Chapter 14 - Adrian said nothing.The governor continued.
“You've come farther than I expected.”
“How do you know where I am?”
A quiet laugh.
“Your father taught me never to underestimate surveillance.”
Adrian looked at the vault camera.
“You're watching me.”
“Yes.”
“Then you know what I found.”
“Yes.”
“And you killed my father.”
“No.”
The governor paused.
“Your mother did.”
Adrian's face hardened.
“Everyone keeps saying that.”
“Because it's true.”
“Then why did Thomas write your name?”
“Because I gave the order.”
Adrian's heart stopped.
“To kill him?”
“To silence him.”
“Same thing.”
“Not quite.”
The governor explained.
Thomas had discovered a network of corruption connecting government officials, corporations, and organized crime.
He had planned to expose everything.
The governor had ordered him silenced.
But Evelyn had acted independently.
She had poisoned Thomas before the order could be carried out.
The governor had spent twenty years believing Thomas's network had died with him.
Until Adrian returned.
“Why did you let my company exist?”
“Because I needed it.”
“For what?”
“Information.”
Adrian looked at the files.
“All these years…”
The governor interrupted.
“You were never meant to inherit the network.”
“Then who was?”
“Grace.”
Adrian's eyes narrowed.
“Why her?”
“Because your father trusted her mother.”
“Daniel?”
“No.”
“Then who?”
The governor said:
“Your father's first wife.”
Adrian went silent.
His father had been married before Evelyn?
The governor laughed.
“You've spent years believing you knew your family.”
“I knew enough.”
“No, Adrian.”
The governor's voice became colder.
“You knew what they allowed you to know.”
A hidden door opened behind Adrian.
He spun around.
Grace stood there.
She carried a gun.
“Put it down,” Adrian said.
Grace didn't.
“Adrian.”
“What are you doing?”
“I need the box.”
“Why?”
“Because the files inside contain names.”
“Whose names?”
“People who will kill everyone connected to them.”
Adrian stared.
“Daniel?”
Grace shook her head.
“Daniel is dead.”
He froze.
“What?”
“He died six months ago.”
“Then who am I talking to?”
Grace's face changed.
Adrian realized she wasn't holding the phone.
The governor was.
But the governor's voice came from the receiver.
Grace walked closer.
She looked terrified.
“Adrian, please give me the box.”
He stepped backward.
“You're working for him.”
“No.”
“Then prove it.”
She lowered her gun.
Suddenly the vault door slammed shut.
They were trapped.
The governor's voice continued through the speaker.
“You've both been useful.”
Adrian looked at Grace.
“What does he want?”
Grace whispered:
“Everything.”
The box began vibrating.
A tiny red light blinked.
Adrian stared.
“What is that?”
Grace's eyes widened.
“Don't open it.”
“Why?”
“It's a tracker.”
The red light turned green.
Then the vault ceiling opened.
A speaker descended.
The governor spoke one final sentence.
“Thank you for bringing my evidence back to me.”
Gas began filling the room.
Adrian covered his mouth.
Grace collapsed to her knees.
He grabbed her.
“Stay awake!”
She looked at him.
“Adrian…”
“Don't.”
“I lied to you.”
“I know.”
“I wanted to tell you.”
“Then tell me now.”
Grace struggled to breathe.
“My mother…”
Adrian held her tighter.
“What about her?”
“She wasn't the one who gave the order.”
Adrian stared.
“Who was?”
Grace looked toward the ceiling.
“Thomas.”
Adrian froze.
His father had ordered his own death?
Grace whispered:
“He knew he couldn't destroy the network while he was alive.”
“So he faked his murder?”
“No.”
She closed her eyes.
“He asked Evelyn to kill him.”
Adrian stared in disbelief.
His entire life was suddenly built on a lie.
The gas thickened.
Grace lost consciousness.
Adrian pounded against the vault door.
“HELP!”
Nothing.
Then he heard metal scraping.
The door opened.
Someone pulled him outside.
Adrian collapsed on the floor.
He looked up.
A man stood over him.
Older.
Scarred.
Alive.
Adrian recognized him from the photograph.
Daniel Cross.
Except Grace had said he was dead.
Daniel looked at Adrian.
“You finally found the truth.”
Adrian coughed.
“You're alive.”
Daniel smiled sadly.
“For now.”
Then he looked at Grace.
“We have ten minutes.”
“Until what?”
May you like
Daniel answered:
“Until the entire Whitmore network disappears forever.”
