she saw what had caught his attention.

A figure stood on the rooftop of a nearby building.

Watching them.

Watching her.

A woman.

Even from a distance, Amelia could make out long dark hair whipping in the storm.

The mysterious woman smiled.

Then disappeared.

Ethan's face went pale.

Actually pale.

For the first time since she'd met him, he looked shocked.

A bodyguard followed his gaze.

"That's impossible..."

"What is it?" Amelia demanded.

Nobody answered.

The bodyguard and Ethan exchanged a look.

One filled with fear.

The other with disbelief.

***

An hour later, Amelia sat inside Ethan's private penthouse.

Wrapped in a blanket.

A doctor had checked her twice.

She wasn't injured.

Physically.

Mentally was another story.

The entire day felt insane.

A canceled wedding.

A secret child.

An alleged murder.

A marriage proposal.

A car attack.

Now this.

The penthouse overlooked the entire city.

Floor-to-ceiling windows revealed thousands of glittering lights.

Yet Amelia couldn't enjoy any of it.

Because Ethan had disappeared into his office for nearly an hour.

When he finally returned, his face was unreadable.

"You should get some rest."

Amelia stood immediately.

"No."

His eyebrow lifted.

"No?"

"I want answers."

Silence.

Then a slow smile appeared.

Not amused.

Impressed.

"You don't give up easily."

"My life was destroyed today."

Her voice cracked.

"I think I've earned a few answers."

Ethan studied her.

For a long moment.

Then he crossed the room.

Opened a drawer.

Removed an old photograph.

Amelia accepted it.

The moment she saw it, her heart stopped.

There were three people in the picture.

A young Ethan.

A teenage girl.

And...

Her father.

"What is this?"

Her hands trembled.

Ethan's voice became dangerously quiet.

"Your father saved my life twenty years ago."

Amelia stared.

"What?"

"He worked for my family."

Nothing made sense anymore.

"My father never mentioned you."

"He wasn't allowed to."

"What does that mean?"

Ethan was about to answer when a loud crash shattered the silence.

Both of them spun around.

The penthouse window had exploded.

Glass sprayed across the floor.

Amelia screamed.

A black object rolled across the marble surface.

Stopping only a few feet from Ethan.

Everyone froze.

The room became deathly silent.

Amelia looked down.

Her stomach dropped.

It wasn't a bomb.

It was a small recording device.

A red light blinked.

Once.

Twice.

Then a woman's voice filled the penthouse.

Cold.

Familiar.

Terrifying.

"Hello, Ethan."

The blood drained from his face.

Amelia immediately noticed.

He knew that voice.

The woman laughed softly.

"If you're hearing this, it means I'm finally ready to come home."

Ethan whispered a name.

A name Amelia had never heard before.

"Sienna..."

The voice continued.

"And bring Amelia Hart with you."

Amelia's breath caught.

The recording ended.

Silence swallowed the room.

Then Ethan looked at her.

His expression darker than she'd ever seen.

"What aren't you telling me?" Amelia whispered.

Ethan's answer made her blood run cold.

"I think the woman who attacked us tonight is my sister."

Amelia stared.

"But you said your sister was missing."

Ethan's eyes locked onto hers.

"She was."

A terrible pause followed.

Then he spoke the words that changed everything.

"For ten years, she's been presumed dead."