Chapter 8 - Victor Took Me—But He Made One Mistake
Victor kidnapped me outside the courthouse.
It happened in seconds.
One moment I was walking with security.
The next, a van stopped.
A hand covered my mouth.
I fought.
Someone injected my arm.
Then darkness.
When I woke, I was tied to a chair.
Victor stood across from me.
He smiled.
“You have your father's eyes.”
“I hate you.”
“You will.”
He placed the silver key on the table.
“You know what this opens?”
“No.”
“It opens everything.”
He leaned closer.
“Banks. Accounts. names. secrets.”
“You murdered my mother.”
“She chose poorly.”
I wanted to scream.
“You murdered my father too.”
“Your father betrayed me.”
“He tried to expose you.”
“He tried to destroy what we built.”
“You built nothing.”
Victor slapped the table.
“You have no idea what this city owes men like me.”
I stared at him.
“You've been stealing from people.”
He smiled.
“Power is always theft from someone.”
He walked behind me.
“Adrian thinks he can destroy me.”
“He already has.”
Victor laughed.
“He loves you.”
I said nothing.
“That is his weakness.”
“No.”
Victor looked surprised.
“That is why he will survive.”
His expression changed.
“You really believe that?”
“Yes.”
Victor picked up his phone.
He called Adrian.
I could hear his voice through the speaker.
“Come alone.”
Adrian answered.
“If you hurt her—”
“Come alone.”
“You won't survive.”
Victor laughed.
“I don't need to.”
The call ended.
I looked at Victor.
“You're afraid.”
His smile vanished.
“You've already lost.”
He raised a gun.
Then an explosion shook the building.
Victor looked toward the door.
I smiled.
“You brought people.”
“No.”
“I didn't.”
The lights shut off.
Adrian's voice came through the darkness.
“Victor.”
Gunfire erupted.
Men stormed the room.
Adrian appeared in the doorway.
He looked furious.
Victor grabbed me.
He put the gun against my head.
“Don't move!”
Everything stopped.
Adrian's gun lowered.
Victor smiled.
“See?”
I whispered, “Adrian.”
His eyes stayed on mine.
“You're safe.”
Victor tightened his grip.
“Drop the weapon.”
Adrian did.
Victor laughed.
Then I remembered something.
The key.
It was still on the table.
I kicked the table.
The key slid toward Adrian.
Victor looked down.
Adrian moved.
A single shot.
Victor fell.
Silence.
Adrian rushed toward me.
“Are you hurt?”
“No.”
He cut the ropes.
I threw my arms around him.
He held me so tightly I could barely breathe.
“I thought I lost you.”
“You came back.”
“I told you I would.”
Behind us, Victor's men were being arrested.
The network was collapsing.
But Victor was still alive.
He looked at me from the floor.
“You think this is over?”
Adrian turned.
“Yes.”
Victor laughed.
“Your father knew what the archive was.”
Adrian froze.
“What?”
Victor smiled.
“Ask her.”
I looked confused.
“What does that mean?”
Victor's eyes shifted to me.
“Your father left one final file.”
“What file?”
“Ask Adrian.”
Then Victor was taken away.
I looked at Adrian.
“What did he mean?”
Adrian didn't answer.
“Adrian.”
He looked devastated.
“I know where the file is.”
“Where?”
“In my father's house.”
“Then let's go.”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because the file may explain why your father trusted me.”
I stepped closer.
“And?”
“And it may explain why he wanted you to marry me.”
I froze.
“What?”
Adrian's face changed.
“I don't know yet.”
May you like
We drove through the night.
The truth waiting for us would change everything.
