Chapter 9 - Leo's ChoiceLeo entered the room alone.
His gun was raised.
His shirt was torn.
Blood ran down his temple.
Beatrice had never been so relieved to see anyone.
“Leo.”
He looked at her.
The fury in his face disappeared.
For a second, he looked almost human.
Then Adrian stepped between them.
“You came.”
Leo's eyes never left Beatrice.
“Cut her loose.”
Adrian smiled.
“You still don't understand.”
“I understand enough.”
“You think this is about Lily.”
“It is.”
“You think this is about Maria.”
Leo's jaw tightened.
“It is.”
Adrian laughed.
“It is about you.”
He pulled out a gun.
“Your father built this entire empire because he was afraid of one thing.”
Leo's gaze hardened.
“What?”
“Losing control.”
Adrian pointed to Beatrice.
“You're doing the same thing now.”
Leo's expression changed.
Adrian continued.
“You hired her.”
“You trusted her.”
“You let her raise Lily.”
“And now you would die for her.”
Beatrice stared at Leo.
He said nothing.
Adrian smiled.
“That is your weakness.”
Leo answered quietly:
“No.”
He lowered his gun.
“My weakness was believing everyone was like me.”
Adrian frowned.
“Beatrice isn't.”
Leo looked directly at her.
“She fights for people she loves.”
Beatrice's eyes filled with tears.
Adrian's face darkened.
The shooting began.
Leo moved first.
He shot the ceiling light.
Darkness swallowed the room.
Beatrice ducked.
A chair crashed.
Someone shouted.
Victoria grabbed her.
“Come!”
Beatrice pulled away.
“No.”
“You don't understand.”
“I understand enough.”
Victoria slapped her.
Beatrice struck back.
The two women froze.
Neither had expected it.
Then Victoria whispered:
“You've changed.”
Beatrice looked at her.
“You taught me.”
A gunshot exploded.
Victoria fell.
Beatrice screamed.
Leo rushed over.
But Victoria was still breathing.
Adrian was gone.
Leo knelt beside Beatrice.
“Are you hurt?”
She shook her head.
Then she grabbed his shirt.
“Lily.”
“She’s safe.”
“Where?”
“Mateo has her.”
Beatrice closed her eyes.
For the first time, she allowed herself to lean against him.
Leo wrapped one arm around her.
Neither spoke.
Then Beatrice looked up.
“You knew.”
“Knew what?”
“That Maria was my mother.”
Leo's expression froze.
“How?”
“Victoria told me.”
Leo hesitated.
“I suspected.”
“You should have told me.”
“I didn't know if it was true.”
Beatrice's voice broke.
“You kept secrets from me.”
Leo nodded.
“You're right.”
She stared at him.
The most feared man in Chicago had just admitted he was wrong.
Then he said:
“I will never lie to you again.”
Beatrice looked into his eyes.
“Promise?”
“Yes.”
A tiny sound came from the doorway.
Lily.
She ran into Beatrice's arms.
Beatrice held her tightly.
Lily whispered:
“Mommy came to see me.”
Everyone froze.
Leo crouched.
“What did she say?”
Lily pointed toward the hall.
“She told me not to trust Daddy's brother.”
Leo's face hardened.
“Adrian?”
Lily shook her head.
“No.”
She pointed at Gabriel Vale.
“Daddy's other brother.”
Leo went still.
“There are two?”
Lily nodded.
“Mommy said the second one is the dangerous one.”
Beatrice's blood ran cold.
Then a message appeared on Leo's phone.
A live video.
Maria Rossi was sitting in a chair.
Alive.
Older.
Tired.
But unmistakably Maria.
She looked into the camera.
“Leo…”
He stopped breathing.
“I am alive.”
The video ended.
May you like
And beneath it appeared an address.
Come alone.
