Chapter 7 - Ryan Finally Confessed the Secret That Could End Them All
I met Ryan in a secure room under Adrian's headquarters.
He looked exhausted.
There was a bruise across his face.
I sat opposite him.
“Tell me.”
He lowered his head.
“My uncle ordered your mother's murder.”
I closed my eyes.
“Why?”
“Because she had the final access code.”
“What code?”
“The archive.”
“So the key wasn't enough.”
“No.”
“What was the code?”
Ryan looked at me.
“Your birthday.”
I laughed bitterly.
“My birthday?”
“Yes.”
Everything my mother had kept hidden suddenly made sense.
She had built the system around one thing Victor could never predict.
Me.
Ryan continued.
“Your mother knew I was Victor's nephew.”
“Then why didn't she tell me?”
“Because she thought I was trying to protect you.”
“Were you?”
“At first.”
“And later?”
“I became trapped.”
“You could have told me.”
“I was afraid.”
“You always say that.”
He looked at me.
“Do you think I'm not ashamed?”
“I don't know what I think.”
He nodded.
“You shouldn't.”
I stared at him.
“Who killed my father?”
Ryan's voice dropped.
“Victor.”
I shook my head.
“Adrian said your uncle ordered it.”
“He did.”
“Then why did you stay with him?”
“Because every time someone tried to leave, they died.”
I looked down.
Then he said something unexpected.
“Adrian's father didn't die because of Victor.”
I looked up.
“What?”
“Adrian's father was betrayed by someone inside the Duca family.”
“Who?”
Ryan swallowed.
“Adrian's mother.”
Silence.
“That isn't possible.”
“She gave Victor the location.”
“Why?”
“Because she believed Victor would make her son safe.”
My heart sank.
Adrian had never told me.
Ryan gave me a small flash drive.
“Everything is here.”
I stared at it.
“Why are you giving me this?”
“Because I want to stop running.”
“Why now?”
“Because Adrian almost died protecting you.”
I didn't know what to say.
Ryan continued.
“He loved you before he admitted it.”
“Don't talk about him like that.”
“I'm not jealous.”
He looked tired.
“I'm sorry, Emily.”
The words were genuine.
For the first time, I believed him.
I left.
Adrian was still unconscious.
I sat beside his hospital bed.
His hand was cold.
“You're not allowed to leave,” I whispered.
His eyes opened.
“Bossy.”
I laughed through tears.
“You're alive.”
“Disappointed?”
“Never.”
He tried to sit up.
I pushed him back.
“Don't.”
“You're giving me orders.”
“Yes.”
“Again.”
I smiled.
He stared at me.
Then his expression became serious.
“Emily.”
“What?”
“I know about my mother.”
I froze.
“Who told you?”
“Ryan.”
Adrian looked toward the window.
“I spent my entire life believing my father was betrayed by Victor.”
“I know.”
“I never imagined it was her.”
“You don't have to forgive her.”
“She died years ago.”
“That doesn't mean you have to.”
He took my hand.
“You're the first person who ever gave me permission to feel something other than anger.”
I squeezed his fingers.
“I wish I could take this pain from you.”
“You can't.”
“I know.”
“But you make it bearable.”
A week later, Adrian was strong enough to leave the hospital.
The evidence went public.
Journalists began reporting on the Bellini network.
Federal investigators opened cases.
Politicians resigned.
Business accounts were frozen.
Victor disappeared.
Then, suddenly, he appeared on every screen in Chicago.
A video.
Victor stood in a warehouse.
He held a photograph.
Mine.
“Adrian,” he said into the camera.
“I have something you want.”
The screen cut to black.
Adrian stared at it.
His men waited.
“What does he want?” I asked.
May you like
Adrian looked at me.
“You.”
