Chapter 11 - The Unthinkable OfferAdrien Walks Into The Enemy's HouseAdrien arrived at the warehouse alone.

At least, that's what Matteo believed.

Luca and three security men remained hidden two blocks away.

Adrien entered through the front doors.

Matteo waited at a long table.

"You came."

Adrien drew his weapon.

"Where is she?"

"Alive."

"Bring her out."

Matteo smiled.

"You've become predictable."

Adrien didn't blink.

"You kidnapped a woman under my protection."

"She isn't the problem."

"Then what is?"

"You."

Matteo placed a folder on the table.

"Your empire is collapsing."

Adrien looked at it.

Bank withdrawals.

Forged signatures.

Board resolutions.

His signature appeared on all of them.

"By tomorrow morning, three of your companies will belong to shell corporations."

Adrien looked up.

"Your doing?"

"Our doing."

"Who?"

Matteo smiled.

"Your father."

Adrien's face changed.

"He's dead."

"So you were told."

The warehouse door opened.

Gabriel entered.

Adrien stared at his uncle.

For a moment, nobody moved.

Then Adrien raised his weapon.

Gabriel didn't flinch.

"Go ahead."

Adrien's finger tightened.

"You killed my mother."

"No."

"You disappeared."

"Yes."

"You let me believe you were dead."

"Because I was hunted."

Adrien's voice cracked with fury.

"By whom?"

Gabriel looked at Matteo.

"The man standing beside you."

Adrien turned.

Matteo pulled a gun.

Chaos exploded.

Shots.

Glass.

Men rushing from the shadows.

Adrien fired.

Luca's team entered.

Matteo escaped through a side door.

Adrien chased him.

But Gabriel shouted,

"Clara!"

Adrien stopped.

He turned.

"Where is she?"

Gabriel pointed toward the upper floor.

They found her in a locked room.

Adrien broke the door.

Clara looked up.

Relief hit her so hard she almost cried.

He crossed the room and cut her restraints.

"Are you hurt?"

She shook her head.

He pulled her against him.

For one second, neither moved.

Then Clara whispered,

"Your uncle is alive."

"I know."

"He says Matteo killed my father."

Adrien closed his eyes.

"I believe him."

She looked at him.

"Why?"

"Because my mother wrote something else."

He removed a folded paper from his coat.

Clara opened it.

There was one sentence.

IF CLARA EVER ENTERS THIS HOUSE, DO NOT LET HER LEAVE WITHOUT KNOWING THE TRUTH.

Clara's eyes filled.

"She knew."

"Yes."

Adrien touched her face.

"You were never an accident."

She stared at him.

"What am I?"

His voice softened.

"The last person my mother trusted."

Then footsteps approached.

Marco appeared.

He was bleeding.

Badly.

Adrien raised his weapon.

Marco held up a blood-covered envelope.

"Don't shoot me."

He dropped it onto the floor.

"Read that first."

Adrien opened it.

Inside was a board resolution.

Dated tomorrow.

Signed by Adrien.

Authorizing the transfer of the entire Valente empire.

Adrien's blood ran cold.

Clara noticed something.

The signature was perfect.

Except for one tiny detail.

Adrien's real signature always ended with a dot beneath the final letter.

This one didn't.

She looked at Marco.

"Where did you get this?"

Marco answered,

"From Matteo's safe."

Then he added,

"But there's a second copy."

Adrien looked up.

"Where?"

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Marco swallowed.

"In your house."