Chapter 14 - THE LAST PERSON WE EXPECTED

The abandoned warehouse was exactly the kind of place I imagined in nightmares.

Dark.

Empty.

Cold.

The kind of place where people disappeared.

Adrian’s cars stopped outside.

His men moved carefully.

No shouting.

No unnecessary movements.

Everyone knew one mistake could cost lives.

My life.

Maya’s life.

Leo’s future.

Adrian looked at me before we entered.

“If anything happens, you stay behind me.”

I shook my head.

“No.”

His eyes narrowed.

“Emily.”

“I spent years hiding.”

I looked at the building.

“I’m done hiding.”

Something changed in his expression.

Then he nodded.

“Stay close.”

Inside, we found Mark.

He was standing beside Maya.

My daughter was tied to a chair.

But she was awake.

The moment she saw me, her eyes filled with tears.

“Mommy!”

I moved forward.

Mark raised a hand.

“Stop.”

Adrian immediately aimed his weapon.

“You have three seconds.”

Mark smiled.

“You still think you’re the most dangerous person here.”

I hated that smile.

Because it reminded me of everything.

Every lie.

Every cruel word.

Every time he convinced me I was nothing.

“You used me.”

Mark looked at me.

“No.”

He smiled.

“I chose you.”

My stomach turned.

“What?”

“You were perfect.”

The words disgusted me.

“Perfect for what?”

“To hide Maya.”

I felt sick.

“I loved you.”

Mark laughed quietly.

“No, Emily.”

His expression changed.

“You loved the man you thought I was.”

The truth hurt because it was true.

Then a voice came from the darkness.

“Enough.”

Everyone froze.

I knew that voice.

No.

It couldn’t be.

A woman stepped forward.

Elegant.

Calm.

Impossible.

Adrian’s face changed.

“Sophia?”

My heart stopped.

His dead wife.

The woman he believed was gone for three years.

She looked at him.

“I’m sorry.”

Adrian couldn’t speak.

The entire world seemed frozen.

“You’re alive?”

Sophia looked down.

“I had no choice.”

“No choice?”

His voice cracked.

“You let me bury you.”

Tears filled her eyes.

“I was trying to protect Leo.”

Adrian stared.

“From who?”

Sophia looked at me.

Then at Maya.

“From the person standing behind you.”

Everyone turned.

I felt a cold chill.

Because there was only one person behind me.

Dr. Reed.

The doctor slowly smiled.

“I was wondering when you would figure it out.”

Adrian’s expression became pure rage.

“You.”

Dr. Reed stepped forward.

“I protected these children.”

“You destroyed lives.”

“I saved the bigger picture.”

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.

“You ruined my life.”

The doctor looked at me.

“You survived.”

“That was your excuse?”

“No.”

His eyes hardened.

“My excuse was that powerful people always win.”

He looked at Adrian.

“I needed the children hidden until they were old enough.”

Adrian stepped forward.

“You kidnapped my son’s sister.”

“I protected the future.”

Nobody believed him.

Not even Mark.

Because Mark suddenly looked confused.

“You said nobody would get hurt.”

Dr. Reed looked at him.

“You were always replaceable.”

That was when Mark realized.

He had never been a partner.

He had been a tool.

A distraction.

A disposable piece.

The warehouse exploded into chaos.

Adrian’s men moved.

Sophia rushed toward Leo’s security team.

I ran to Maya.

I held my daughter so tightly she cried.

“Mommy.”

“I’m here.”

I kissed her hair.

“I’m here.”

Then I heard a gunshot.

I turned.

Adrian was on the ground.

For one terrifying second…

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TO BE CONTINUED…