CHAPTER 8 THE CHOICE THAT COULD KILL THEM ALL
The ice cracked again.
A thin black line raced across the frozen lake.
Adrian stared at the blinking red light beneath the surface.
One second.
Two.
Three.
Then Gabriel shouted.
“MOVE!”
Everyone ran.
Sarah grabbed Lily.
Maya seized Adrian’s arm.
Vincent remained twenty feet away, a gun pressed against the back of his head.
The man holding him smiled.
“Careful, Mr. Moretti.”
Adrian stopped.
The stranger raised one hand.
“Another step and your security chief dies.”
Vincent stared at Adrian.
“Don't.”
Adrian’s eyes moved toward the lake.
Then back to Vincent.
Then to his daughters.
His mind worked faster than it ever had.
The bomb was underwater.
The lake was frozen.
The enemy knew exactly where they were standing.
That meant this wasn't an ordinary explosive.
It was designed to create panic.
To force movement.
To separate them.
Adrian looked at Gabriel.
“Can you disable it?”
Gabriel nodded slowly.
“If I can reach it.”
“How long?”
“Ten minutes.”
Adrian looked at the blinking light.
“You have five.”
Gabriel gave him a grim smile.
“Then I'd better become very efficient.”
He ran toward the shoreline.
Adrian turned toward the gunmen.
“Let Vincent go.”
The stranger laughed.
“You're in no position to negotiate.”
“I am always in a position to negotiate.”
“You're surrounded.”
Adrian raised his weapon.
“So are you.”
The stranger's smile faded.
Adrian pointed toward the woods.
“Your men are standing in open ground.”
He looked toward the rooftops.
“My people have the high ground.”
Then toward the road.
“And your escape route is blocked.”
The stranger's eyes shifted.
Only briefly.
Adrian saw it.
He smiled.
“You didn't expect me to have backup.”
The man frowned.
“You're bluffing.”
“No.”
Adrian looked toward the trees.
A single rifle shot cracked through the night.
The gunman beside Vincent dropped.
Vincent spun and tackled another attacker.
Chaos erupted.
Adrian fired.
Maya grabbed Sarah and Lily.
“Get behind the trees!”
Sarah moved.
Lily screamed.
“Daddy!”
Adrian turned.
“I'll find you!”
She nodded.
Then disappeared into the forest.
Adrian kept firing.
His shoulder screamed with every shot.
His chest tightened.
But he ignored it.
He couldn't collapse.
Not now.
Not when his daughters were watching.
Gabriel reached the lake.
He dropped to his knees.
The red light blinked beneath the ice.
“Too deep,” he muttered.
He pulled a small tool from his jacket.
Then another.
Then another.
Vincent appeared beside him.
“You have company.”
Gabriel looked up.
Three armed men approached.
“Handle them.”
Vincent smiled.
“Gladly.”
He fired.
Gabriel returned to the bomb.
The ice beneath his knees trembled.
He looked at the timer.
04:17
He cursed.
Adrian chased the stranger into the woods.
Branches struck his face.
Snow soaked his shoes.
His breathing became uneven.
Then his heart skipped.
Adrian stumbled.
He grabbed a tree.
The world blurred.
He pressed a hand against his chest.
“Not now.”
His heart thudded once.
Then stopped.
For one terrifying second, everything inside him went silent.
Then—
THUMP.
Pain exploded through his chest.
Adrian fell to one knee.
A voice came from behind him.
“Mr. Moretti.”
He looked up.
The stranger stood twenty feet away.
Gun raised.
“You should have stayed in the hospital.”
Adrian tried to stand.
The stranger smiled.
“Your father was right.”
Adrian froze.
“What did you say?”
“He said you'd destroy yourself trying to save them.”
Adrian's eyes narrowed.
“My father hired you?”
“No.”
The man lowered his weapon slightly.
“He doesn't need to hire anyone.”
“Then who does?”
The stranger smiled.
“The woman you trust most.”
Adrian stared.
Sarah?
Vincent?
Maya?
Elena?
His mind raced.
The stranger fired.
Adrian dove.
The bullet struck the tree.
Adrian rolled behind a fallen log.
His breathing was ragged.
The stranger approached.
“You know what your problem is?”
Adrian said nothing.
“You still believe love makes you stronger.”
The stranger stopped.
“It doesn't.”
Adrian slowly raised his weapon.
“It makes you predictable.”
The stranger smiled.
“Yes.”
Adrian fired.
The man fell.
Adrian crawled toward him.
“Who?”
The stranger coughed.
“Who betrayed me?”
The man smiled.
“Ask your daughter.”
Adrian froze.
“Maya?”
The stranger's smile widened.
Then he stopped breathing.
Adrian stared at the body.
His heart pounded.
Ask your daughter.
He immediately reached for his phone.
“Maya.”
No answer.
He called again.
Nothing.
Panic rose inside him.
He ran.
Near the trees, Sarah was holding Lily.
Maya stood beside them.
She looked toward the gunfire.
“Where's Dad?”
“He'll come.”
Maya shook her head.
“You don't know that.”
Sarah looked at her.
“Yes.”
Maya stared.
“You're sure?”
Sarah smiled sadly.
“He's stubborn.”
Maya almost laughed.
Then a voice came from behind them.
“That's the nicest thing anyone has ever said about me.”
They turned.
Adrian emerged from the trees.
Lily ran into his arms.
He caught her.
She buried her face against his chest.
“I thought you died.”
Adrian closed his eyes.
“Not tonight.”
Maya watched.
Then she whispered:
“You're bleeding.”
Adrian looked at his sleeve.
A shallow cut.
“Nothing.”
Maya stepped closer.
“You're lying.”
He smiled.
“Family trait.”
Maya didn't smile.
“Don't joke about it.”
Adrian looked at her.
Something in her expression made him stop.
She was frightened.
Not because of the enemy.
Because she had started caring.
He touched her shoulder.
“I'll be okay.”
Maya nodded.
But she didn't look convinced.
A massive explosion shook the lake.
Everyone turned.
The ice erupted.
Water and smoke blasted into the air.
Gabriel stumbled backward.
Vincent grabbed him.
“Are you alive?”
Gabriel coughed.
“Unfortunately.”
Vincent laughed.
“Good.”
Gabriel looked toward Adrian.
“The bomb was a decoy.”
Adrian stared.
“What?”
“The real device was in the house.”
Adrian's expression changed.
“Where?”
Gabriel pointed.
“Basement.”
Adrian's blood ran cold.
“Evelyn.”
They ran.
The house was burning.
Flames consumed the roof.
Windows shattered.
Adrian stopped outside.
“Where's my father?”
Gabriel shook his head.
“Gone.”
“And my mother?”
“Gone too.”
Adrian looked at the burning building.
He wanted to run inside.
Vincent grabbed his arm.
“No.”
“Let go.”
“It's collapsing.”
“My mother is inside.”
“She may already be dead.”
Adrian stared at him.
Then the front door exploded outward.
A figure emerged through the flames.
Evelyn.
She was bleeding.
But alive.
Adrian ran toward her.
She collapsed into his arms.
“Mother.”
She looked up.
“You came.”
“Where's Victor?”
Her eyes filled with fear.
“He took Maya.”
Adrian froze.
“What?”
Evelyn grabbed his coat.
“He didn't want Lily.”
Adrian's blood ran cold.
“He wanted Maya.”
Maya stood behind them.
She heard every word.
“What?”
Evelyn looked at her.
“Maya…”
The young woman stepped backward.
“No.”
Adrian turned.
“Maya.”
She shook her head.
“No.”
Evelyn struggled to stand.
“Listen to me.”
“You said you protected me.”
“I did.”
“You lied.”
“I had to.”
Maya's eyes filled with tears.
“Why does everyone keep saying that?”
Adrian stepped toward her.
“Maya.”
She backed away.
“Don't.”
He stopped.
“You said I was abandoned.”
“Yes.”
“You said my father left me.”
“Yes.”
“You said he didn't want me.”
Evelyn closed her eyes.
“I was wrong.”
Maya stared.
“You knew?”
“Yes.”
“How long?”
“Twenty years.”
Maya covered her mouth.
Adrian felt his chest tighten.
“Maya…”
She looked at him.
“Did you know about me?”
He shook his head.
“No.”
“Did you know I existed?”
“No.”
“Did you ever look for me?”
Adrian's voice broke.
“If I'd known, I would have torn the world apart.”
Maya cried.
“That's what everyone says.”
Then a voice came from behind the burning house.
“That's exactly why we kept her from you.”
Everyone turned.
Victor stepped into view.
He held a detonator.
Behind him stood two men.
And beside them—
Maya.
Another Maya.
Adrian stared.
His mind refused to understand.
The girl beside Victor was identical.
Same dark hair.
Same eyes.
Same scar.
Lily whispered:
“Two Mayas.”
Adrian looked at the woman beside Victor.
Then at the Maya standing beside him.
Neither moved.
Victor smiled.
“Now you understand the real secret.”
Adrian's face went pale.
“The twins.”
Victor nodded.
“Not one missing daughter.”
He raised the detonator.
“Two.”
Maya stared at the other girl.
“Who are you?”
The other girl looked at her.
Her eyes filled with tears.
“I've been asking the same question my whole life.”
Adrian stepped forward.
“What's your name?”
The girl answered:
“Anna.”
Victor smiled.
“Anna and Maya.”
He looked at Adrian.
“Two daughters.”
Then he looked toward Lily.
“And one little sister.”
Adrian's blood ran cold.
Victor pressed the detonator.
Nothing happened.
He frowned.
Pressed it again.
Still nothing.
Gabriel smiled.
“I disabled the network.”
Victor looked at him.
Then at Adrian.
For the first time, fear appeared in his eyes.
Adrian raised his weapon.
“It's over.”
Victor laughed.
“No.”
He threw the detonator away.
“You still don't understand.”
He looked at Maya.
Then Anna.
Then Lily.
“The trust doesn't require all three children.”
Adrian's eyes narrowed.
“What does it require?”
Victor smiled.
“Only the one who was never supposed to survive.”
Adrian's face changed.
Anna stepped backward.
Victor pointed at her.
“She is the key.”
Maya stared at Anna.
Anna looked terrified.
Adrian stepped between them.
“No.”
Victor smiled.
“You'll have to choose.”
Adrian's jaw tightened.
“Choose what?”
Victor's voice became cold.
“Which daughter gets to live.”
Then a second voice came from behind them.
“Neither.”
Everyone turned.
Elena stood in the doorway.
Holding a gun.
She aimed it directly at Victor.
And said:
“Because I finally know how to destroy the trust.”
Adrian stared.
“What did you do?”
Elena smiled.
“I changed the beneficiary.”
Victor's face went white.
“To whom?”
Elena looked at Lily.
Then Maya.
Then Anna.
“To the children.”
Victor whispered:
“You idiot.”
Elena shook her head.
“No.”
She lowered the gun.
“I was finally brave enough to stop being afraid of you.”
A siren sounded in the distance.
Victor looked toward the road.
Then back at Adrian.
“You think you've won?”
Adrian stepped forward.
“No.”
He raised his weapon.
“I know.”
Victor smiled.
Then suddenly—
a shot rang out.
Elena fell.
Adrian's world stopped.
“ELENA!”
She collapsed into the snow.
Victor disappeared into the darkness.
Maya screamed.
Anna dropped to her knees.
Lily clung to Sarah.
Adrian ran toward Elena.
Blood spread across her coat.
Her eyes opened.
She whispered:
“Don't chase him.”
Adrian knelt beside her.
“Stay with me.”
She smiled faintly.
“I found you.”
Adrian grabbed her hand.
“You're not dying.”
Elena's eyes filled with tears.
“You always were stubborn.”
“Stay awake.”
She looked at him.
Then at Maya.
Then Anna.
Then Lily.
“Protect them.”
Adrian nodded.
“I swear.”
Elena closed her eyes.
Adrian shouted for help.
And somewhere beyond the trees, Victor Moretti disappeared into the darkness with the one thing Adrian had never realized he possessed.
The original key to the Moretti Trust.
But the greatest danger was no longer the money.
It was the truth about the three daughters.
Because if Victor was telling the truth—
May you like
one of them had never been humanly possible.
And Adrian was about to discover why.
