Chapter 8 - The Woman Who Returned From the Dead
Adrian's mother was named Elena Vale.
She looked nothing like a ghost.
She looked like a woman who had spent twenty years refusing to die.
Silver hair.
Elegant black coat.
Eyes as dark as Adrian's.
She entered the room slowly.
Adrian could barely speak.
“Mom.”
Elena smiled.
“My son.”
He walked toward her.
Then stopped.
“Why?”
“Because I couldn't come sooner.”
“Twenty years.”
“Yes.”
“You let me believe you were dead.”
“I had no choice.”
“You always had a choice.”
Elena looked at Chloe.
“No. I didn't.”
She handed him a file.
Inside were photographs of Vincent meeting Ward.
And another man.
Tommy's father.
But there was one more.
A younger man with blonde hair.
Adrian frowned.
“Who's that?”
Elena closed her eyes.
“Your father's brother.”
Adrian froze.
“My father had two brothers?”
“Yes.”
“Where is he?”
“He is the one Vincent has been answering to.”
Silence.
“The real architect.”
Adrian's entire world shifted again.
The man was named Gabriel Vale.
He had disappeared before Adrian was born.
Elena explained that Gabriel had created the criminal network, while Vincent handled its public operations.
Gabriel wanted the ledger not for money but for control.
He wanted leverage over everyone.
He had orchestrated the Bell family destruction.
He had arranged the warehouse bombing.
He had manipulated Ward.
He had even kept Tommy alive because Tommy was useful.
Chloe asked,
“Where is he?”
Elena looked toward the window.
“In the city.”
Adrian's phone rang.
Unknown number.
He answered.
Gabriel's voice came through.
“You've been searching for me.”
Adrian said nothing.
Gabriel laughed.
“You sound just like your father when you're angry.”
“You're going to prison.”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because your people still fear me.”
“Not anymore.”
A pause.
Then Gabriel said,
“Ask Chloe about the night her father died.”
Chloe's face changed.
Gabriel continued.
“She remembers.”
The call ended.
Chloe closed her eyes.
The memory came.
She had been seventeen.
Her mother had told her to hide in the closet.
A man had entered.
He wore a ring shaped like a wolf.
He had spoken to Daniel.
Then Daniel said:
“Gabriel, you were supposed to protect them.”
Chloe opened her eyes.
“Gabriel was there.”
Adrian looked at his mother.
Elena nodded.
“Yes.”
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because Gabriel watched everyone.”
“What happened that night?”
Chloe remembered.
Gabriel had not killed Daniel.
He had given him a chance.
Daniel refused.
Then another man shot him.
Vincent.
The memory had been real all along.
Gabriel had been the mastermind.
Vincent had been the executioner.
Adrian's father had tried to stop them.
And Marianne had survived.
Adrian looked at Chloe.
“You didn't just hide from Tommy.”
“No.”
“You hid from the entire network.”
“Yes.”
They set a trap.
They leaked a false story that the ledger had been moved.
Gabriel took the bait.
He arrived at the old Vale warehouse.
Adrian was waiting.
The confrontation was brutal.
Gabriel walked in smiling.
“My nephew.”
Adrian stepped into the light.
“You're under arrest.”
Gabriel laughed.
“For what?”
“For every life you destroyed.”
“You think a courtroom matters?”
“No.”
Adrian pointed toward the ceiling.
Cameras.
Police.
Federal agents.
Every conversation had been recorded.
Gabriel's smile disappeared.
“You have no idea what you're doing.”
“I know exactly what I'm doing.”
Gabriel reached for a gun.
Chloe shouted.
Adrian tackled him.
The weapon slid across the floor.
Gabriel struggled.
“You are your father's son.”
Adrian pinned him.
“No.”
He looked at Chloe.
“I'm my own man.”
Gabriel was arrested.
The network collapsed.
The danger was finally over.
Or so they thought.
Months later, Chloe stood beside the lake.
Adrian joined her.
“You're quiet.”
“I'm thinking.”
“Dangerous.”
She smiled.
“I was thinking about the first night.”
“When you broke into my car.”
“When I thought you were going to kill me.”
“I considered it.”
She looked at him.
“Romantic.”
“I have limited social skills.”
She laughed.
Then Adrian took her hand.
“I want to ask you something.”
“What?”
“Stay.”
She looked at him.
“For how long?”
“For the rest of my life.”
Her smile faded into surprise.
“Are you proposing?”
“Yes.”
“With that terrible opening?”
“I'm improvising.”
She kissed him.
“Yes.”
Adrian smiled.
For once, there was no gunfire.
No lies.
No running.
But across the lake, inside a hidden cabin, someone watched them through binoculars.
A woman.
Holding a photograph.
May you like
On the back was written:
PROJECT 13 IS NOT OVER.
