LOGINThe gunshot shattered the room.Christian reacted instantly, throwing himself over Daniella as another bullet tore through the wall behind them. Glass from the broken window scattered across the floor, and Evelyn cried out as she fell against the old cabinet.“Stay down!” Christian shouted.Daniella’s heart hammered against her ribs. She pressed herself against the floor, barely breathing as another shot echoed somewhere outside.Then she heard Marcus shouting from the corridor.“Move! They’re on the east side!”Gunfire answered him.Christian lifted his head slightly, listening.“Marcus has them distracted.”Daniella looked across the room.Evelyn was lying on the floor, one hand pressed against her shoulder. Blood seeped between her fingers.“Aunt Evelyn.”Daniella started toward her.Christian caught her wrist.“Wait.”“She’s bleeding.”“I know. But we don’t know if there’s another shooter inside.”Daniella looked toward the doorway.Nothing moved.She pulled her wrist free.“We ca
Daniella stared at the message on her phone for several seconds without moving.The location Evelyn had sent was one she knew too well.The old hospital.Her fingers tightened around the phone as memories she had spent years trying to bury began forcing their way back into her mind. White walls. Harsh lights. The smell of blood and disinfectant. Her father’s voice. Her uncle’s arms around her small body. And the sound of a gunshot that had divided her childhood into a before and an after.Evelyn had asked her to come there.After everything Daniella had discovered, she knew better than to believe it was a simple meeting.Christian sat beside her in the car, watching her carefully. He reached for the phone and read the message.“You’re not going alone,” he said.Daniella looked at him. “I wasn’t planning to.”“You were thinking about it.”She sighed. “Maybe.”Christian handed the phone back.“Daniella.”“I know.”“No, you don’t.” His voice was calm, but there was something wounded bene
Daniella stared at the name on the letter until the words blurred before her eyes. Evelyn Cruz. Her aunt. Her father’s sister. The woman who had appeared after all these years claiming she had tried to protect Daniella and had witnessed the aftermath of Derrick’s murder. The woman who had given them information about her uncle and helped them understand pieces of the past. Now her father’s own handwriting was telling her not to trust her.Christian took the letter from Daniella and read the final sentence again. His expression became unreadable. “We don’t accuse her yet.”Daniella looked at him. “You think my father was wrong?”“No. I think we need to understand why he wrote this before we decide what Evelyn actually did.”“She knew about my uncle. She knew about the man he called Victor. She knew about the night my father died. She knew I was being trained. How much more do we need?”“Proof,” Christian answered quietly.Daniella looked away. He was right. She had spent too many years
Daniella stared at the metal container beneath the floorboards. Dust covered its surface, but the small brass lock on the front was untouched, almost as if someone had deliberately hidden it and expected her to find it one day.Christian crouched beside her. “The key.”Daniella immediately reached into her pocket and pulled out the brass key numbered seventeen. She had carried it for years without understanding why it mattered. Her fingers trembled as she inserted it into the lock.Click.The lid opened.Inside were three things: a small black notebook, a photograph, and a sealed envelope bearing her father’s handwriting.Daniella picked up the photograph first.Her breath caught.It showed her father standing beside Thomas Harper and Richard Hale. They were standing in front of the same training house, but there was something written on the back.THE THREE MEN WHO KNEW.Christian took the photograph and turned it over.“Your father, my grandfather, and Richard.”Daniella nodded slowl
Daniella stared at the empty doorway.Richard was gone.For several seconds, she couldn’t understand how he had disappeared so quickly. The training house had only one main entrance, and Marcus had been watching it.Christian stepped beside her.“Daniella.”She turned toward him.“Richard knew.”Christian’s expression was grim. “Apparently.”Bennett was still on the floor, one hand pressed against his wound. Marcus knelt beside him and checked the injury.“He’s alive,” Marcus said. “But he needs medical attention.”Bennett gave a weak laugh.“After everything I’ve done, I’m surprised anyone cares.”Daniella ignored him.“What happened the night my father died?”Bennett looked at her.“I told you. Ask Richard.”“No.” Daniella stepped closer. “You’re going to tell me what you know.”Bennett’s eyes moved toward the photograph on the floor.“Your father wasn’t alone that night.”“I know my uncle was there.”“I’m not talking about your uncle.”Daniella’s stomach tightened.“Who else?”Benn
Daniella stared at the message on her phone for several seconds before locking the screen. Christian noticed immediately.“What did they say?”“Someone claims they have something my uncle left behind.”“Where?”Another message appeared.THE OLD TRAINING HOUSE. MIDNIGHT. COME IF YOU WANT THE TRUTH.Christian read it over her shoulder, his expression hardening.“No.”Daniella looked at him. “No?”“You’re not going there alone.”“I wasn’t planning to.”His expression softened slightly, but the tension remained. “Good.”Marcus took the phone from Daniella and examined the number. “It’s untraceable.”Richard stepped closer. “Then don’t go.”Daniella looked at him. “Why?”“Because if they’re using your uncle’s name, they know exactly what will make you come.”“I need to know what he left.”Richard’s expression darkened. “You may not like what you find.”Daniella gave a bitter smile. “I stopped expecting the truth to be easy a long time ago.”By midnight, they were outside the old training h
The night was filled with nothing but laughter, peace and joy music blasting every angel of the compound left right and center, people chatting happily and freely walking around with drinks in their hands. Ladies wore bun shorts patrolling the environment looking for men to absorb their millions.
Daniella slowly opened her tiny eyes as she rubbed her hands across them trying to clear way for a better vision. It was morning already but instead of meeting the usual calm comfortable home she met an unrecognized environment. The house was too calm and the aura wasn’t really good. But I mean s
The knock came at the door, just as Derrick had finally put Daniella to sleep, his heart froze for a moment, but he forced himself to relax. But then again his mind started to play the what if game, I mean it was past midnight who would be visiting this late. He swallowed as he heard the loud ba
“This will be your room” the older woman spoke as she pushed a door at the end of the hall way open Daniella walked in her eyes observing the entire room, she said nothing to the woman and only nodded. “Don’t you speak?” The woman asked honestly Daniella has been too quiet for her liking and it w







