Chapter 3
I sat on the edge of my bed in the darkness, wedding invitations scattered across the duvet like fallen leaves. My fingers traced the elegant gold lettering that spelled out our names: Victoria Hayes and Marcus Blake. The date—just three weeks away—now a cruel reminder of what would never be.
The digital clock on my nightstand read 1:37 AM. Sleep had become a distant memory since that night at Walter Reed. I reached for my phone, hesitating only briefly before dialing.
"Vic?" Jessica's voice was thick with sleep, but instantly alert. "Are you okay?"
"I can't sleep," I whispered, clutching one of the invitations to my chest. "Every time I close my eyes, I see him."
Jessica had been my rock at the gallery for years, and now she was the only person who seemed to understand the depth of my devastation. "I'm coming over," she said immediately.
"No, no," I protested weakly. "I just... needed to hear a voice. A real one. Not the endless condolences in my head."
"Listen to me," Jessica said firmly. "I'm here. Whatever you need, whenever you need it. If that's a middle-of-the-night phone call or someone to sort through his things or just to sit in silence—I'm here."
Tears slid down my cheeks as I traced the rim of the teacup on my nightstand—a nervous habit that had intensified since that midnight call. "They're having a small ceremony at Arlington tomorrow. Not a funeral exactly, but... a memorial."
"I'll be there," Jessica promised without hesitation. "Right beside you."
After we hung up, I lay back on the bed, the damaged engagement ring cold against my chest where it hung from a chain around my neck. Daniel had been texting me daily, checking in, offering support. His kindness was both a comfort and a confusion—this brother Marcus had never mentioned, now the only connection I had left to him.
---
Arlington was beautiful in the morning light. The neat rows of white headstones stretched across the rolling green hills, a solemn reminder of sacrifice. Daniel had arranged for a small memorial bench to be placed near a quiet corner of the cemetery—not a grave, since there was no body to bury, but a place to remember.
I arrived early, before the small group of CIA colleagues would gather. The bench was simple, elegant black granite with a small plaque: *Marcus Blake. Patriot. Hero. Beloved.*
My fingers trembled as I placed a small candle on the bench and lit it, watching the flame flicker in the gentle morning breeze. "I miss you," I whispered, touching the ring at my throat.
From the corner of my eye, I noticed Daniel standing several yards away, his back to me. His posture was rigid, so like Marcus's when he was on a call. I could see his phone pressed to his ear, his free hand gesturing slightly as he spoke. Not wanting to interrupt, I turned back to the candle, closing my eyes and trying to feel Marcus's presence.
When I opened them again, Daniel was walking toward me, phone nowhere in sight, his expression composed into one of gentle sympathy.
"You're early," he said softly.
"I wanted some time alone with him," I replied, not mentioning that I'd seen him on the phone. Something in his eyes made me hesitate—a guardedness that reminded me of Marcus when he was keeping secrets about his work.
"The others will be here soon," Daniel said, checking his watch. "Are you ready for this?"
I nodded, though the truth was I'd never be ready to say goodbye.
---
The ceremony was brief but moving. Agent Miller spoke of Marcus's dedication and courage. Two other agents I'd met at agency functions shared stories that carefully revealed nothing of substance about his work. Jessica stood beside me, her hand firm in mine, anchoring me as I felt myself drifting on waves of grief.
As people began to disperse, I stepped away to compose myself, finding a quiet spot beneath a nearby oak tree. The breeze had picked up, carrying snatches of conversation across the cemetery grounds.
That's when I heard it—Daniel's voice, low but distinct in the morning quiet. I turned slightly, spotting him several yards away, his back to the group, phone pressed to his ear again.
"Everything's on schedule," he was saying, his voice different somehow—crisper, more assured. "Wedding in two months. Sarah's ten weeks along."
I froze, the words hitting me like physical blows. Wedding? Sarah? Ten weeks along?
The world tilted beneath my feet as I clutched the tree trunk for support. The damaged ring felt suddenly heavy against my skin, burning like an accusation.
Who was Sarah? And why was Daniel planning a wedding two months after his brother's death?
As Daniel turned, slipping his phone into his pocket, his eyes met mine across the distance. For a moment—just a flicker—I saw something in his expression that sent ice through my veins.
Recognition. Calculation. Guilt.
Then it was gone, replaced by the now-familiar mask of sympathy as he walked toward me, arms outstretched in comfort.
But I had heard what I heard. And nothing would ever be the same again.
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