Chapter 5 - Dominic Kidnapped Isabella—and Adrian Finally Became the Man Evelyn Had Been Afraid He Would BecomeThe kidnapping happened in twelve seconds.
The nursery door opened.
A guard fell.
Another disappeared.
The alarm never sounded.
Isabella was gone.
Evelyn screamed.
Adrian arrived seconds later.
He saw the empty crib.
Something inside him broke.
His first instinct was violence.
His second was to hunt.
His third was to remember Evelyn.
Don't become the man they fear.
He forced himself to breathe.
“Lock every exit.”
Marcus moved.
“Already done.”
“Find the cameras.”
“Disabled.”
“Then find the vehicle.”
They found tire tracks.
A black van.
One direction.
Indiana.
Dominic had taken the baby.
Evelyn was hysterical.
Adrian held her.
“I'll bring her back.”
“What if you don't?”
“I will.”
“What if he hurts her?”
“He won't.”
“How do you know?”
“Because he wants something.”
“What?”
“You.”
She understood.
Dominic wanted the inheritance.
The trust.
The access codes.
He believed Evelyn would trade everything for her daughter.
Adrian built a plan.
He didn't involve police.
Not yet.
He contacted Dominic directly.
“Give her back.”
Dominic laughed.
“You have finally learned to beg.”
“Where is my daughter?”
“Our daughter?”
Adrian closed his eyes.
“Don't.”
Dominic continued.
“You were always weak.”
“Where is she?”
“Bring Evelyn.”
“No.”
“Then you never see the child again.”
Adrian said,
“I'll come alone.”
Dominic smiled.
“Good.”
Evelyn grabbed his arm.
“No.”
“I have to.”
“You can't go alone.”
“He expects me to.”
“He'll kill you.”
“Maybe.”
She stared.
He touched her face.
“But if I don't go, I will never forgive myself.”
She whispered,
“Come back.”
He nodded.
“I promise.”
He went.
The exchange took place at an abandoned rail station.
Dominic stood with Isabella.
He looked older.
Crazy.
Desperate.
Adrian approached alone.
“You wanted me.”
Dominic smiled.
“I wanted what your family stole.”
“I have nothing left.”
“Liar.”
“You wanted control.”
“No.”
Dominic looked at the baby.
“I wanted revenge.”
“For what?”
“My son.”
Adrian frowned.
“What son?”
Dominic's face changed.
“Your father killed him.”
Adrian stared.
Dominic's son had died twenty years earlier.
Adrian's cousin.
He had been told it was an accident.
It wasn't.
Dominic believed the family had sacrificed his son.
His entire life had been built around revenge.
Adrian understood the tragedy.
But not the crime.
“Give me Isabella.”
Dominic raised the gun.
Then footsteps echoed.
Evelyn.
Adrian turned.
“What did you do?”
She walked toward them.
“I followed you.”
Dominic smiled.
“Good.”
Evelyn looked at her daughter.
“Give her to me.”
“Sign the trust.”
She held up the documents.
“I will.”
Adrian shook his head.
“No.”
Evelyn looked at him.
“I know what I'm doing.”
She signed.
Dominic smiled.
Then Marcus appeared.
The documents were fake.
The real trust had already been transferred.
Dominic stared.
“What did you do?”
Evelyn smiled through tears.
“Exactly what my father taught me.”
She tapped the papers.
“Never sign the document you're handed.”
Dominic raised his gun.
Adrian lunged.
A shot rang out.
Dominic fell.
Isabella began crying.
Evelyn ran.
She took her daughter.
Adrian collapsed beside Dominic.
His uncle was wounded.
Alive.
Police arrived.
The final battle was over.
But one truth remained.
Adrian had almost become the man his family expected him to be.
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And the only reason he hadn't was Evelyn.
She had stopped him from destroying himself.
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