Chapter 13 - The Price Of Choosing HimThe Gun Behind Adrien's HeadMatteo held Gabriel by the collar.
A gun pressed against his temple.
Adrien stepped forward.
"Let him go."
Matteo smiled.
"You still think you give the orders."
Security raised their weapons.
Matteo's men appeared behind him.
More guns.
Too many.
Clara moved toward Adrien.
He stopped her with one hand.
"Stay behind me."
Matteo laughed.
"Always protecting everyone except yourself."
Adrien stared at him.
"What do you want?"
"The ledger."
"You have copies."
"I want the original."
"You won't leave with it."
"Then Gabriel dies."
Gabriel looked at Adrien.
"Don't give it to him."
Matteo struck him.
Clara flinched.
Adrien's eyes darkened.
"Take the ledger."
Everyone looked at him.
Clara whispered,
"No."
Adrien turned.
"Trust me."
She shook her head.
"That's exactly what he wants."
Matteo smiled.
"Smart girl."
Clara looked at the ledger.
Then at him.
"You don't actually want the ledger."
Matteo's smile faded.
"You want what's hidden inside."
Adrien looked at her.
"What?"
Clara opened the ledger.
She flipped through the pages.
"Every page has transaction numbers."
Matteo's expression changed.
Clara continued.
"But some numbers don't correspond to money."
She turned the book.
"A code."
Matteo's men exchanged looks.
"You need the full key."
Clara looked directly at him.
"And the key is inside the silver angel."
Matteo froze.
Adrien suddenly understood.
The brass key had never opened the ledger.
It opened the code.
Clara reached into her pocket.
She had secretly kept the key.
Matteo's eyes fixed on it.
"Give it to me."
"No."
He raised his gun.
Gabriel shouted,
"Don't!"
Adrien stepped closer.
"What happens if she refuses?"
Matteo smiled.
"You both die."
Clara looked at Adrien.
Then she whispered,
"Do you trust me?"
His eyes never left hers.
"Completely."
She threw the key.
Not toward Matteo.
Toward the fireplace.
It landed in the flames.
Matteo screamed.
He dropped Gabriel and lunged.
Adrien fired.
Matteo's gun flew from his hand.
Security tackled his men.
Gabriel collapsed.
Clara ran toward him.
Then the lights went out.
Again.
A gunshot echoed.
Adrien jerked backward.
Clara screamed.
He fell.
Blood spread across his white shirt.
"Adrien!"
She caught him before his head struck the floor.
"Stay with me."
His eyes opened.
"Clara."
"You're okay."
He tried to breathe.
"Don't let them take the book."
"Forget the book."
She pressed her hands against his chest.
"Stay alive."
He gave the faintest smile.
"Bossy."
Tears filled her eyes.
"Shut up."
Behind them, footsteps ran toward the rear doors.
Matteo.
He had escaped.
Again.
But Clara saw something else.
On the floor beside Adrien was a bullet casing.
It wasn't from Matteo's gun.
She picked it up.
Stamped on the base was the same symbol from the Bell Tower.
And beneath it was another mark.
A letter.
L.
Clara looked toward Luca.
"Luca."
He shook his head.
"No."
She stared.
"You said Matteo forced you."
"He did."
"Then why does the shooter have your mark?"
Luca's face went pale.
Because the answer was standing in the doorway.
A woman.
Alive.
Luca's daughter.
May you like
She raised a weapon.
And pointed it at Clara.
