Widow's Cause

The note felt heavier than it should have.

"Walk away, Everly. Or you'll join them."

The words were simple. Too simple.

Whoever sent this note didn't need to elaborate. They knew I would understand. They knew I would feel the cold fingers of fear trailing down my spine.

And they were right.

My pulse thrummed as I stared at the words again, as if expecting them to change. As if hoping this was some cruel mistake.

But there were no mistakes here.

Only warnings.

I looked up at Adrian. His expression was unreadable, but his grip on the gun hadn't loosened. His entire body remained coiled, tense, like a predator waiting for the next move.

"They know I'm here," I whispered.

"They do," Adrian confirmed. He folded the note carefully, almost reverently, before slipping it into his pocket. "Which means we don't have much time."

I swallowed hard. "Time for what?"

His gaze darkened. "For answers."

Adrian moved toward the window, peeling back the curtain just enough to peer outside. The street was empty, the flickering glow of a distant streetlamp barely cutting through the heavy rain. But that didn't mean we weren't being watched.

"They wanted you to find that note," he murmured.

I frowned. "If they wanted me dead, why warn me?"

Adrian's posture remained rigid. "They're testing you."

"Testing me?" I repeated, not liking the sound of that.

"To see if you scare easily."

I let out a shaky breath, my fingers curling into fists. "And if I do?"

Adrian turned to face me fully. "Then they'll kill you anyway."

A chill crept down my spine.

There was no room for illusions anymore. No space for pretending that this was just a misunderstanding or some sick coincidence.

I had spent years drowning in grief, convinced that fate had stolen the people I loved.

But now, for the first time, I saw the truth.

Someone had taken them from me.

And they were still watching.

I lifted my gaze to Adrian. "You said there's a connection between my husbands. Do you know what it is yet?"

His jaw tightened. "Not yet. But I have a lead."

My breath caught. "What kind of lead?"

He hesitated for the briefest moment before pulling out his phone. He tapped the screen, then turned it toward me.

A photograph appeared.

It was grainy, taken in low light, but there was no mistaking the image.

Four men.

Standing together.

I felt the air leave my lungs.

The men in the photo… were my husbands.

I grabbed the phone, gripping it tightly as I stared at the image in disbelief. "This… this can't be real."

"It is," Adrian said. His voice was calm, but there was a gravity to it. "This was taken five years ago at a private event."

My mind raced, trying to make sense of what I was seeing.

"Five years ago… That means…"

"Your first husband was still alive," Adrian finished.

I shook my head. "No, no. They didn't know each other. They came from different cities, different backgrounds—"

"Yet, somehow, they ended up in the same room."

My grip on the phone tightened. "I don't understand. If they knew each other, why didn't they ever mention it?"

Adrian's voice was steady, but his words cut deep. "Because they didn't want you to know."

A cold sensation settled over me, thick and suffocating.

They weren't just victims.

They were part of something.

And now, I was caught in the middle of it

I looked back at Adrian. "Where did you get this?"

"A contact," he said vaguely. "Someone who's been keeping tabs on certain… organizations."

I frowned. "What kind of organizations?"

His hesitation was brief, but noticeable. "Powerful ones. The kind that don't leave loose ends."

The words lingered in the air between us, heavy with implication.

I exhaled, my fingers rubbing over the edge of the phone screen. "And you think my husbands were part of it?"

Adrian's gaze was unwavering. "I think they knew something. Something that got them killed."

A sharp pang twisted in my chest.

I had spent years mourning them.

Now, I had to question everything I knew about them.

Adrian took a step closer. "This is your last chance, Everly." His voice was quieter now, almost careful. "If you want out, I can make you disappear. New name, new life. You'll never have to look over your shoulder again."

I stared at him, my pulse hammering.

He was giving me an out.

A chance to run.

But I didn't want to run.

I wanted the truth.

I lifted my chin, my decision solidifying in my gut. "No," I said firmly. "I'm not walking away."

For the first time, something flickered in Adrian's expression.

Approval.

"Then we go deeper," he said. "And we don't stop until we find out who's behind this."

Adrian moved back toward the window, lifting the curtain just enough to glance outside.

And then he went completely still.

My stomach tightened. "What?"

He didn't answer. Instead, he motioned for me to stay quiet, stepping slightly to the side, out of view.

Heart pounding, I moved closer, careful to keep myself hidden as I peered past him.

There was a car parked across the street.

At first, it seemed unremarkable. Black. Tinted windows. But the headlights were off, and it hadn't been there earlier.

A shadow moved inside.

Someone was watching us.

A prickle of unease crawled up my spine.

Adrian exhaled slowly. "They're getting bolder."

I swallowed. "What do we do?"

He glanced at me. "We wait."

I frowned. "Wait for what?"

A flicker of something dangerous crossed his expression. "To see if they make a move."

We stood in silence for what felt like an eternity, watching.

The car didn't move.

The shadow inside didn't get out.

But they weren't leaving either.

They were sending a message.

I clenched my fists.

If they thought they could scare me into stopping, they were wrong.

I wasn't backing down.

Not now.

Not ever.