Chapter 6 - Adrien Returned With a Secret That Forced Vincent to Choose Between Revenge and MercyAdrien called at midnight.
He asked for one thing.
To speak to Vincent alone.
Vincent agreed.
Frank objected.
“So did every sensible person,” Vincent told him.
Frank stared.
“Then don't go.”
Vincent looked at the mansion.
“I've spent twenty years surrounded by men telling me what I cannot do.”
He tapped his cane.
“Tonight I want to make one decision for myself.”
Adrien waited inside an abandoned theater.
Vincent entered alone.
Adrien stood beneath the stage lights.
His suit was torn.
Blood stained his collar.
“You look terrible,” Vincent said.
Adrien smiled.
“So do you.”
“You sold me.”
“Yes.”
“You lied to me.”
“Yes.”
“You helped destroy Julian.”
Adrien looked away.
“Yes.”
Vincent raised his gun.
“Give me one reason not to end this.”
Adrien didn't move.
“Because you still don't know what you're fighting.”
Vincent's finger tightened.
Adrien continued.
“The Crown is collapsing.”
“I don't care.”
“You should.”
“Why?”
“Because when it collapses, the people who relied on it will destroy everything to preserve themselves.”
Vincent stared.
“Who?”
“Judges.”
“Politicians.”
“Police.”
“Businessmen.”
“People you shook hands with.”
Vincent lowered his weapon slightly.
“Why protect me?”
Adrien's expression changed.
“Because you're my brother.”
The word echoed.
Vincent hated how much it hurt.
“You killed Julian.”
“No.”
“You watched him die.”
Adrien closed his eyes.
“He was alive when I left him.”
“Where?”
“Prison.”
Vincent frowned.
“He was never arrested.”
“Not officially.”
Adrien looked toward the stage.
“Your father had a private facility.”
Vincent stared.
“Julian was there.”
“Yes.”
“For how long?”
“Six months.”
“Why?”
“He knew too much.”
Vincent's voice broke.
“And you let him suffer?”
“I was seventeen.”
Vincent froze.
Adrien continued.
“I found out who my father was before I understood what it meant.”
Vincent said nothing.
“I tried to help Julian.”
“How?”
“I forged documents.”
“And?”
“I got him out.”
“Then why did he die?”
Adrien looked directly at him.
“Because your father caught us.”
Vincent's hand trembled.
Adrien continued.
“Julian told me to take you and disappear.”
“You could have told me.”
“I was afraid.”
“Of my father?”
“No.”
Adrien's eyes filled.
“Of what you would become.”
Vincent stared.
“You think I'm like him?”
“I thought you were.”
The words landed harder than any bullet.
Adrien stepped closer.
“I watched you build your empire.”
“You built it with me.”
“Yes.”
“I trusted you.”
“I know.”
“Then why?”
“Because every year you became more like him.”
Vincent shook his head.
“You're lying.”
Adrien pulled out a folder.
Inside were contracts.
Photographs.
Names.
Evidence of Vincent's own crimes.
People disappeared.
Enemies ruined.
Lives destroyed.
Some by his orders.
Some without them.
Adrien said:
“You thought I was protecting you from enemies.”
He pointed to the papers.
“I was protecting everyone from you.”
Vincent stared at the evidence.
He had spent years believing he was the shield.
He had never considered that he might have become the weapon.
Adrien stepped backward.
“But then Molly appeared.”
Vincent looked up.
“She changed everything.”
“Why?”
“Because she reminded you what fear looks like before power teaches you to hide it.”
Silence.
Adrien whispered:
“She made you human again.”
Vincent lowered his gun.
Then Adrien said the thing that changed everything.
“Daniel Mercer plans to kill her.”
Vincent's head snapped up.
“Where?”
“Tonight.”
Vincent turned.
Adrien grabbed his arm.
“Wait.”
Vincent pushed him away.
“You're coming with me.”
“Why?”
“Because if you're lying, I'll know.”
Adrien smiled sadly.
“You really are my brother.”
When they reached the mansion, smoke filled the street.
The front gate was gone.
Security guards lay unconscious.
Frank was nowhere.
Hannah screamed from inside.
Vincent rushed in.
Daniel stood in the ballroom.
Molly was beside him.
A gun at her back.
Vincent froze.
Daniel smiled.
“Welcome home.”
Vincent stepped forward.
“Let her go.”
“No.”
“I'll give you the network.”
“I don't want your network.”
“Money?”
“No.”
“Then what?”
Daniel looked at Adrien.
“I want him.”
Adrien stepped forward.
“I knew you would.”
Daniel smiled.
“You were always the weak one.”
Vincent whispered:
“Why?”
Daniel answered.
“Because your father chose Vincent.”
Adrien closed his eyes.
“He chose the legitimate son.”
Vincent stared.
“And you hated me for it.”
Daniel shook his head.
“I hated what your father made us become.”
Then he looked at Molly.
“She's the final piece.”
Vincent moved.
Daniel raised the gun.
Adrien stepped between them.
The shot rang out.
Adrien fell.
Vincent caught him.
Molly screamed.
Daniel fled.
Vincent looked down at his brother.
Blood spread across Adrien's shirt.
“Stay with me.”
Adrien smiled weakly.
“I told you.”
“What?”
“You were worth protecting.”
Vincent pressed his hand against the wound.
For the first time in his life, Vincent Callahan begged.
“Don't die.”
May you like
Adrien whispered:
“Then save her.”
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