Chapter 11 - THE DRUG THAT STOLE THREE YEARS
Keene had treated Adrian after the crash.
That had always seemed normal.
Family physician.
Trusted doctor.
No questions.
But he had prescribed Adrian medication for headaches, insomnia, and trauma.
Adrian took it for eighteen months.
Roman found the prescription records.
Something was wrong.
The medication had been compounded privately.
Keene explained with almost clinical pride.
“I suppressed dopamine and testosterone response.”
Evelyn looked sick.
“You drugged him.”
“I stabilized him.”
“You destroyed part of his life,” I said.
Keene looked at me.
“Desire makes powerful men reckless.”
Adrian’s face had gone frighteningly still.
“You wanted me easier to control.”
“Yes.”
“Why stop the medication?”
“Because by then your brain had learned the pattern.”
Roman looked at him.
“Trauma plus chemical suppression.”
Keene nodded.
“Efficient.”
I hated him instantly.
Adrian stepped closer.
“You stole three years.”
“No.”
Keene looked at me.
“She gave them back.”
Everyone went silent.
My face heated.
Keene continued.
“Your body reacted before your mind could prevent it.”
Adrian’s jaw tightened.
I wanted the floor to open.
This was possibly the worst conversation of my life.
Evelyn, despite being tied to an operating table, almost smiled.
Adrian noticed.
“Not a word.”
She actually laughed.
That sound changed him.
For three years he had believed she was dead.
Now she was laughing.
Alive.
His family was bleeding and broken and ridiculous.
But alive.
Roman secured Keene.
Federal agents were called.
Not local police.
Too many names in the ledger.
Too much corruption.
Marcus was freed.
Evelyn was taken upstairs.
I stood in the hallway alone for a minute.
Adrian joined me.
“You okay?”
“No.”
“Same.”
I looked at him.
“You were drugged.”
“Yes.”
“You thought you were broken.”
He stared ahead.
“I thought I stopped feeling.”
“That must have been awful.”
He looked at me.
“It was easier.”
“Than what?”
“Wanting things.”
My pulse shifted.
“Things?”
His gaze held mine.
“People.”
I swallowed.
“Adrian.”
He stepped closer.
Then stopped.
Always stopped.
That mattered.
“I’m not going to touch you.”
I almost laughed.
“I didn’t say you couldn’t.”
Something changed in his eyes.
Before either of us moved, Roman appeared.
“Boss.”
Adrian exhaled.
“What?”
“Keene escaped.”
“What?”
“He attacked the transport team.”
“How?”
“Someone helped him.”
“Who?”
Roman looked at Evelyn.
She had come into the hallway.
Her face was pale.
“Marcus.”
I turned.
My father was gone.
So was Keene.
Evelyn whispered:
“No.”
Adrian’s eyes narrowed.
Marcus had not been a prisoner.
May you like
He had been part of the plan.
And the man I had just learned was my father had helped the most dangerous man in the Vale family escape.
