Chapter 13 - Adrian's weapon rose instantly.“Put it down.”
Alexander stared at him.
“You still don't understand.”
Eleanor moved closer.
“Alexander.”
“Don't.”
His voice was flat.
“I spent seventeen years watching all of you pretend.”
Adrian looked at his brother.
“You've been controlling Delacroix?”
“No.”
Alexander's smile disappeared.
“I've been trying to destroy it.”
“Then why point a gun at Mom?”
“Because she's the reason it survived.”
Eleanor shook her head.
“I did what I had to.”
“You chose Adrian.”
“I chose both of you.”
“No.”
Alexander's eyes filled with anger.
“You chose the organization.”
He revealed that Eleanor had once made a deal with the council.
She would sacrifice herself.
In exchange, they would leave Adrian alive.
But Eleanor broke the agreement.
She escaped.
Alexander was left behind.
“Why would they let me live?” he asked.
Eleanor began crying.
“Because they needed you.”
“For what?”
“To control Adrian.”
Adrian stared at both of them.
“You used my brother against me.”
Alexander lowered the gun.
“And I stopped being their weapon years ago.”
He looked at me.
“Samuel knew.”
I remembered the message.
If Eleanor is alive, give this to her. If she is dead, give this to her son.
Samuel had never said anything about me.
Because he knew I would eventually find Adrian.
And Adrian would lead me to Alexander.
I opened the USB.
The seventh folder unlocked.
ADRIAN.
Inside was a document.
A single contract.
The original Delacroix succession agreement.
At the bottom was Vittorio's signature.
And Adrian's.
Adrian stared.
“That isn't my signature.”
Eleanor whispered:
“You signed it when you were thirteen.”
“I couldn't have.”
“You did.”
The contract gave Adrian control of the Moretti network upon Vittorio's death.
But hidden beneath it was another clause.
Any person carrying the eighth key could override Adrian's authority.
I looked at my necklace.
“That means me.”
“Yes.”
Alexander lowered his gun.
“That's why Samuel chose you.”
Suddenly, every phone in the room buzzed.
The same message appeared.
THE COUNCIL HAS VOTED.
Then another.
ADRIAN MORETTI IS NO LONGER HEAD OF THE FAMILY.
Adrian looked toward me.
My screen changed.
NEW AUTHORITY: CLARA VAUGHN.
I stared.
“No.”
Eleanor whispered:
“They've just declared war on you.”
Before anyone could speak, a gunshot rang out.
Luca fell.
Blood spread across his shirt.
Adrian caught him.
“Luca!”
Luca tried to breathe.
“Not… outside…”
Adrian looked around.
“What?”
Luca grabbed his sleeve.
“Inside.”
His eyes moved toward me.
“The shooter…”
He coughed.
“…is already here.”
Everyone froze.
Alexander looked toward the ceiling.
Eleanor stared at the doorway.
I heard footsteps behind me.
Slow.
One.
Two.
Three.
I turned.
Peter Marchand stood there.
Alive.
Again.
He smiled.
“You really should stop leaving doors unlocked.”
Adrian aimed at him.
“You shot Luca.”
Peter shook his head.
“No.”
He pointed behind us.
“Someone else did.”
We turned.
Luca was no longer on the floor.
His blood-covered body was gone.
The blood was fake.
The gunshot had been staged.
Luca stepped from the shadows holding a pistol.
Adrian stared at him.
“You planned this.”
Luca looked directly at me.
“Yes.”
Peter smiled.
“Now we can finally begin.”
He held up a photograph.
It showed Samuel Vaughn.
Standing beside Vittorio Moretti.
Both alive.
The date was yesterday.
May you like
Peter whispered:
“Your father isn't your father.”
