Chapter 7 - The Night the Family Went to War
Clara's attack came at dawn.
The Wisconsin estate exploded into chaos.
Vehicles crashed through the gates.
Gunfire shattered windows.
Adrian moved Elina and Leo into the basement.
His family surrounded them.
Sofia held Leo.
Elina held her mother's hand.
“I thought we were safe.”
Sofia shook her head.
“There is no safe place when someone wants power badly enough.”
Adrian came downstairs.
“Five minutes.”
“Five minutes for what?”
“To get out.”
Elina stared.
“You're going to stay?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“To stop them.”
She grabbed his arm.
“Don't die.”
He looked down at her hand.
“I won't.”
“You can't promise that.”
“No.”
He looked into her eyes.
“But I can promise I'll come back.”
Then he kissed her forehead.
The gesture surprised both of them.
Neither spoke about it.
Adrian went upstairs.
The battle began.
Outside, Victor and Matteo fought beside Gabriel.
Clara's men pushed through the gates.
Adrian found Clara in the courtyard.
“You've lost.”
She smiled.
“Have I?”
She held up a device.
A live video appeared.
A woman stood beside Leo's crib.
A nanny.
From Adrian's own house.
His heart dropped.
Clara had planted someone inside.
Adrian turned toward the house.
But it was too late.
The nursery was empty.
Leo was gone.
Elina screamed when she realized.
Sofia ran upstairs.
Adrian's face changed.
“Find him.”
Everyone scattered.
Hours passed.
Nothing.
Then Elina noticed the black notebook.
A page had been folded.
She opened it.
A message.
The child is safe where the mother was buried.
Elina stared.
“The cemetery.”
Adrian understood.
Sofia's fake grave.
They raced there.
At the cemetery, Clara stood beside the stone.
Leo was in her arms.
She looked almost peaceful.
“Give him to me.”
Clara smiled.
“You always were your father's favorite.”
Adrian stepped forward.
“It's over.”
“No.”
She looked at Elina.
“Not yet.”
Elina walked toward her.
“You wanted the bloodline.”
“Yes.”
“You don't need to hurt him.”
Clara smiled.
“You're smarter than your mother.”
Sofia shouted:
“Don't!”
Clara looked at Elina.
“Come closer.”
Adrian tried to stop her.
Elina raised a hand.
“I can do this.”
She moved slowly.
Step by step.
Leo looked at her.
His eyes brightened.
Clara handed him toward Elina.
At the last second, Elina grabbed the baby's arm.
Clara pulled.
Adrian moved.
The three struggled.
Then Sofia struck Clara from behind.
Clara dropped the baby.
Adrian caught him.
He held Leo tightly.
Elina screamed.
Clara stood.
But then the police arrived.
Clara had been recorded.
Every threat.
Every confession.
Every admission.
The ledger had already been delivered to federal investigators.
Clara had lost.
She looked at Adrian.
“You think this ends with me?”
Adrian stared.
“It ends with you.”
She smiled.
“No.”
She pointed toward the grave.
“It ends with the truth about Sofia.”
Everyone turned.
The cemetery stone cracked open.
Behind it was a hidden chamber.
Inside were documents.
Photographs.
And one final file.
Sofia opened it.
Her face went white.
“What is it?” Adrian asked.
She whispered:
“My original death certificate.”
Adrian frowned.
“What's wrong?”
Sofia pointed.
The date of death was nine months earlier.
But the signature belonged to Adrian.
He stared at the document.
“I didn't sign this.”
May you like
Sofia looked at him.
“Then who did?”
