Chapter 11 - Twelve HoursThey had twelve hours to stop Victor.
Adrian's men worked through the night.
Claire sat beside her mother in a private medical room.
“You lied to me.”
Her mother nodded.
“I know.”
“My whole life.”
“I thought it would keep you alive.”
“It nearly destroyed me.”
Her mother looked at her.
“Mason was supposed to scare you into leaving Charleston.”
“Instead he tried to kill me.”
“I know.”
“Did you know about the acid?”
“No.”
Claire stared at her.
“For once, I'm telling you the truth.”
Her mother's eyes filled with tears.
“He wasn't supposed to become obsessed with you.”
“He always was.”
Silence.
Then Claire asked:
“Who is the real mastermind?”
Her mother looked toward Adrian.
“You already met him.”
Claire frowned.
“Victor?”
“No.”
“Then who?”
Her mother hesitated.
“Your father.”
Claire froze.
“What?”
“Jonathan created Halcyon.”
The room went silent.
“He created the first version.”
“Why?”
“To track criminals.”
“And then?”
“He realized power was profitable.”
Claire felt sick.
“My father was corrupt.”
“Not at first.”
“That's not an answer.”
Her mother closed her eyes.
“He became obsessed with control.”
Claire left the room.
Outside, Adrian was waiting.
“What did she tell you?”
“The truth.”
He watched her carefully.
“My father created Halcyon.”
“Yes.”
“And your mother helped him.”
“Yes.”
“And Victor stole it.”
“Yes.”
Claire looked at him.
“What about you?”
Adrian shook his head.
“I've spent my life cleaning up their mess.”
Claire studied him.
“You don't have to.”
“What?”
“Save me.”
Adrian was silent.
“I can leave.”
“No.”
“You don't trust me.”
“I trust you more than I trust anyone.”
He stepped closer.
“That's dangerous.”
“So is loving you.”
Neither moved.
The words hung between them.
Claire realized what she had said.
Adrian's expression softened.
“Claire…”
A gunshot cracked through the hallway.
They ducked.
A security guard fell.
Adrian fired toward the corridor.
“Move!”
They ran.
Someone had infiltrated the building.
Claire looked back.
Her mother's room was empty.
“Mama!”
Adrian stopped.
“She was taken.”
A phone on the floor rang.
Claire answered.
Victor's voice.
“You have six hours.”
“You said twelve.”
“I changed my mind.”
“Where is my mother?”
“Where this began.”
“The Whitmore estate?”
“No.”
A pause.
“The crash site.”
Claire's chest tightened.
“What crash site?”
“The place your parents supposedly died.”
The call ended.
Adrian grabbed his keys.
Claire stared at him.
“You know where it is.”
“Yes.”
“Then take me there.”
He hesitated.
“Claire, listen to me.”
“No.”
She grabbed his hand.
“My entire life has been a lie.”
Her eyes filled with tears.
“I want the truth.”
Adrian stared at her.
Then nodded.
“Then tonight, you get all of it.”
They drove into the storm.
Three hours later, the old hangar appeared through the rain.
And on its roof stood Victor.
Beside him was Claire's mother.
And another man.
An older man.
Scarred.
Gray-haired.
Claire stared.
Adrian stopped the car.
“My father.”
May you like
The older man looked down.
And smiled.
