Chapter 5 - THE BOY IN THE VAN
Marcus’s team moved the second the lights died.
They had entered through tunnels beneath the shipyard that only Adrian’s oldest men knew existed.
Victor fired twice.
One bullet struck Adrian’s wheelchair.
The other passed inches from his head.
Adrian hit the floor.
Pain exploded through his shoulder.
He dragged himself behind a steel crate.
Gunshots tore through the warehouse.
“Adrian!”
Marcus shouted from the darkness.
“I’m good!”
It was a lie.
Adrian couldn’t feel his legs.
But he could feel everything above his waist.
And right now, his shoulder felt like it was on fire.
Victor’s men returned fire.
Marcus dropped one.
Security tackled the second.
Victor ran toward the loading bay.
Adrian saw him.
“No!”
Victor jumped into the van holding Noah.
The engine roared.
Emily had ignored orders and entered from the side.
She saw the van moving.
“Noah!”
Her son turned toward her.
“Mom!”
Victor slammed the accelerator.
Emily ran directly into the van’s path.
Adrian saw it.
“Emily, move!”
She didn’t.
She stood in the rain, arms spread.
Victor hesitated.
For half a second.
That was enough.
Marcus fired at the front tire.
The van jerked sideways.
It crashed into a stack of shipping pallets.
Metal screamed.
Glass exploded.
Emily ran.
Adrian followed as fast as his damaged chair allowed.
Victor crawled from the driver’s side.
Blood ran down his forehead.
Marcus aimed at him.
“Don’t.”
Adrian’s voice stopped him.
Victor laughed.
“You still think you’re better than me?”
Adrian rolled closer.
“No.”
“I know I am.”
Victor raised a hidden pistol.
Emily saw it first.
“Adrian!”
She shoved his chair sideways.
The shot fired.
Marcus fired back.
Victor collapsed.
Silence.
Emily stared at Adrian.
“Are you hit?”
“No.”
Then she heard coughing.
Noah.
She ripped open the van door.
Her little boy was struggling for air.
The oxygen tube had been crushed during the crash.
“Noah!”
She climbed inside.
“Look at me, baby.”
Noah’s lips were turning blue.
“I can’t breathe.”
Emily panicked.
Adrian rolled beside the van.
“Marcus.”
“Medical kit.”
Marcus threw it.
Emily’s hands shook.
“I need the pediatric mask.”
“It’s there.”
“I can’t—”
Adrian reached inside.
He found the mask.
“Emily.”
She looked at him.
“Stay with me.”
He connected the portable oxygen.
Placed the mask over Noah’s face.
“Slow breaths, buddy.”
Noah stared at him.
Scared.
Adrian kept his voice steady.
“You know what I hate?”
Noah shook his head.
“Needles.”
The boy blinked.
“Really?”
“Terrified of them.”
Emily almost laughed through her tears.
Noah took another breath.
“And elevators.”
Adrian continued.
“Sometimes.”
Noah breathed again.
His color slowly returned.
Emily covered her face.
“Thank God.”
Paramedics rushed in moments later.
Noah was placed on a stretcher.
Emily stayed beside him.
Before they loaded him into the ambulance, Noah looked at Adrian.
“Are you the man from the wedding?”
Adrian paused.
“Yes.”
Noah frowned.
“The one the lady left?”
Marcus looked away.
Emily looked horrified.
“Noah.”
Adrian actually laughed.
“That’s me.”
Noah reached out.
Adrian took his hand.
“She’s dumb.”
Adrian raised an eyebrow.
“Your mother teaches you to talk like that?”
“No.”
“Good.”
Noah smiled behind the oxygen mask.
Then the ambulance doors closed.
Marcus approached.
“Victor’s alive.”
Adrian’s smile disappeared.
“He’s talking?”
“Not yet.”
Marcus held up Victor’s phone.
“But I found something.”
He opened a message thread.
The newest text had arrived twenty minutes earlier.
From Vanessa.
Did you kill Adrian yet?
Emily stared.
Adrian’s face hardened.
Then Marcus scrolled.
Another message.
From someone saved only as H.
If Adrian discovers the truth, Victor takes the fall.
Do not let him connect me to the shooting.
Adrian looked up.
“H.”
Only one name came to mind.
May you like
His aunt.
Helena Moretti.
