Chapter 10 - THE LIEJulian lowered the gun slightly.
“What?”
Cassandra looked at Adrian.
“He’s been working for Marcus.”
Adrian shook his head.
“No.”
Cassandra stepped closer.
“I saw the records.”
Adrian looked at Claire.
“Tell him.”
Claire couldn’t.
Julian’s voice became deadly calm.
“Tell me.”
Claire whispered:
“Adrian is Marcus’s son.”
Julian’s eyes narrowed.
“My brother?”
“No.”
“Then who is he?”
Marcus appeared on the warehouse screen.
“That’s my son.”
Adrian looked down.
Marcus continued.
“I sent him to find Lily.”
Julian turned on Adrian.
Adrian raised his hands.
“I had no choice.”
“You brought us here.”
“Yes.”
“You knew where Lily was.”
“Yes.”
“You betrayed us.”
Adrian’s face crumpled.
“I was protecting someone.”
“Who?”
A small voice came from behind a door.
“Adrian?”
Everyone froze.
A little girl stepped out.
She looked about eight.
Adrian ran to her.
Julian realized instantly.
Marcus had lied again.
Adrian wasn’t protecting himself.
He was protecting a child.
“My daughter,” Adrian whispered.
Cassandra stared.
“Marcus said she died.”
Adrian looked at her.
“He lied.”
Julian lowered his weapon.
“How did Marcus get to Lily?”
Adrian pointed at the little girl.
“He threatened her.”
Before anyone could speak, an explosion rocked the warehouse.
Marcus had found them.
Smoke flooded the building.
Julian grabbed the little girl.
Claire grabbed Cassandra.
Adrian ran upstairs.
They reached the roof.
Helicopters circled above.
Marcus’s men surrounded the building.
Then Lily appeared in the doorway.
Julian’s heart nearly stopped.
She was alone.
“Daddy!”
Julian ran toward her.
Marcus appeared behind her.
Gun pressed against her head.
“Stop.”
Julian stopped.
Marcus smiled.
“I knew you’d come.”
“Let her go.”
“No.”
Marcus looked at Adrian.
“You disappointed me.”
Adrian stared back.
“You killed everyone who ever obeyed you.”
Marcus shrugged.
“Leadership requires sacrifice.”
Julian stepped forward.
Marcus tightened his grip.
“Stay where you are.”
Lily began crying.
“Daddy, I’m scared.”
Julian stared at his daughter.
Then he noticed something.
Her bare feet.
She was wearing the same faded blue dress from the ballroom.
The same dress she had worn when she danced.
And on her ankle was a tiny red mark.
A birthmark.
Julian looked at Claire.
Claire went pale.
“What?”
“That mark.”
Claire whispered:
“It wasn’t there when she was born.”
Cassandra stared.
Then she understood.
“That’s not a birthmark.”
Julian asked:
“Then what is it?”
Cassandra whispered:
“It’s a tracking implant.”
Marcus smiled.
“Yes.”
He pressed a remote.
Lily collapsed.
Julian screamed.
And at that exact moment, the warehouse doors exploded open.
Police stormed in.
But none of them were pointing at Marcus.
They were pointing at Julian.
“JULIAN DE LUCA!”
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A federal agent shouted.
“YOU’RE UNDER ARREST FOR MURDER.”
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