Chapter 16 - THE DAY THE EMPIRE FELL
The courthouse was filled with reporters.
Politicians.
Police.
Lawyers.
Every major news network had gathered.
Senator William Cross stood at the center of the building.
He looked untouchable.
Adrian entered through the front doors.
Elena walked beside him.
The entire room went silent.
Cross smiled.
“Mr. Blackwood.”
Adrian stopped.
“Where is Elena's mother?”
Cross gestured toward the courtroom.
“She is alive.”
Adrian looked inside.
Elena's mother sat beside Richard.
Her hands were tied.
Elena stepped forward.
Cross smiled.
“Bring me the ledger.”
Elena looked at him.
“I don't have it.”
Cross laughed.
“Your father gave it to Adrian.”
Adrian said nothing.
Cross turned to the reporters.
“Ladies and gentlemen, today we expose the Blackwood criminal empire.”
A prosecutor stepped forward.
Documents were displayed.
Bank records.
Photographs.
Evidence.
The entire Blackwood empire was being destroyed in real time.
Adrian looked at the screens.
Then at Elena.
She was staring at the names.
One name appeared.
A judge.
Another.
A police chief.
Another.
A bank president.
She whispered:
“They're all here.”
Adrian looked at her.
“What?”
“The names.”
She began to remember.
The numbers.
The faces.
The code.
Cross noticed.
His expression changed.
“Stop her.”
Men moved toward Elena.
Adrian drew his weapon.
The courtroom erupted.
Chaos.
Daniel freed Elena's mother.
Caleb tackled Richard.
Adrian moved toward Cross.
But Cross disappeared behind a hidden door.
Adrian followed.
They entered a private office.
Cross stood beside a window.
“You think killing me ends this?”
Adrian aimed.
“No.”
Cross smiled.
“You think exposing names destroys the organization?”
“No.”
“Then why are you here?”
Adrian looked at him.
“Because you took everything from my family.”
Cross laughed.
“Your family destroyed itself.”
Adrian's eyes hardened.
Cross continued.
“Your father betrayed me.”
“Your father betrayed everyone.”
“Your mother lied.”
“Your uncle ran.”
“Your brother sold you.”
“Your friend died.”
Cross smiled.
“And you still think you are the hero?”
Adrian stepped closer.
“No.”
Cross's smile faded.
“Then what are you?”
Adrian said:
“The man who ends this.”
He pressed a button on his phone.
Every screen in the courthouse turned on.
The Black Ledger.
Names.
Evidence.
Recordings.
Everything had been uploaded.
Cross stared.
“You don't have the ledger.”
“No.”
Adrian looked toward Elena.
“She does.”
Elena began reciting names.
One after another.
The entire courtroom heard them.
The organization began collapsing.
Phones rang.
Politicians ran.
Police officers abandoned their posts.
Richard was arrested.
Cross was surrounded.
He looked at Adrian.
“You have no idea what you have started.”
Adrian answered:
“Yes.”
Then Elena's mother stepped forward.
She held a small recording device.
“I have the confession.”
Richard's voice played.
His confession.
The murder of Adrian's father.
The kidnapping.
The organization.
Everything.
The courthouse fell silent.
William Cross was arrested.
Richard Hale was arrested.
And the Blackwood empire was no longer untouchable.
But as Adrian walked outside, his phone rang.
A message appeared.
YOU WON THE BATTLE.
Then another.
BUT YOUR FATHER'S LAST SECRET IS STILL BURIED.
Adrian looked at Elena.
“What?”
She stared at the message.
May you like
Then said:
“My grandfather.”
