Chapter 11 - Adrian screamed.“No!”
He grabbed Emma's shoulders.
“Emma!”
Nothing.
The other girls remained unconscious.
Elena knelt beside Emma.
“She has a pulse.”
Adrian stopped.
“What?”
“Very weak.”
She checked the syringe.
“It was an antidote.”
Adrian looked at the grandmother.
“You said it would kill them.”
The old woman smiled.
“It was never meant to.”
Adrian's anger exploded.
He threw her against the wall.
“What did you do?”
She laughed.
“You still don't see the game.”
“What game?”
“Every person in this house has been playing a role.”
Then she whispered:
“And you're the final player.”
Adrian stared.
A loud crash came from upstairs.
Then another.
The mansion was under attack.
Again.
Adrian looked at Elena.
“We have to move.”
They carried the girls upstairs.
The security system suddenly activated.
Doors locked.
Windows sealed.
The entire mansion transformed into a prison.
A screen appeared in the hallway.
Victor Dane.
His face was bruised.
He looked directly into the camera.
“Adrian.”
“Victor, where are you?”
“On the east side.”
“Can you get us out?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because Cora has taken control.”
The screen switched.
Cora Bell appeared.
She was standing in the mansion's control room.
“We need to talk.”
Adrian approached the screen.
“You've been working against me.”
“No.”
“You betrayed us.”
“No.”
“You worked with Victor.”
“Yes.”
“Explain.”
Cora looked at the girls.
“I was protecting them.”
“From whom?”
“The Black Ledger.”
“Then why all these lies?”
“Because your family built them.”
Adrian stopped.
Cora continued.
“Your father founded it.”
“He didn't.”
“He did.”
She held up a folder.
“Your father created The Black Ledger as a private intelligence network.”
Adrian stared.
“It became larger than the family.”
“Who controls it now?”
Cora hesitated.
“Your brother.”
“Marcus?”
“No.”
Adrian's blood chilled.
“Then who?”
Cora whispered:
“Evelyn.”
Adrian's heart stopped.
“That isn't possible.”
“It is.”
“She's been helping us.”
“That's what she wanted you to believe.”
Cora looked behind her.
“She's not your wife anymore.”
The screen switched.
Evelyn stood inside the control room.
She was holding a gun.
Adrian stared.
“What are you doing?”
Evelyn looked devastated.
“I tried to warn you.”
“You're with them.”
“No.”
“Then put the gun down.”
Evelyn looked at Cora.
Cora smiled.
“You have thirty seconds.”
Adrian shouted:
“Thirty seconds for what?”
Cora answered:
“To decide which daughter lives.”
Four images appeared.
Each daughter had a red countdown above her.
Adrian's face went white.
“No.”
Cora continued.
“One button.”
“Four girls.”
“You choose.”
Adrian stared.
“You're insane.”
“No.”
Cora smiled.
“I'm giving you the choice your father once made.”
“Which was?”
“Who gets to inherit.”
Adrian looked at Evelyn.
“Stop this.”
Evelyn raised the gun.
“I can't.”
“Why?”
“Because the system is connected to my heartbeat.”
Adrian froze.
“What?”
“My heart stops…”
She looked at the girls.
“…and they all die.”
The countdown began.
Adrian turned toward the girls.
Olivia opened her eyes.
She whispered:
“Daddy…”
Then she pointed at the ceiling.
“Don't choose us.”
Adrian looked up.
A hidden camera.
And behind it, a small blinking light.
Someone was watching.
Someone who wasn't in the mansion.
A fifth player.
The screen suddenly showed a new face.
Adrian's father.
Alive.
May you like
He looked directly at his son.
“Hello, Adrian.”
