Chapter 2 - The Man Charles Called a Nobody
Julian Vance had never cared about expensive rooms.
He had never cared about luxury cars.
He had never cared about the Montgomery name.
But he cared about Nora.
That was precisely why he had almost walked away from the wedding.
Six months earlier, Charles Montgomery had offered him money to disappear.
The amount had been large enough to change Julian's life.
Julian had refused.
Then Charles had threatened him.
Then he had tried to investigate him.
Then he had tried to destroy his career.
Julian had survived all of it.
But he had never told Nora.
Not because he wanted secrets between them.
Because he knew how deeply she loved her father.
He had hoped Charles would eventually accept that his daughter was no longer a child.
He had been wrong.
As the ceremony approached, Julian looked toward the chapel doors.
He remembered the first time he met Nora.
It had been raining.
She had been standing outside a bookstore, trying to protect a stack of books under her coat.
He had offered her an umbrella.
She had laughed and said she preferred getting wet.
He had fallen in love with her before he realized what was happening.
She had never asked him how much money he made.
She had never asked about his family name.
She had only asked whether he was kind.
That question had changed his life.
Now he stood at an altar built inside a chapel owned by her father.
And he could feel the old man's eyes on him.
Charles took his seat.
He leaned toward the man beside him.
He is going to regret this.
Julian heard him.
He said nothing.
Then Nora appeared.
For a moment, Julian forgot everything.
She walked toward him.
Alone.
Her father had refused to escort her.
Julian's heart tightened.
When she reached the altar, he whispered, You okay?
Nora smiled.
I will be.
He wanted to tell her everything.
He wanted to tell her about the envelope.
About David.
About the records.
About the name he had discovered in an old military archive.
But he had promised himself that he would not destroy her wedding day.
Then Charles laughed from the back row.
Julian looked at him.
Charles shook his head.
Julian understood.
This was not going to end peacefully.
The ceremony began.
The officiant spoke.
Nora looked at Julian.
Julian took her hand.
Her fingers were cold.
He squeezed them gently.
Then the chapel doors burst open.
Thirty veterans entered.
Every conversation stopped.
David Bell walked at the front.
His eyes found Julian.
Julian knew immediately.
Something had gone wrong.
May you like
David had come early.
Which meant the danger was already inside the chapel.
