CHAPTER 15 THE LAST MORETTI
The monitor flatlined.
For one terrible second, nobody moved.
Then Maya screamed.
“Dad!”
Adrian collapsed onto the concrete floor.
His eyes were open, but there was no movement in them.
No breath.
No pulse.
Nothing.
Maya dropped beside him.
“Dad, please!”
Elena rushed forward.
“Move!”
She knelt beside Adrian and checked his pulse.
Nothing.
“Defibrillator!”
“There isn't one down here!”
“Then get the emergency unit from upstairs!”
Vincent was already running.
Maya grabbed Adrian's hand.
It was cold.
“Stay with me.”
Nothing.
“Dad, please.”
Her voice broke.
“You promised me.”
Still nothing.
Lily began crying.
“Daddy?”
Anna pulled her close.
“Don't look.”
But Lily pushed away.
She walked toward Adrian.
“Daddy.”
Maya looked at her.
“Lily, stay back.”
The little girl shook her head.
“No.”
She knelt beside him.
Then placed her tiny hand over his chest.
“Daddy.”
The room fell silent.
Lily closed her eyes.
“You told me families don't leave.”
Adrian didn't move.
“So don't leave.”
Nothing.
Lily's voice became smaller.
“I still need you.”
A faint sound came from the monitor.
Beep.
Everyone froze.
Then another.
Beep.
Elena stared.
“His heart.”
Adrian's fingers moved.
Maya began crying.
“Dad?”
His eyes opened.
He inhaled violently.
The monitor exploded into sound.
BEEP-BEEP-BEEP-BEEP.
Elena immediately began working.
“Get him upstairs!”
Vincent lifted Adrian.
Maya followed.
Lily ran behind them.
“Daddy!”
Adrian barely opened his eyes.
“Lily…”
“I’m here.”
His lips moved.
“Don't…”
“What?”
“Let him…”
He struggled to breathe.
“…control you.”
Maya stared.
“Who?”
Adrian's eyes closed again.
“Cassian.”
They reached the cardiac unit.
Doctors surrounded Adrian.
Elena shouted orders.
“Prepare emergency pacing.”
“His rhythm is unstable.”
“Medication.”
“Now.”
Maya stood outside the glass.
She couldn't hear the doctors.
She could only see Adrian lying motionless beneath the lights.
Lily held her hand.
“Is Daddy going to die?”
Maya swallowed.
“No.”
Lily looked at her.
“Promise?”
Maya hesitated.
Then crouched.
“I promise I'll fight for him.”
Lily nodded.
“But you can't promise he'll live.”
Maya's eyes filled.
“No.”
“Then I promise too.”
“Promise what?”
“I'll fight.”
Maya pulled her into a hug.
“That's my girl.”
Behind them, Anna watched silently.
She looked toward Elena.
“Why did the system stop his heart?”
Elena didn't answer.
Anna stepped closer.
“You know.”
“Yes.”
“Tell me.”
Elena looked at her.
“Cassian activated Adrian's implant remotely.”
Anna's face hardened.
“So he can kill him whenever he wants.”
“No.”
Elena shook her head.
“He can control the implant.”
“What's the difference?”
“He can make Adrian's heart slow.”
“Stop.”
“Restart.”
“Change his rhythm.”
Anna whispered:
“That's worse.”
Elena nodded.
“Yes.”
“Then how do we stop him?”
Elena looked toward the operating room.
“We remove the device.”
Anna frowned.
“You said that could kill him.”
“It could.”
“So what's the alternative?”
Elena stared at the monitor.
“Find Cassian.”
Maya entered the room.
Adrian was awake.
Barely.
She sat beside him.
“Hey.”
His eyes opened.
“Lily?”
“She's safe.”
“Anna?”
“Safe.”
“Mom?”
Maya looked away.
“We'll find her.”
Adrian nodded.
Then he whispered:
“My sister.”
Maya froze.
“The woman with Cassian?”
“Yes.”
“Who is she?”
Adrian closed his eyes.
“I remember her.”
“Who?”
“She was there when I was six.”
Maya leaned closer.
“What happened?”
“I promised I'd come back.”
“You did.”
“I forgot.”
Maya's expression softened.
“You were a child.”
“He made me forget.”
“Who?”
“Cassian.”
Adrian opened his eyes.
“He didn't just erase my memories.”
“He changed them.”
Maya frowned.
“What do you mean?”
“I remember my father.”
“But he wasn't my father.”
Maya went still.
Adrian continued.
“He was Cassian's son.”
“What?”
“His name was Marcus.”
Maya stared.
“The man who raised you?”
“Yes.”
“Then who was your biological father?”
Adrian swallowed.
“Cassian.”
Silence.
Maya stared at him.
“That means…”
“Yes.”
Adrian looked toward the window.
“I'm Cassian's son.”
Maya stood frozen.
For years, she had thought Adrian was the heir of the Moretti family.
Now she learned he was the son of the man trying to destroy it.
“Why didn't he raise you?”
Adrian's voice was weak.
“Because I wasn't supposed to exist.”
“Why?”
“Because my mother escaped.”
“Who was she?”
“Subject Zero.”
Maya froze.
“Evelyn.”
Adrian nodded.
“But she wasn't your mother.”
“No.”
“She was my grandmother.”
Adrian nodded.
“The woman you called Mom was my father's wife.”
Maya understood.
“So your entire childhood…”
“Was manufactured.”
“Why?”
“Because Cassian wanted me to inherit the system.”
Maya stared.
“Then why did he turn against you?”
Adrian looked at her.
“Because I refused.”
The door opened.
Vincent entered.
“We found him.”
Adrian looked up.
“Cassian?”
“No.”
Vincent placed a photograph on the table.
“His location.”
Maya picked it up.
An old estate in Connecticut.
Adrian recognized it.
“My grandfather's house.”
Vincent nodded.
“Abandoned twenty years ago.”
“Not anymore.”
“How do you know?”
“Power usage.”
“Someone has been living there.”
Adrian pushed himself upright.
Elena immediately objected.
“You're not going anywhere.”
“I am.”
“Your heart won't survive another confrontation.”
Adrian looked at her.
“Then we make sure there isn't another confrontation.”
Vincent understood.
“You're going after him.”
“Yes.”
“Tonight?”
“Now.”
They drove through the rain.
Four vehicles.
Eight men.
Maya sat beside Adrian.
Lily remained with Anna and Sarah in a protected location.
Adrian watched the dark road.
“You shouldn't be here.”
Maya looked at him.
“You said that before.”
“This time I mean it.”
“So do I.”
“You could get hurt.”
“So could you.”
Adrian sighed.
“You're impossible.”
Maya smiled faintly.
“Family trait.”
Adrian looked at her.
For the first time, he smiled.
Then his chest tightened.
He gripped the seat.
Maya noticed.
“Dad?”
“I'm fine.”
“Don't lie.”
Adrian breathed slowly.
The pain passed.
“I'm fine.”
Maya shook her head.
“You're not.”
“No.”
He looked at her.
“But I'm alive.”
The estate appeared through the trees.
Dark.
Silent.
Ancient.
Vincent raised his hand.
All vehicles stopped.
“Movement.”
Adrian looked toward the house.
A single light turned on.
Then another.
Then every window.
Maya whispered:
“He knows we're here.”
Adrian nodded.
“He's been waiting.”
They approached.
The front doors opened.
No guards.
No weapons.
Just a hallway leading into darkness.
Adrian stepped inside.
“Cassian.”
His voice echoed.
A light turned on.
Cassian sat in a chair at the end of the room.
Older than Adrian expected.
White hair.
Thin face.
Sharp eyes.
He looked almost ordinary.
That made him more frightening.
“Hello, son.”
Adrian stopped.
“Don't call me that.”
Cassian smiled.
“You finally remember.”
“You murdered my mother.”
“No.”
“You erased my memories.”
“Yes.”
“You used my heart.”
“Yes.”
“You used Maya.”
Cassian's smile disappeared.
“I protected Maya.”
Adrian's eyes hardened.
“You nearly killed her.”
“I saved her.”
“From what?”
“From you.”
Adrian raised his weapon.
Cassian didn't move.
“You think I'm the monster.”
“Aren't you?”
Cassian sighed.
“Your grandfather was.”
“He created the trust.”
“Yes.”
“He created the experiments.”
“Yes.”
“He killed children.”
“Yes.”
“Then why did you work for him?”
Cassian looked at Adrian.
“Because I loved your grandmother.”
Silence.
“She was the only person who ever made me believe I could be something other than a monster.”
“What happened?”
“Your grandfather took her.”
“Why?”
“Because she was immune.”
Cassian looked toward the ceiling.
“He wanted her blood.”
“And you?”
“I wanted her alive.”
Adrian's expression changed.
“So you became his enemy.”
“Yes.”
“Then why create Subject Zero?”
Cassian shook his head.
“I didn't.”
Adrian frowned.
“She was born.”
“What?”
“She was my daughter.”
“Your daughter?”
“Yes.”
Cassian looked toward the doorway.
“Evelyn was the first child born naturally with the response.”
Adrian's eyes widened.
“She wasn't an experiment.”
“No.”
“She was the reason the experiments began.”
“Yes.”
Maya stepped forward.
“Then why did you let them use her?”
Cassian looked at her.
“I didn't.”
“Then who did?”
Cassian's expression became cold.
“Your grandfather.”
“Where were you?”
“Dead.”
Maya frowned.
“You're alive.”
“Now.”
He pointed toward a photograph.
It showed Cassian lying on a hospital bed.
“Your grandfather tried to kill me.”
“He failed.”
“I survived.”
“Then why disappear?”
“Because I wanted to destroy everything he built.”
Adrian stared.
“And you needed me.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because you were the only person who could inherit the system.”
Adrian's eyes narrowed.
“I never wanted it.”
“I know.”
“Then why choose me?”
“Because I knew you'd destroy it.”
Adrian went still.
Cassian smiled.
“You've spent your entire life believing you were protecting the Moretti legacy.”
“You weren't.”
“You were its executioner.”
Cassian stood.
He walked toward Adrian.
“Your grandfather built the empire.”
“Your father expanded it.”
“You inherited it.”
“But none of them understood the final truth.”
Adrian asked:
“What truth?”
Cassian stopped inches away.
“The trust was never meant to control money.”
“It was meant to control blood.”
Maya's face tightened.
“What does that mean?”
Cassian looked at her.
“It means every Moretti who ever held power was selected.”
Adrian frowned.
“Selected by whom?”
“By the system.”
“Who built it?”
“Your grandmother.”
Adrian froze.
“What?”
Cassian nodded.
“She designed the original algorithm.”
“She wanted a way to protect her children.”
“But your grandfather corrupted it.”
Adrian stared.
“So the trust was supposed to protect the family.”
“Yes.”
“And became a weapon.”
“Yes.”
Cassian looked toward Maya.
“Until you.”
Maya stiffened.
“Me?”
“You were never supposed to be part of the system.”
“Then why am I compatible?”
“Because you're the missing half.”
“Of what?”
Cassian smiled.
“The original bloodline.”
A gunshot rang out.
Cassian collapsed.
Adrian spun.
“SNIPER!”
Vincent dragged him behind a pillar.
Maya dropped to the floor.
Another shot shattered the window.
Then another.
Cassian looked at Adrian.
“It's started.”
“What's started?”
“The final purge.”
“What?”
Cassian pointed toward the basement.
“Your sister is down there.”
Adrian's blood ran cold.
“My sister?”
“She has the original blood.”
Maya stared.
“Evelyn?”
“No.”
Cassian looked at Adrian.
“Your forgotten sister.”
Adrian's breath caught.
“She was the first natural carrier after Evelyn.”
“Where is she?”
“In the basement.”
“Alive?”
“Yes.”
“Then let's get her.”
Cassian grabbed Adrian's wrist.
“Wait.”
“Why?”
“Because she's not alone.”
The basement door opened.
A woman stepped out.
Adrian recognized her instantly.
The girl from his memory.
The little sister he had promised to protect.
She looked at him.
Her eyes filled with tears.
“Adrian.”
He couldn't speak.
She whispered:
“You came back.”
Adrian's weapon lowered.
“I'm sorry.”
She smiled.
“You were a child.”
“I forgot you.”
“They made you.”
He stepped toward her.
“What is your name?”
She looked at Cassian.
Then back at Adrian.
“Clara.”
Adrian's eyes filled.
“Clara.”
She nodded.
“Your sister.”
Then she looked toward Maya.
“And she's yours too.”
Maya frowned.
“What?”
Clara smiled.
“Because the experiment didn't end with me.”
She pointed toward Maya.
“It ended with you.”
A deafening explosion shook the estate.
The floor cracked.
Windows shattered.
The lights died.
Victor's voice came through the speakers.
“You found the family.”
Adrian looked up.
Victor laughed.
“Good.”
“Now watch it disappear.”
Cassian's face changed.
“No.”
Adrian turned.
“What?”
Cassian looked terrified.
For the first time.
“Victor has the original source.”
“What source?”
Cassian whispered:
“Your grandmother's blood.”
Adrian froze.
“But she died.”
Cassian shook his head.
“No.”
He looked toward Clara.
“She never died.”
The room became silent.
Adrian stared.
“Where is she?”
Cassian looked toward the basement.
Then whispered:
“She's underneath us.”
Suddenly the floor began opening.
A hidden elevator descended.
Cold air rose from below.
And from the darkness came a woman's voice.
Old.
Weak.
But unmistakably alive.
“Adrian?”
He stopped breathing.
Cassian closed his eyes.
Maya grabbed his hand.
“Dad?”
Adrian stared into the darkness.
The voice came again.
“My son…”
Adrian whispered:
“Grandmother?”
Then every light in the estate turned red.
A countdown appeared on the wall.
05:00
04:59
04:58
Victor's voice returned.
“Five minutes.”
Adrian raised his weapon.
“Until what?”
Victor laughed.
“Until the last Moretti heart stops.”
The countdown continued.
04:30
Adrian looked at Maya.
Then Clara.
Then Cassian.
And finally the darkness beneath them.
For the first time, he understood.
This was never a war over money.
It was never about an empire.
It was never even about revenge.
May you like
It was a war over who would decide what happened to the bloodline.
And Adrian Moretti had only five minutes left to make that decision himself.
