Chapter 14 - BLACKWATER
Blackwater was hidden beneath an abandoned subway station.
Adrian, Elena, Caleb, and Daniel entered through a service tunnel.
The air smelled of rust and concrete.
Every step echoed.
Caleb led them.
“I came here once.”
“When?”
“Six years ago.”
Adrian looked at him.
“To see Father?”
“To meet Richard.”
Adrian stopped.
Caleb continued.
“I wanted the company.”
“You sold him.”
“Yes.”
Elena looked at him.
“Why did you change?”
Caleb looked at her.
“Because Richard showed me what he was.”
They reached a steel door.
Behind it came the sound of a child crying.
Marcus's son.
Adrian forced the door open.
Inside were six rooms.
Five were empty.
One contained a boy.
He looked about twelve.
Adrian recognized him from the photograph.
“Ethan?”
The boy looked up.
“Who are you?”
“Your father sent me.”
The boy began to cry.
Adrian unlocked the door.
Then the lights came on.
Richard stood at the end of the corridor.
Surrounded by armed men.
“You always were stubborn.”
Adrian raised his weapon.
“Let the boy go.”
Richard smiled.
“You have something I want.”
“You don't get the ledger.”
Richard looked at Elena.
“Then she dies.”
Adrian moved instantly.
Elena grabbed his arm.
“No.”
Richard laughed.
“You care about her.”
Adrian stared at him.
Richard continued.
“That is your weakness.”
“No.”
Adrian's voice was calm.
“She is the reason you lose.”
Richard's smile disappeared.
Caleb fired.
The corridor erupted into gunfire.
Adrian pushed Elena behind cover.
Daniel took Ethan.
They ran.
Richard escaped through a side passage.
Adrian followed.
The tunnel opened into an underground chamber.
Richard stood beside a large metal door.
“Your father hid the ledger because he thought truth could save you.”
Adrian approached.
“Where is the organization?”
Richard laughed.
“You still don't understand.”
“Then explain.”
Richard pointed toward the door.
“The organization is not a place.”
The door opened.
Behind it was a massive room filled with screens.
Names.
Bank accounts.
Photographs.
Politicians.
Judges.
Business leaders.
Adrian stared.
Richard smiled.
“It is a system.”
Adrian's eyes moved across the screens.
Then he saw one name.
His own.
Beside it was a photograph of Elena.
And another file.
ELENA VALE — SUCCESSOR STATUS: CONFIRMED.
Elena stared.
“What does that mean?”
Richard looked at her.
“You are not just the daughter of a driver.”
Daniel went pale.
Richard continued:
“Your father was the original keeper of the Black Ledger.”
Adrian looked at Daniel.
Daniel lowered his eyes.
“You knew?”
Richard smiled.
“Her family has been protecting the ledger for generations.”
Elena stared at her father.
“Is that true?”
Daniel said nothing.
Richard lifted a gun.
“Now you understand why everyone wants you alive.”
He aimed at Elena.
Adrian stepped in front of her.
Richard fired.
The bullet struck Adrian.
May you like
Elena screamed.
Adrian fell.
