Chapter 9 - The Man Who Started the Hunt Wanted One Last Thing—My BloodVictor Hale had worked with Salvatore.
But he had not been controlled by him.
He had his own agenda.
He wanted the Black Crown's genetic archive.
The archive contained information about powerful families.
Bloodlines.
Medical histories.
Weaknesses.
He wanted to sell it.
I was the final key.
He kidnapped me outside the hospital.
I woke in a warehouse.
My wrists were tied.
Victor sat across from me.
“You look like your mother.”
I stared.
“You knew her.”
“Yes.”
“You helped kill her.”
“No.”
“Then what?”
“I warned her.”
“About what?”
“Your father.”
I laughed.
“You expect me to believe that?”
“No.”
He smiled.
“You should believe what you can prove.”
He showed me files.
My mother's.
My father's.
Adrian's.
Lucas's.
Everyone.
Then he showed me one more.
Mine.
Medical tests.
DNA.
Everything.
“What do you want?”
“Your authorization.”
“For what?”
“The archive.”
I refused.
He smiled.
“You will.”
“No.”
He placed a photograph of my father on the table.
“He will die if you don't.”
I froze.
My father was still in the hospital.
Victor had people there.
I had no choice.
Until Adrian entered.
The lights went out.
Gunfire.
The warehouse erupted.
Victor ran.
I escaped.
Adrian found me.
He cut my restraints.
“You okay?”
“Yes.”
“Did he hurt you?”
“No.”
He pulled me into his arms.
I held him.
Then whispered:
“I'm scared.”
“I know.”
“I thought I was going to lose everyone.”
“You won't.”
“How do you know?”
“Because I'm not leaving.”
We found Victor.
He was arrested.
The archive was secured.
The final remnants of the Crown were destroyed.
My father's condition stabilized.
For the first time, the danger was truly gone.
I asked Adrian:
“What happens now?”
He smiled.
“Now we live.”
I smiled.
“Together?”
“If you want.”
“Yes.”
May you like
He kissed me.
And for the first time, I knew what peace felt like.
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