Chapter 9 - THE PRICE OF LOYALTY
The war began before sunrise.
Adrian closed every legitimate business connected to the Blackwood family.
He froze accounts.
Changed security teams.
Removed three executives.
And ordered a complete investigation into every financial transaction made during the last ten years.
Within hours, the city began to react.
People who had never heard of Elena Vale suddenly knew her name.
The media reported an internal war inside the Blackwood empire.
Adrian didn't care.
He had one goal.
Find Richard Hale.
And find the organization behind him.
But the enemy moved faster.
At noon, Adrian received a video.
Elena was in the library with Daniel.
The video had been recorded thirty minutes earlier.
A man stood behind them.
Richard.
His voice was calm.
“Your father is alive because we allow him to be.”
Adrian watched silently.
Richard continued.
“Your uncle is alive because we allow him to be.”
Then he looked directly into the camera.
“But your mother?”
A pause.
“She belongs to us.”
Adrian stopped the video.
Elena stared at him.
“What did he mean?”
“I don't know.”
Daniel looked away.
Adrian noticed.
“You know something.”
Daniel remained silent.
Adrian walked toward him.
“Tell me.”
Daniel said nothing.
Adrian grabbed his collar.
“Tell me!”
Elena stepped between them.
“Adrian.”
He stopped.
Daniel looked at Elena.
Then finally spoke.
“Your mother made a deal.”
Adrian froze.
“With whom?”
“The organization.”
“For what?”
Daniel looked at him.
“To save you.”
Adrian's expression changed.
Daniel continued.
“When you were twelve, your father wanted to leave the organization.”
Adrian stared.
“They threatened you.”
“Why don't I remember?”
“Because they took you.”
Adrian's blood ran cold.
“What?”
“They held you for three days.”
Elena covered her mouth.
Daniel continued.
“Your mother agreed to work for them in exchange for your life.”
Adrian stepped back.
“So she betrayed my father.”
“She tried to save you.”
“And Father?”
“He found out.”
“What happened?”
Daniel looked at the floor.
“He decided to expose them anyway.”
Adrian's face became cold.
“Then my mother chose them.”
“No.”
Daniel looked at him.
“She chose you.”
The words hit Adrian harder than any bullet.
That evening, Adrian found Victoria.
She was waiting in a private hotel suite.
She looked exactly as he remembered.
Elegant.
Beautiful.
Untouchable.
Adrian walked inside.
Victoria looked at him.
“You came.”
“You knew I would.”
“Yes.”
“Tell me the truth.”
Victoria poured herself a drink.
“Which truth?”
“Everything.”
She smiled sadly.
“You look so much like your father when you're angry.”
“Don't talk about him.”
“Then ask your questions.”
“Did you work for the organization?”
“Yes.”
Adrian's jaw tightened.
“Did you betray Father?”
“No.”
“Did you know he would be killed?”
“Yes.”
Adrian stared.
“Then you let him die.”
Victoria's eyes filled with tears.
“No.”
“Don't lie to me.”
“I tried to warn him.”
“Did you?”
“Yes.”
“Why didn't he listen?”
Victoria looked away.
“Because he believed I was the traitor.”
Adrian went silent.
Then Victoria whispered:
“Because Richard showed him evidence that I had betrayed him.”
“Fake evidence?”
“Yes.”
“Why did Father believe it?”
“Because I had been secretly meeting someone.”
“Who?”
Victoria looked at him.
“Your uncle.”
Adrian froze.
“Jonathan.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because Jonathan was the only person who knew how to destroy the organization.”
Adrian stared at her.
Then Victoria said:
“But he wasn't the one who betrayed us.”
“Who was?”
Victoria looked toward the door.
Her face suddenly changed.
“Adrian.”
“What?”
“Leave.”
“Why?”
She whispered:
“Because they found me.”
The windows exploded.
Victoria fell.
Adrian caught her.
Blood covered his hands.
Outside, gunfire erupted.
Victoria opened her eyes.
“Don't trust…”
“Who?”
She tried to speak.
Then her eyes closed.
May you like
Adrian shouted for help.
On the floor beside her was a single black crown.
