Chapter 6 - The Child Who Became the Mafia Boss’s WeaknessThe kidnapping happened at noon.
Three minutes.
No more.
Posy had been in the hotel garden with two guards.
Then smoke.
A distraction.
A van.
Gone.
Adeline collapsed when she heard.
Roarke didn't.
He became terrifyingly calm.
“Lock the city.”
Silvio nodded.
“Every exit.”
“Airport.”
“Done.”
“Harbor.”
“Done.”
“Train stations.”
“Done.”
Roarke looked at Adeline.
“Stay here.”
She shook her head.
“I'm coming.”
“No.”
“She is my sister.”
“And you're the only other person Gideon wants.”
“Then use me.”
Roarke stared.
“No.”
She stepped closer.
“You said choices matter.”
“Yes.”
“Then let me choose.”
He looked away.
“Fine.”
They found the van near the old harbor.
Empty.
Inside was a note.
Blackwater Warehouse. Midnight. Bring the trust documents.
Adeline looked at Roarke.
“They want me.”
“No.”
“They want the trust.”
“And they want me dead.”
She looked at him.
“You?”
“Because if you transfer control, I lose Riverline.”
“Would you?”
He shook his head.
“I don't care.”
She stared.
“What?”
“I care about Posy.”
“And?”
He looked at her.
“I care about you.”
She froze.
He didn't take it back.
“I love you.”
She stepped closer.
“I love you too.”
Then they kissed.
It was brief.
Desperate.
Real.
At midnight, they entered the warehouse.
Gideon stood with Posy.
The child was frightened but unharmed.
Gideon smiled.
“You came.”
Roarke held the documents.
“You wanted them.”
“Yes.”
Adeline stepped forward.
“You can have them.”
Roarke grabbed her hand.
“No.”
She whispered:
“Trust me.”
He let go.
She faced Gideon.
“I'll sign.”
“Good.”
He handed her a pen.
Adeline looked at the document.
Then smiled.
“This isn't the trust.”
Gideon's face changed.
“What?”
She held up another paper.
“This is the trust.”
She had switched the documents.
Roarke understood instantly.
The real papers were hidden with Silvio.
Gideon's men moved.
Gunfire erupted.
Roarke pushed Adeline behind cover.
Silvio arrived through the side entrance.
Dorian took the upper level.
The fight ended quickly.
Gideon ran.
Roarke chased.
They reached the docks.
Gideon turned.
“You think you're better than me?”
“No.”
Roarke raised his weapon.
“I'm choosing to be.”
Gideon fired.
Roarke returned one shot.
Gideon dropped his weapon.
Police arrived.
The empire ended that night.
But the legal investigation continued for months.
Gideon's network collapsed.
His accounts were frozen.
The hospital records were released.
The truth about the trust became public.
Adeline inherited it officially.
She didn't keep the empire.
She transformed it.
Roarke remained beside her.
Not as a bodyguard.
As a partner.
But their relationship faced one last obstacle.
Adeline received a letter.
From her father.
Alive.
She stared at the signature.
May you like
Daniel Vance.
He wanted to meet.
Related Stories
