Chapter 18 - False Victory
Adrian lunged forward.
Marcus fired into the ceiling.
Everyone froze.
“You think Grace was the only person I followed?”
Marcus laughed.
“You sent Lily to Wisconsin.”
“You gave her to Evelyn’s sister.”
Adrian’s blood turned cold.
Marcus pushed Grace aside and disappeared through the side door.
Pike immediately surrendered.
Thomas reached Grace and Emma.
Adrian ran after Marcus.
Outside, a black sedan accelerated toward the bridge.
Adrian jumped into a federal vehicle.
An agent blocked him.
“You’re staying here.”
“My daughter—”
“We already sent units to the convent.”
Adrian grabbed the agent’s coat.
“You don’t understand who you’re dealing with.”
The agent stared at him.
“We understand enough.”
Adrian released him.
For the next eighteen minutes, Adrian knew what helplessness felt like.
Then his phone rang.
Rachel.
He answered.
“Lily?”
“She’s safe.”
Adrian closed his eyes.
“They tried to enter through the rear road.”
“The police arrived first.”
“Lily is safe.”
Adrian nearly collapsed against the car.
Grace came outside carrying Emma.
Emma ran toward him.
“Is baby Lily okay?”
Adrian knelt.
“Yes.”
Emma hugged his neck.
For the first time that night, Adrian smiled.
They had won.
Or so he thought.
At 4:17 a.m., Vale Holdings accounts were frozen.
By six, every news station in Chicago carried the same story.
Adrian Vale was under federal investigation.
Marcus had released records showing years of corruption, bribery, and illegal business activity linked directly to Adrian’s organization.
Some were real.
Some were altered.
It did not matter.
Marcus had detonated the empire on his way out.
Grant called.
“You’ve lost half your board.”
“I know.”
“Three captains defected.”
“I know.”
“And Marcus just boarded a private aircraft.”
“No.”
Grant paused.
“What do you mean?”
Adrian looked at a flight map.
“The airport report is fake.”
“How do you know?”
“Because Marcus doesn’t run.”
Adrian stared at one location.
The abandoned maternity clinic where Lily had been born had closed two months earlier.
Its security alarm had just been disabled.
May you like
Adrian grabbed his coat.
“He went back to where this started.”
