Chapter 12 — The Blackwood Car

The hospital smelled like antiseptic and fear.

Lena sat beside her mother's bed, holding her hand while watching the slow rise and fall of her chest.

Her mother was awake now, but weak.

“Mom,” Lena whispered. “Who did this?”

Her mother's eyes moved toward her.

For a few seconds, she said nothing.

Then her fingers tightened around Lena's.

“Don't trust anyone from Blackwood.”

Lena froze.

Adrian, who had been standing near the window, turned around.

“Why?” he asked.

Her mother looked at him.

The fear in her eyes was immediate.

“You shouldn't be here.”

Adrian's jaw tightened. “Someone used my company's car to hurt you. I need to know why.”

“No.” Her mother shook her head weakly. “You need to stay away from this.”

Lena looked between them. “You know him?”

Her mother closed her eyes.

“I knew his family.”

Adrian stepped closer. “Did you know my mother?”

The room went silent.

Her mother's breathing changed.

“Yes.”

Adrian stared at her.

“And you knew what happened to her?”

“I knew enough to be afraid.”

His expression hardened. “You were there that night.”

“I wasn't there when she died.”

“But you knew something.”

Her mother opened her eyes again.

“Your mother found out what your father was doing.”

Adrian didn't move.

Lena felt his entire body go still.

“She found the accounts,” her mother continued. “The hidden money. The companies he controlled through other people. She was going to expose him.”

“Then why did she die?”

Her mother's lips trembled.

“Because she trusted the wrong person.”

Adrian's eyes narrowed.

“Who?”

Before she could answer, the door suddenly opened.

Daniel rushed inside.

“We have a problem.”

Lena stood. “What happened?”

“Victor escaped.”

Adrian's expression changed instantly.

“How?”

“He was being transferred to another location. The vehicle was stopped on the highway. By the time the officers realized what happened, Victor was gone.”

Lena's stomach dropped.

“Did he hurt anyone?”

“No. But he left something behind.”

Daniel handed Adrian a small envelope.

There was no name on it.

Only one word written across the front.

ADRIAN.

Adrian opened it.

Inside was a photograph.

Lena stepped closer.

It showed Adrian's mother standing beside a younger version of Lena's mother.

But there was someone else in the picture.

A man Lena had never seen before.

He was standing behind them, his face partially hidden by shadows.

Adrian stared at the photograph.

“I know him.”

Lena looked at him. “Who is he?”

Adrian's fingers tightened around the picture.

“Damian Cross.”

Lena's heart sank.

“The same man who warned me?”

Adrian looked at her.

“Yes.”

Her mother suddenly gasped.

Everyone turned.

Her eyes were fixed on the photograph.

“You can't let him find her.”

Lena moved toward the bed.

“Find who?”

Her mother looked directly at her.

“You.”

A chill went through Lena.

“Why?”

Her mother's eyes filled with tears.

“Because you're the only thing he couldn't take from us.”

Lena couldn't breathe.

Adrian stepped forward.

“What does that mean?”

Her mother shook her head.

“I was supposed to tell you years ago.”

“Tell me what?”

She looked at Lena, then at Adrian.

“Daniel isn't your biological father.”

The words seemed to stop the entire room.

Lena stared at her mother.

“No.”

“Lena—”

“No.” She backed away. “You've had twenty-four years to tell me this?”

Her mother's tears slipped down her cheeks.

“I was trying to protect you.”

“From who?”

Her mother looked toward Adrian.

Then she whispered the words that made Lena's blood run cold.

“From your real father.”