Chapter 6 - The Man Who Had Been Raised to Hate Me Was My Brother, and He Wanted Me to Give Him the Life He Thought I StoleLucas appeared.
He stepped from the shadows.
I recognized him immediately.
The man from the warehouse.
He smiled.
“Hello, sister.”
I couldn't speak.
Adrian drew his weapon.
Lucas raised his hands.
“No need.”
“Step away from her.”
Lucas laughed.
“You've always protected what Father gave you.”
“You were never given to me.”
“No.”
He looked at me.
“She got everything.”
“Who?”
“Her.”
I stared.
“You wanted my life.”
“I wanted my father's love.”
“You blamed me?”
“Yes.”
“I was a child.”
“You were his favorite.”
“I didn't know you existed.”
“I know.”
“Then why?”
“Because he chose you.”
I shook my head.
“He chose both of us.”
Lucas smiled bitterly.
“He hid me.”
“To protect you.”
“That's what he told himself.”
“Did he hurt you?”
“He abandoned me.”
I understood.
Lucas had been raised by Salvatore.
Taught that my father rejected him.
Taught that I was the reason.
It wasn't true.
But pain didn't care about truth.
Adrian stepped forward.
“Lucas.”
Lucas looked at him.
“You.”
“I remember you.”
“You were always Father's favorite.”
“I didn't know.”
“None of you knew.”
I looked at Lucas.
“What do you want?”
“The Crown.”
“You can have it.”
Adrian turned toward me.
“Lily.”
“I don't want it.”
Lucas laughed.
“You finally understand.”
“But there's a condition.”
“What?”
“You release everyone.”
“The names?”
“The money?”
“The network?”
“Everything.”
Lucas stared.
“What?”
“No more blackmail.”
“No more violence.”
“No more hidden operations.”
“The Crown ends.”
He laughed.
“You think you can destroy something that powerful?”
“Yes.”
“How?”
“By giving it away.”
“To whom?”
“The people it hurt.”
Lucas stared.
For the first time, he looked uncertain.
Then Salvatore entered.
Everyone froze.
He was older.
But still dangerous.
“Enough.”
Lucas turned.
“You said I would control it.”
“You will.”
“Then why is she here?”
“Because she owns it.”
“I thought you said my father left it to you.”
“He lied.”
Salvatore smiled.
“That's what families do.”
He raised his weapon.
Lucas stepped between us.
“Don't.”
Salvatore frowned.
“You're protecting her?”
“She is my sister.”
“You're weak.”
Lucas laughed.
“No.”
He turned his gun on Salvatore.
“I just figured out who the real enemy is.”
Salvatore fired.
Lucas was hit.
Adrian shot Salvatore.
The room erupted.
Salvatore fell.
Lucas dropped.
I ran to him.
“You'll be okay.”
He looked at me.
“Why save me?”
“Because you're my brother.”
His eyes filled.
“I hated you.”
“I know.”
“I thought you stole everything.”
“I didn't.”
“I know now.”
Adrian called emergency services.
Lucas survived.
Salvatore was arrested.
The Black Crown was secured.
And for the first time in eleven years, my family began to heal.
But another secret remained.
The trust wasn't mine.
It belonged to all three heirs.
Me.
Lucas.
And Adrian.
May you like
Because my father had created it with one condition.
Only together could we dissolve it.
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