Chapter 13 - THE NIGHT ADRIAN CHOSE US OVER HIS EMPIRE
Vittorio gave Adrian one hour.
Come alone.
Bring Claire.
Bring the original ledger.
Or Nathan and three kidnapped witnesses would die.
Adrian's answer was immediate.
“No.”
I stared at him.
“People will die.”
“He'll kill them whether we cooperate or not.”
“What if you're wrong?”
“Then I live with it.”
“I won't.”
His eyes flashed.
“You are five months pregnant.”
“And those people have families.”
“You are not going.”
“Adrian.”
“No.”
The argument lasted eleven minutes.
I won by refusing to tell him where I'd hidden one of the original ledgers.
“You're impossible.”
“So I've heard.”
“You could get killed.”
“So could you.”
“That is different.”
“Only to you.”
He looked like he wanted to throw something.
Instead, he kissed me.
Hard.
Quick.
Terrified.
Then rested his forehead against mine.
“You stay behind me.”
“I've heard that before.”
“And you never listen.”
“Correct.”
The meeting location was an unfinished high-rise controlled by one of Black Harbor's shell companies.
Federal agents coordinated outside, but Vittorio had signal jammers and armed guards inside.
Adrian walked through the entrance with the ledger.
I remained hidden in an armored vehicle two blocks away.
That had been the agreement.
I broke it eight minutes later.
Because Nathan sent me one message.
HE KNOWS YOU'RE NOT WITH ADRIAN.
I reached the service entrance with Luca and two federal tactical officers.
Upstairs, Vittorio stood beneath construction lights.
He looked older than the photographs but unmistakably powerful.
Adrian faced him alone.
Nathan sat bound near a pillar.
Three witnesses were beside him.
Vittorio smiled.
“You've become soft.”
Adrian's voice was flat.
“I've become better.”
“Because of a pregnant woman?”
“Because I finally understand what you cost this family.”
Vittorio's smile disappeared.
He spoke about legacy.
Power.
Survival.
Adrian listened.
Then placed the ledger on the floor.
“You can have the empire.”
Vittorio frowned.
“What?”
“The companies. The properties. Everything tied to you.”
“You'd surrender billions?”
“If that's what it costs to end this.”
I realized then that Adrian meant it.
He was willing to lose everything.
Not because I asked.
Because he refused to become his father.
Vittorio raised his gun.
“You always were Sofia's weak son.”
“No.”
I stepped into view.
Every head turned.
Adrian's face filled with horror.
“Claire.”
I looked at Vittorio.
“He isn't weak.”
Vittorio laughed.
“And you must be the girl worth ruining an empire for.”
“No.”
I placed one hand over my belly.
“I'm the woman who copied your ledger and sent it to six federal offices twenty minutes ago.”
His smile vanished.
Outside, sirens erupted.
Vittorio turned toward Adrian.
“You did this?”
Adrian looked at me.
Then smiled.
“She did.”
Chaos followed.
Agents stormed the floor.
Vittorio grabbed Nathan and raised his gun.
Adrian lunged.
A shot exploded.
I screamed.
Adrian fell.
For one terrible second, the entire world stopped.
Then Luca tackled Vittorio.
Agents restrained him.
I ran to Adrian.
Blood spread across his shirt.
“No. No, no, no.”
His eyes opened.
“Claire.”
“Don't talk.”
“I told you to stay in the car.”
I started crying.
“You're complaining now?”
“Seems important.”
The paramedics arrived.
As they lifted him onto the stretcher, Adrian caught my hand.
“Claire.”
“What?”
His fingers tightened around mine.
“If I don't get another chance to say this—”
“You will.”
“I love you.”
My breath broke.
“I love you too.”
May you like
Then his eyes closed.
And the heart monitor began screaming.
