Chapter 6 — The Choice He Made

Adrian stared at the photograph on his phone.

Lena's mother was tied to a chair, her face pale and frightened. Behind her stood Victor Hale, older than the man in the photograph but still unmistakable.

Lena covered her mouth.

“She's alive.”

“For now,” Adrian said.

The words made her look at him.

“What are you going to do?”

Adrian locked his phone.

“I'm going alone.”

“No.”

His eyes narrowed.

“You heard the message.”

“I heard it. And I'm not letting you walk into a trap by yourself.”

“Lena, this isn't negotiable.”

“She is my mother.”

“And you're exactly who they want.”

“Then I'll come with you.”

“No.”

“Why?”

“Because if Victor sees you, he may kill her.”

Lena stepped closer.

“Then what am I supposed to do? Stay here and wait?”

“Yes.”

She stared at him in disbelief.

“You really think I'm capable of doing that?”

“I think you're capable of surviving.”

Something about the way he said it made her chest tighten.

Adrian reached for his phone again.

“Daniel will stay with you.”

“I don't need a babysitter.”

“He isn't your babysitter.”

“He looks like one.”

Daniel, standing several feet away, raised an eyebrow.

“I heard that.”

Lena ignored him.

Adrian walked toward the exit.

She followed.

“Adrian.”

He stopped.

“If you go alone, they could kill you too.”

He looked over his shoulder.

“I've survived worse.”

“That's not reassuring.”

A faint smile touched his lips.

“No. It isn't.”

Then he walked away.

Lena watched him disappear through the glass doors.

Something felt wrong.

Very wrong.

She turned to Daniel.

“Where is he going?”

“I can't tell you.”

“Why?”

“Because he ordered me not to.”

Lena sighed.

“Then I'll figure it out myself.”

Daniel's expression changed.

“Lena.”

But she was already walking toward the parking area.

Twenty minutes later, Adrian's car was nowhere in sight.

Lena stood beside Daniel's car, staring at the road.

“Did he leave alone?”

Daniel nodded.

“Where?”

“I told you, I can't say.”

Lena crossed her arms.

“You're his chief of staff. You must know.”

“I do.”

“Then tell me.”

Daniel hesitated.

Finally, he sighed.

“He went to the old Blackwood warehouse.”

Lena's heart sank.

“Which one?”

Daniel looked at her.

“The one that burned down twenty years ago.”

She froze.

“What?”

“That warehouse was connected to your parents.”

Lena stared at him.

“Why?”

Daniel lowered his voice.

“Because that's where Adrian last saw your mother.”

Lena's breath caught.

Twenty years ago.

Her mother disappeared.

Her father betrayed Adrian.

And now Adrian was returning to the same place.

She looked toward the road.

“We have to go.”

“No.”

“Daniel.”

“Mr. Blackwood specifically ordered me to keep you here.”

“He also told me to stay out of the truth, and look where that got us.”

Daniel rubbed his forehead.

“You're going to get me fired.”

“Then drive faster.”

He stared at her.

“You're serious?”

“Very.”

Ten minutes later, they were on their way.

Meanwhile, Adrian stepped into the abandoned warehouse.

The air smelled of dust and old smoke.

His footsteps echoed through the empty building.

“Victor!”

Nothing.

He continued walking.

Then a light switched on.

Victor Hale stood at the far end of the warehouse.

He was holding a gun.

Adrian stopped.

“Where is she?”

Victor smiled.

“Still the same Adrian.”

“Where is Lena's mother?”

“Safe.”

“You have five seconds.”

Victor laughed.

“You always were impatient.”

Adrian's eyes hardened.

“You betrayed me once.”

“I didn't betray you.”

“You disappeared with her.”

“I saved her.”

Adrian's expression changed.

“From what?”

Victor looked at him.

“From you.”

Adrian took a step forward.

“Explain.”

“Your father ordered her death.”

Silence.

Adrian stared at him.

“My father?”

Victor nodded.

“He discovered she was pregnant with your child.”

Adrian's fists tightened.

“He wanted the baby gone.”

“And my mother?”

“She refused to give you up.”

Victor's voice became quieter.

“So I helped her disappear.”

Adrian's breathing became uneven.

“You expect me to believe that?”

“You don't have to.”

Victor pulled another photograph from his pocket.

He held it up.

It showed Adrian's father standing beside Daniel Carter.

And in the background—

Was Lena's mother.

Adrian's eyes narrowed.

“Your father made a deal with Daniel.”

“What deal?”

Victor smiled.

“The kind that explains why your mother married him.”

Adrian's phone suddenly rang.

He answered.

It was Daniel.

“Sir, there's a problem.”

“What?”

“Lena is gone.”

Adrian's face went cold.

“What do you mean she's gone?”

“She came after you.”

Adrian closed his eyes.

“Damn it.”

Victor smiled.

“I told you she would.”

Adrian looked at him.

“What did you do?”

Victor raised his gun.

“I didn't have to do anything.”

A second figure stepped out from the darkness behind Adrian.

A gun pressed against his back.

Victor's smile widened.

“Because she walked straight into the trap.”

Adrian slowly turned his head.

Then he heard a familiar voice behind him.

“Adrian?”

His heart dropped.

Lena stood in the doorway.

And someone was holding a gun to her head.