Chapter 7 - THE WOMAN BEHIND EVERYTHING
Adrian had spent his entire life believing his father died because of a boating accident.
His mother had told him that.
Ethan had confirmed it.
The family had mourned.
Adrian had taken control.
And now, twelve years after Ethan's supposed death, everything had become a lie.
His father had been murdered.
His brother had survived.
His mother might have been involved.
And Claire had been targeted because she was carrying his child.
Michael groaned from the floor.
The bullet had grazed his shoulder.
Adrian dragged him behind the stone altar.
"Stay down."
Ethan's voice echoed through the chapel.
"You always were predictable."
Adrian fired toward the doorway.
Silence.
Then footsteps.
Gone.
Michael pressed his hand against his wound.
"We need to leave."
Adrian stared at the altar.
There was a hidden compartment beneath it.
His father had shown it to him when he was sixteen.
Adrian opened it.
Inside was an old ledger.
A handwritten note.
He recognized the handwriting immediately.
His father's.
Adrian, if you are reading this, trust no one who tells you the family is safe.
Adrian's breath caught.
There was another line.
Your mother knows.
Michael stared.
"What does it say?"
Adrian handed him the note.
Michael read it.
"Your mother."
Adrian shook his head.
"She died three years ago."
Michael looked at him.
"Maybe that's another lie."
They left through a hidden tunnel beneath the chapel.
Meanwhile, Claire was being moved.
Ethan forced her into an SUV.
Daniel sat beside her.
"Where are we going?"
Claire asked.
"Somewhere safe."
She almost laughed.
"Nothing about this is safe."
Daniel looked at her.
"You don't understand."
"Then explain."
Daniel stared through the windshield.
"Victor isn't the leader."
Claire froze.
"Who is?"
Daniel hesitated.
Then he said,
"Your father."
Claire's face went white.
"My father is dead."
"So is Adrian's."
She stared at him.
"What does that mean?"
Daniel didn't answer.
Ethan looked at him through the mirror.
"You've said too much."
Daniel swallowed.
Claire realized something.
Ethan wasn't in control.
Someone else was.
The SUV stopped at an abandoned estate outside the city.
Claire was taken inside.
The man waiting there turned around.
She knew him.
She had seen his photograph hundreds of times.
Her father.
Alive.
Claire's knees nearly collapsed.
"Dad?"
Richard Bennett smiled.
"You grew up beautifully."
She couldn't speak.
"You died."
"I needed to."
"Why?"
"Because Adrian's father was going to expose us."
Claire shook her head.
"Us?"
Richard walked closer.
"The Cross family and the Bennett family built the organization together."
"What organization?"
"The one Adrian believes he controls."
Claire stared at him.
"You killed my baby."
Richard's expression barely changed.
"I prevented a war."
"You poisoned me."
"Your pregnancy threatened everything."
Claire's hand moved instinctively to her stomach.
Richard noticed.
"You're still pregnant."
"Yes."
"Then you will give me the child."
Claire's face hardened.
"No."
Richard smiled.
"You don't have a choice."
A door opened.
Adrian entered.
He had come alone.
At least, that was what Richard believed.
"Let her go."
Richard smiled.
"You always were your father's son."
Adrian stared at him.
"Who are you?"
Richard laughed.
"Ask your wife."
Adrian looked at Claire.
She shook her head.
"Adrian, don't."
Richard raised a gun.
"You want Claire alive?"
Adrian nodded.
"Then drop yours."
Adrian slowly lowered his weapon.
Richard smiled.
"Good."
Then another voice came from behind Richard.
"That was the wrong decision."
Victor Hale stepped into the room.
Richard turned.
Victor shot him.
Richard collapsed.
Claire screamed.
Adrian immediately lunged toward her.
Victor pointed his gun at them.
"Now we can stop pretending."
Adrian stared at him.
"You killed Richard."
"He had outlived his usefulness."
Victor looked at Claire.
"She knows too much."
Adrian moved in front of her.
Victor smiled.
"And now you finally understand."
"What?"
Victor's eyes were cold.
"The real reason I wanted you divorced."
Adrian said nothing.
Victor raised the gun.
"Because Claire was never the target."
He pointed toward Adrian.
"You were."
A gunshot rang out.
But Victor wasn't the one who fired.
May you like
Marcus stood behind him.
And Victor dropped.
