Chapter 12 - Seven Minutes
Adrian found Marcus’s abandoned coat near the river.
Marcus himself was gone.
A maintenance boat had disappeared from the dock.
Mercer offered men.
Adrian refused.
He returned to Winter House before dawn.
Thomas sat in the library while a medic wrapped his shoulder.
Adrian entered.
Everyone else left without being asked.
Thomas looked at him.
“What happened?”
“Marcus escaped.”
Thomas lowered his eyes.
Adrian closed the door.
“He told me Evelyn survived the explosion.”
Thomas stopped breathing.
Adrian stepped closer.
“Is that true?”
Thomas looked away.
Adrian struck the table.
“Is it true?”
“Yes.”
The word shattered something inside the room.
Adrian stared.
“How long?”
Thomas swallowed.
“Seven minutes.”
Adrian closed his eyes.
Thomas continued.
“When I pulled Lily out, Evelyn was still trapped.”
“I tried reaching her.”
“The door was crushed.”
“She was conscious.”
“She gave me the phone.”
“She told me to take Lily.”
Adrian’s voice broke.
“You left her?”
“No.”
“I went back.”
Thomas’s eyes filled.
“But Marcus arrived before I could reach her.”
Adrian stared.
“What did he do?”
Thomas looked sick.
“He climbed down to the SUV.”
“Evelyn saw him.”
“She knew.”
“He told her Lily was dead.”
Adrian’s face went blank.
Thomas continued.
“He wanted her to believe everything was over.”
“Why?”
“To make her tell him where she hid the ledger.”
Adrian could barely speak.
“Did she?”
“No.”
Thomas almost smiled through tears.
“She told him to go to hell.”
Adrian looked toward the floor.
For one painful second, he could hear Evelyn saying it.
Calm.
Defiant.
Exactly like her.
Thomas continued.
“Then Marcus saw me carrying Lily.”
“He chased me.”
“The fuel ignited minutes later.”
“Evelyn was still inside.”
Adrian turned away.
His shoulders shook once.
Then stopped.
Thomas stood carefully.
“I’m sorry.”
Adrian looked at him.
“You should have told me.”
“I know.”
“You let me believe she died instantly.”
“I thought knowing would destroy you.”
Adrian’s laugh was empty.
“You had no right to decide what would destroy me.”
Thomas lowered his head.
“No.”
Adrian walked toward the door.
Thomas spoke again.
“Evelyn left something else.”
Adrian stopped.
Thomas opened a drawer.
Inside was a folded piece of paper sealed inside plastic.
“She pushed it through the broken window before I took Lily.”
Adrian took it.
The paper was stained and torn.
Evelyn’s handwriting covered one side.
Adrian read slowly.
Adrian.
If you ever see this, then something went wrong.
Do not avenge me by becoming the man I was always afraid this world wanted you to be.
Protect Lily.
Choose her.
Choose yourself.
And when they tell you power is the only thing keeping you alive, prove them wrong.
I love you.
Always.
Adrian stood motionless.
Then he folded the note.
When he looked up, there was no rage in his face.
Something more dangerous had replaced it.
Certainty.
“Find Marcus.”
Thomas nodded.
“And Victor?”
Adrian looked toward the rising morning light.
May you like
“Bring him to me alive.”
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