Chapter 9 - The Night Adrian Finally Chose Me Over His Empire
One year after the collapse of Meridian, Claire believed their worst days were behind them.
She was wrong.
The call came at 2:17 a.m.
“Your husband is missing.”
Claire sat up instantly.
“Who is this?”
“Daniel.”
Her blood ran cold.
“What happened?”
“He left twenty minutes ago.”
“Where?”
“He didn't say.”
Claire grabbed her coat.
She knew where Adrian would go.
The old Cole warehouse.
The place where his father had begun everything.
Daniel met her outside.
“He received a letter.”
“From whom?”
“His father.”
Claire's heart sank.
“Robert has been dead for years.”
Daniel handed her the envelope.
The handwriting was old.
Inside was one sentence.
If you truly want Claire free, come alone.
Claire knew immediately.
This wasn't Robert.
It was someone using his name.
She and Daniel entered the warehouse.
Adrian stood beneath a single light.
Across from him was Elliot Crane.
Alive.
He had escaped transport two weeks earlier.
Claire raised her weapon.
“Let him go.”
Crane smiled.
“You came.”
“Of course I did.”
Adrian looked at her.
“You shouldn't be here.”
“Apparently that's our family tradition.”
Crane laughed.
“You two never learned.”
He held up a folder.
“Your husband has one remaining secret.”
Claire looked at Adrian.
“What?”
He said nothing.
Crane opened the folder.
A birth certificate.
Claire's name.
Another woman's name beneath it.
Claire stared.
“What is this?”
Adrian closed his eyes.
“Your mother changed your identity when you were born.”
Claire looked at him.
“Why?”
“Because you weren't Robert Bennett's only child.”
Her whole body went cold.
Crane smiled.
“Your sister is alive.”
Claire could barely breathe.
“My sister?”
Adrian stepped toward her.
“I found her six months ago.”
“You knew?”
“Yes.”
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because Crane had found her first.”
Claire shook her head.
“Where is she?”
“Safe.”
“Where?”
Adrian hesitated.
“California.”
Claire stared at him.
“Another secret.”
“I was protecting her.”
“You didn't trust me.”
“I was protecting everyone.”
Crane laughed.
“And that's why I always beat you.”
He grabbed a detonator.
Adrian's expression changed.
“What did you do?”
“Put explosives beneath the warehouse.”
Claire looked around.
“How much time?”
“Three minutes.”
Adrian stepped forward.
“You don't have to do this.”
Crane stared at him.
“You took everything from me.”
“No.”
Adrian looked calm.
“You destroyed yourself.”
Crane pressed the button.
Nothing happened.
He frowned.
Again.
Nothing.
Daniel stepped from the shadows.
“I disabled the detonators.”
Crane turned.
Adrian smiled.
“You always assume you're the only person in the room.”
Police flooded the warehouse.
Crane was arrested.
This time, there was nowhere left for him to run.
Claire turned to Adrian.
“You have a sister.”
“Yes.”
“Take me to her.”
He smiled.
“Tomorrow.”
“No.”
She grabbed his hand.
“Tonight.”
He laughed.
“You never learned patience.”
“You married me.”
“Fair.”
They flew to California.
Claire met her sister at sunrise.
Her name was Emma.
She looked enough like their mother that Claire started crying before either woman spoke.
Emma hugged her.
“I've wanted to meet you forever.”
Claire held her tightly.
“So have I.”
Adrian stood several feet away.
Claire looked at him.
“You did this?”
He nodded.
“I found her.”
“Why?”
“Because you deserved your family back.”
Claire walked to him.
“You know what your problem is?”
He smiled.
“What?”
“You keep giving me things and calling them protection.”
“What should I call this?”
“Love.”
His eyes softened.
“Yes.”
Claire took his hand.
“Then stop being afraid of it.”
He kissed her forehead.
May you like
For the first time, Adrian understood that loving someone did not mean controlling their future.
It meant trusting them with it.
