Chapter 8 - THE CHILDNobody spoke.
Vanessa stared at the ring.
“You knew?”
I asked.
She nodded.
“Not at first.”
“When?”
“Two months ago.”
She looked at Adrian.
“Blackwell contacted me.”
“What did they tell you?”
“That the baby carried something your family had lost.”
“What?”
“A genetic key.”
Marcus stepped forward.
“That's impossible.”
Vanessa laughed bitterly.
“You've been chasing ghosts for years.”
She looked at me.
“You thought the ring was the key.”
She pointed toward her stomach.
“The key is inside the child.”
I looked at Adrian.
His face was blank.
“Then why did you tell everyone the baby was mine?”
“Because Blackwell needed you to believe it.”
My chest tightened.
“So the child isn't Adrian's.”
“No.”
“Whose is it?”
Vanessa looked down.
“The founder's.”
Marcus's expression changed.
“Alexander?”
She nodded.
Adrian looked sick.
“My father.”
“Yes.”
He stepped backward.
“No.”
Vanessa cried.
“I never wanted this.”
“You slept with him?”
“They made me.”
Adrian laughed bitterly.
“And you expect me to believe that?”
“I was trying to survive.”
He turned away.
I almost felt sorry for him.
Almost.
Then the doors opened.
A man walked in.
Older.
Silver hair.
Black suit.
Cold eyes.
Adrian froze.
“Dad.”
Alexander Vale smiled.
“My son.”
He looked at me.
“You've grown into your mother's daughter.”
I raised the ring.
“You created Blackwell.”
“Yes.”
“You destroyed my family.”
“No.”
He smiled.
“Your family destroyed itself.”
Marcus raised his weapon.
Alexander laughed.
“Still pretending to be a hero, Marcus?”
“You're finished.”
“No.”
Alexander looked at the screens.
“I'm just beginning.”
He turned toward me.
“Give me the ring.”
“No.”
“Then people die.”
“Who?”
He smiled.
A monitor came alive.
My father appeared again.
Then my mother.
Both were restrained.
I felt my heart collapse.
Alexander continued.
“One ring.”
“Two lives.”
“Your choice.”
I looked at the screen.
Dad was conscious.
My mother was crying.
“Don't give it to him!” my father shouted.
Alexander struck him.
“Dad!”
I stepped forward.
Marcus grabbed my arm.
“Don't.”
I looked at him.
“What am I supposed to do?”
“Think.”
Alexander laughed.
“Exactly.”
A second screen appeared.
This time it showed Adrian's mother.
Alive.
Terrified.
And beside her stood a group of men.
Adrian stared.
“No.”
Alexander smiled.
“You see, everyone has someone to lose.”
He walked toward me.
“You think this is about money.”
“It isn't.”
“You think it is about power.”
“It isn't.”
He stopped.
“It is about blood.”
He pointed at Adrian.
“Your husband carries my blood.”
Then he pointed at Vanessa.
“My grandchild carries it too.”
Finally, he looked at me.
“And you carry Elena's.”
I felt the ring become warm in my hand.
Alexander smiled.
“Bring the ring.”
“What happens if I refuse?”
“I kill your father.”
“What if I give it to you?”
“I kill your mother.”
I stared at him.
“Then there is no winning.”
He smiled.
“Now you understand Blackwell.”
Adrian suddenly stepped forward.
“Dad.”
Alexander turned.
“You wanted me to marry her.”
“Yes.”
“You wanted the Ledger.”
“Yes.”
“You wanted her under our control.”
“Yes.”
Adrian's voice became colder.
“Then why are you threatening her?”
Alexander smiled.
“Because you failed.”
Adrian raised his gun.
For the first time, father and son stared directly at each other.
“You should have died with your mother,” Alexander said.
Adrian's hands shook.
I whispered:
“Don't.”
Alexander laughed.
“You see?”
He looked at me.
“This is what happens when you trust broken men.”
Then Adrian fired.
The bullet struck Alexander in the shoulder.
Chaos exploded.
Guards opened fire.
Marcus tackled me behind a concrete wall.
Vanessa screamed.
Alexander disappeared into the smoke.
Adrian stood frozen.
Then he looked at me.
“Run.”
We ran.
Through the corridor.
Down the stairs.
Into the underground garage.
But before we reached the exit, a vehicle blocked the tunnel.
The rear door opened.
A woman stepped out.
Long dark hair.
Pale face.
My mother.
I stopped.
“Mom?”
She smiled.
“Get in.”
Marcus stared.
“How did you escape?”
She looked at him.
“I didn't.”
Everyone froze.
“What do you mean?”
She turned toward me.
“I was never captured.”
Then she looked at the ring.
“I needed you to believe I was.”
My blood went cold.
“Why?”
She whispered:
“Because Blackwell is listening.”
The ring suddenly spoke.
ENCRYPTION COMPLETE.
May you like
My mother smiled.
“Now we can finally kill it.”
