Chapter 13 - Blood Against BloodLuca attacked.
Two guards grabbed him.
He fought like an animal.
One.
Two.
Three men down.
Then pain tore through his chest.
He stopped.
The monitor in his pocket screamed.
Mara shouted:
“Luca!”
He dropped to one knee.
His heart stumbled.
Skipped.
Raced.
Then nearly stopped.
His father watched calmly.
“You see?”
He stepped closer.
“Your condition is worsening.”
Luca forced himself upright.
“You did this.”
“No.”
His father tapped his chest.
“Your body did.”
Emma watched.
“Daddy is sick?”
Her grandfather nodded.
“Yes.”
Luca looked at her.
“Don't listen to him.”
“But you are sick.”
“Yes.”
“Will you die?”
Luca went silent.
His father smiled.
“Eventually.”
Luca looked at Emma.
“Not tonight.”
That answer frightened his father.
For the first time, the old man's confidence disappeared.
Luca had stopped fearing death.
That made him unpredictable.
Mara reached the control panel.
“Luca, give me thirty seconds.”
His father pointed a gun at Emma.
“One move.”
Everything stopped.
Then Adrian's voice echoed from below.
“Let her go.”
Everyone turned.
The floor hatch opened.
Adrian climbed out.
Blood covered his shirt.
But he was standing.
His father's face changed.
“You should be dead.”
Adrian smiled.
“You always did underestimate me.”
Luca stared.
“How did you get out?”
“Your mother helped me.”
Luca looked around.
“Where is she?”
Adrian's smile disappeared.
“She didn't make it.”
Silence.
Luca's father raised his gun.
“She was always weak.”
Adrian lunged.
The gun fired.
The bullet struck Adrian.
He fell.
“ADRIAN!”
Luca rushed to him.
His father grabbed Emma.
“Enough!”
Luca turned.
“Put her down.”
“You want her?”
“Yes.”
“Then come to the laboratory.”
Luca stared.
His father continued.
“Tonight, we finish what we started.”
The hidden door opened.
Beyond it was the laboratory.
Machines.
Surgical tables.
Screens.
Emma stared at them.
“Daddy…”
Luca took one step.
Then another.
He entered.
The doors closed behind him.
A medical machine locked around Emma.
Luca raised his weapon.
“Get her out.”
His father shook his head.
“Not yet.”
Mara entered from the other side.
Her eyes widened.
“Luca.”
“What?”
She looked at the equipment.
Then at Emma.
“This machine isn't for her.”
Luca frowned.
“Then who?”
Mara pointed.
A second table had opened.
Inside was Adrian.
And a third was waiting.
For Luca.
His father's voice was calm.
“Three generations.”
He touched the control panel.
“Three bodies.”
The machines activated.
“Three chances to create the perfect heart.”
Luca stared.
“You want to use us.”
“No.”
His father smiled.
“I want to merge you.”
Mara's face went pale.
“That's impossible.”
“Not anymore.”
May you like
The doors locked.
The procedure began.
