Chapter 8 - Roman Faced His Sister and Learned She Had Been Destroying the Crown From the InsideAdrienne didn't run.
When Roman confronted her, she was sitting in his office drinking tea.
“It's over,” Roman said.
She looked up.
“I know.”
“You're the Broker.”
“No.”
“Your name is in the ledger.”
“Yes.”
“You've been controlling everything.”
“No.”
“Then explain.”
Adrienne sighed.
“The ledger lists the Broker.”
She stood.
“It doesn't say the Broker controls the Crown.”
“What does it say?”
“That the Broker is the person authorized to destroy it.”
Roman froze.
“What?”
Adrienne smiled sadly.
“I spent ten years becoming the villain so someone could eventually kill the Crown.”
Roman stared.
“You manipulated me.”
“I protected you.”
“You used Khloe.”
“I protected her too.”
Khloe stepped into the room.
“Why?”
Adrienne looked at her.
“Because your father asked me to.”
“He trusted you?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because Edward loved your mother.”
Khloe froze.
Adrienne continued.
“They planned to destroy the Crown together.”
“And then?”
“Your father disappeared.”
Khloe's eyes filled.
“You knew he was alive.”
“Yes.”
“Why didn't he come home?”
“Because he was hunting the man who took control.”
“Who?”
Adrienne looked at Roman.
“Your father's closest friend.”
Roman frowned.
“Who?”
She answered:
“Judge Nathaniel Cross.”
The name meant nothing to Khloe.
It meant everything to Roman.
Cross had prosecuted one of the Gallagher family's biggest rivals.
He had later become a respected federal judge.
Roman whispered:
“He controls the courts.”
Adrienne nodded.
“And the Crown.”
Then the doors exploded inward.
Men stormed the room.
Adrienne grabbed Khloe.
Roman fired.
The three of them fought their way through the building.
Outside, cars waited.
Judge Cross stood beside one.
He looked exactly like the photographs.
Calm.
Elegant.
Untouchable.
“You finally understand,” Cross said.
Roman raised his gun.
“You've been using my family.”
Cross smiled.
“Your family built me.”
Roman stared.
Cross looked at Khloe.
“And her father stole what belonged to us.”
Khloe stepped forward.
“No.”
Cross laughed.
“Your father stole freedom.”
He pulled out a weapon.
Adrienne shoved Roman.
The shot struck her.
She fell.
Roman caught her.
“Adrienne!”
She smiled weakly.
“Destroy it.”
“What?”
“The Crown.”
“How?”
“Use the bloodline.”
Roman looked at the ledger.
Then at Khloe.
He understood.
The ledger could be destroyed only by the Gallagher heir.
And only with the Reed key.
Khloe held up the watch.
“Then let's end it.”
Cross raised his gun.
Roman turned.
“Run.”
May you like
They ran.
Behind them, the entire structure began burning.
Related Stories
