Blinks was in the middle of cleaning his handgun when his phone rang. He glanced at the screen, immediately recognizing Adrian’s number. Without hesitation, he answered the call.“Adrian, what’s going on?” Blinks asked, his tone alert.“They’re after me, Blinks. At the restaurant. High-rise,” Adrian’s voice came through, tense but controlled. In the background, Blinks could hear the unmistakable sounds of gunfire and chaos.“I’m on my way. Stay low,” Blinks replied, ending the call before Adrian could respond. He quickly strapped on his holster, tucking a few extra magazines into his jacket. Before leaving, he dialed another number—Ramsey’s.“Ramsey, it’s Blinks. Adrian’s under attack. Restaurant in the high-rise. Get units there, now.”“Got it. I’ll send a team. You sure you don’t want to wait?” Ramsey’s voice was calm, but there was a note of urgency beneath it.“No time. I’ll handle it until you get there.” Blinks didn’t wait for a reply. He hung up, grabbed his car keys, and was o

Adrian sat silently in the car, the tension between him and Mr. Brooks palpable. The air was thick with unspoken words and years of unresolved issues. Mr. Brooks glanced at Adrian, his expression softening as he saw the storm of emotions in his son’s eyes."Adrian," Mr. Brooks began, his voice calm but heavy with the weight of what he needed to say. "I know you have a lot of questions. I owe you some answers."Adrian’s gaze remained fixed on the windshield, his jaw clenched. "You think?" he muttered, his tone sharp. "Why didn’t you tell me you were my father? Why let my mother suffer all these years? Why leave us in the dark?"Mr. Brooks sighed, rubbing his temples as if trying to ease the guilt that had been gnawing at him for years. "I wanted to protect you, Adrian. But I realize now that I failed in doing so."Adrian finally turned to look at him, his eyes filled with a mixture of anger and confusion. "Protect me? From what? From you? From the truth?""From the world," Mr. Brooks r

The grand hall was in utter disarray, a cacophony of raised voices and frantic gestures. The revelation that Adrian was the sole heir to Mr. Brooks’ empire had thrown the room into chaos. Lady Barbara was on the verge of fainting, Ada was livid, and Raymond and Lazzaro were locked in a heated argument with Anthony, who was valiantly trying to maintain control.It was then that the door to the hall creaked open, and the man who had been presumed dead, the very man who was the catalyst of this storm, walked in.Mr. Brooks stood at the entrance, his imposing figure framed by the light filtering in from the hallway. His presence was like a cold gust of wind that swept through the room, instantly silencing the tumult. All eyes turned to him, the shock evident on every face.“Father?” Adrian’s voice was the first to break the silence, disbelief etched in every syllable.“Yes, Adrian,” Mr. Brooks replied, his tone even, though his eyes softened as they met his son’s. “I’m alive. And I see I’

The tension in the room was palpable as everyone took their seats in the large, ornate boardroom. The long, polished mahogany table gleamed under the soft glow of the chandelier, and the walls were lined with portraits of the Brooks family, their stern faces watching over the gathering. It was a room where the most critical decisions in the company’s history had been made, but today, the atmosphere was different—heavier, almost suffocating.Adrian sat near the end of the table, his jaw clenched as he watched the members of the board filter in. He had barely slept the night before, the adrenaline from the chase still coursing through his veins. Blinks had assured him that the police would handle the aftermath, but it was hard to shake the feeling that something was still unresolved. He glanced around the room, noting the tense expressions on the faces of the board members and family members who had been summoned to this urgent meeting. Whispers filled the air, speculation running rampa