Chapter 12 - The Hidden HeirAdrian looked exhausted.
Blood still stained his shirt from the sniper's bullet.
Clara stared at him.
"You knew."
He didn't deny it.
"Yes."
"You knew who my mother was."
"Yes."
"You knew what my father built."
"Yes."
"And you married me anyway."
Adrian's eyes lowered.
"Yes."
Clara laughed bitterly.
"So what was our marriage?"
"A cover."
The word struck harder than the slap she'd given Victoria.
Victoria smiled.
"You finally understand."
Clara turned toward her.
"Then why didn't you kill me?"
Victoria lowered the gun.
"Because I couldn't."
"Why?"
"Because Black Meridian needs you alive."
Her mother stepped forward.
"Clara controls the trust."
Victoria shook her head.
"No."
She looked directly at Clara.
"Clara controls the system."
Clara frowned.
"What system?"
Adrian answered.
"Your father created a biometric inheritance protocol."
"It can only be activated by you."
"Once activated, it transfers ownership of every account connected to Black Meridian."
Clara's heart raced.
"So whoever controls me controls the network."
Victoria smiled.
"Exactly."
Clara looked at Adrian.
"And you?"
"I was assigned to protect you."
"By whom?"
Adrian hesitated.
"My father."
"Richard?"
"Yes."
Clara realized something.
"Then why betray him?"
Adrian's voice was barely audible.
"Because I fell in love with you."
Victoria's expression darkened.
"That was your mistake."
She raised her weapon.
Adrian stepped between them.
Victoria fired.
The bullet struck Adrian.
He collapsed.
Clara screamed.
Her mother grabbed her arm.
"Move!"
They ran.
But Clara refused to leave Adrian.
She dropped beside him.
His eyes opened.
"Go."
"No."
"Clara..."
She pressed her hand against his wound.
"You don't get to die after all this."
A faint smile appeared.
"Still stubborn."
She shook her head.
"Still lying."
Adrian whispered:
"There's something else."
"What?"
"Victoria isn't the head."
Clara froze.
"Who is?"
Adrian looked at her.
"Your father."
Silence.
"That's impossible."
"I saw him."
Clara stared.
"He's alive?"
Adrian nodded.
"He staged his death."
Clara's world shattered.
Her mother closed her eyes.
"I was trying to find proof."
Clara stepped backward.
"My father is alive."
She looked toward the darkness.
"Where?"
Adrian whispered one final word.
"London."
Then the lights in the tunnel went out.
When they came back on...
Adrian was gone.
So was the red notebook.
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And on the wall, written in fresh blood, were six words:
COME FIND YOUR FATHER, CLARA BENNETT.
