Chapter 5 - Serena's Confession
Adrian did not come for Naomi.
He came for Serena.
Gabriel realized it the moment gunmen surrounded the warehouse.
“Take my wife out,” he ordered.
Naomi shook her head.
“No.”
“Naomi.”
“This is about the archive.”
Gabriel looked at the pendant.
“What archive?”
She showed him the key.
His expression changed.
“My father.”
“Yes.”
“You knew?”
“I didn't know everything.”
He stared at the key.
“What does it open?”
“My father’s hidden records.”
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because I was trying to find proof before Adrian discovered I had it.”
Gabriel closed his eyes.
He understood.
She had been protecting him.
And he had accused her.
“I'm sorry.”
“I know.”
“But you're not ready to forgive.”
“No.”
He nodded.
“Fair.”
Gunfire shattered the warehouse windows.
Rafael entered.
“Boss, we need to move.”
Gabriel took Naomi's hand.
They ran.
Serena appeared in the corridor.
“Gabriel!”
He stopped.
She was bleeding from the shoulder.
“Where's Adrian?”
“Coming.”
“Then move.”
Serena grabbed his sleeve.
“No.”
Gabriel stared.
“I need to tell you something.”
“We have 30 seconds.”
She looked at Naomi.
“I lied.”
Naomi went still.
“About what?”
“The evidence.”
Gabriel's jaw tightened.
“All of it?”
“Most of it.”
“The bank transfers?”
Fake.
“The hotel?”
Staged.
“The audio?”
Edited.
“The photographs?”
Manipulated.
Gabriel stared at her.
“Why?”
“Because Adrian had my son.”
Silence.
Serena's voice broke.
“He took him six months ago.”
Gabriel's expression changed.
“You have a son?”
“Yes.”
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“He threatened to kill him.”
Naomi's anger softened, but did not disappear.
“Where is he?”
“I don't know.”
Serena looked at Gabriel.
“Adrian promised to return him if I destroyed your marriage.”
Gabriel looked sick.
“You did this because of your child.”
“Yes.”
“Then why keep lying after you knew the truth?”
“Because by then, I was trapped.”
A shot came through the wall.
Serena dropped.
Gabriel caught her.
She looked at him.
“Please.”
“What?”
“Don't let him use your hatred of me.”
Gabriel stared.
“He already has.”
Adrian's voice echoed through the warehouse.
“Gabriel!”
He stepped into view.
Elegant suit.
Silver hair.
Calm smile.
“You always were sentimental.”
Gabriel raised his weapon.
“You took Serena's son.”
Adrian smiled.
“She was willing to cooperate.”
Gabriel's eyes hardened.
“You framed my wife.”
“I tested you.”
“Why?”
“To see what you would choose.”
Gabriel looked toward Naomi.
“You nearly destroyed my family.”
Adrian laughed.
“Your family destroyed itself.”
He pointed toward Naomi.
“Ask her about the archive.”
Gabriel turned.
Adrian smiled.
“She has something your father died to protect.”
Naomi said:
“I know.”
Adrian's smile disappeared.
“You found it.”
“Yes.”
He lifted his weapon.
“Then you're coming with me.”
Gabriel stepped forward.
“No.”
Adrian looked at him.
“You won't stop me.”
Gabriel's voice became quiet.
“You know what your mistake was?”
Adrian waited.
“You thought I had to choose between my wife and my sister.”
He moved beside Naomi.
“I choose both.”
Serena began crying.
Adrian's men raised weapons.
Rafael and the Mercer guards fired.
Chaos erupted.
Adrian escaped through the rear door.
But he left behind a phone.
Gabriel picked it up.
One message was open.
TO MATTHEW: BRING THE BOY TO THE ARCHIVE.
Gabriel looked at Serena.
“What's his name?”
“Lucas.”
Rafael was already moving.
“We'll find him.”
Naomi took the pendant.
“We need to open the archive first.”
Gabriel looked at her.
“Why?”
“Because Adrian believes the records are inside.”
“Are they?”
“No.”
“What?”
She smiled faintly.
“The key isn't for a vault.”
Gabriel frowned.
“What is it for?”
Naomi whispered:
“The nursery.”
Gabriel stared.
His father's old estate had been destroyed years earlier.
But one building remained.
The nursery.
The place where Gabriel had grown up.
May you like
The place where Serena had once been rescued.
The place where his father had hidden his most important secret.
