The call had ended but Adrian could still hear the man's voice.Welcome to the real Nightingale family. The words seemed to linger inside the abandoned hospital.Nathan stared at Adrian."What did he mean?"Adrian slowly lowered the phone."I don't know."It was the first time he had said those words without sounding completely certain of himself.Harrison noticed.The old man's expression tightened. "You do know something."Adrian looked at him."No.""Then why do you look like that?"Adrian glanced down at the phone. "Because whoever that was knew my name."Nathan stepped closer. "That doesn't necessarily mean he's your grandfather's brother."Leon shook his head."It does." Nathan turned toward him."Why?""Because..."Leon swallowed."...I recognize his voice."The room became silent.Adrian's eyes sharpened."You've heard him before?"Leon nodded slowly."Fifteen years ago."Harrison's expression changed."Leon...""You remember the night I resigned?"Harrison looked away.Leon c

The lights came on.Adrian stopped halfway down the staircase. For one terrible second, he couldn't breathe.The man standing in the middle of the abandoned hospital lobby looked completely out of place. His dark coat was perfectly pressed. His hands were tucked calmly into his pockets. There wasn't a trace of panic on his face.As though he hadn't just broken into a building surrounded by security. As though he had been invited. Although he had been waiting for Adrian.Adrian's eyes narrowed. "Marcus."Nathan appeared behind him. His expression changed immediately."Marcus Vale?"Marcus smiled."Good evening, gentlemen."Nathan's hand slipped beneath his jacket. Marcus noticed."Don't."Nathan froze. Marcus slowly lifted one hand. Three red dots appeared on Nathan's chest.Then another appeared on Harrison and another on Adrian.Snipers. Nathan's jaw tightened.Marcus gave him a knowing smile. "I'd really rather not turn this into a bloodbath."Adrian stared at him."You followed us.

Adrian couldn't move. The photograph remained between his fingers. His grandmother's face stared back at him.Older, softer but unmistakable.The man's expression remained unreadable."You're not ready." Adrian laughed bitterly."Don't tell me what I'm ready for."His eyes glistened. "I've spent half my life being told what I could and couldn't know.""My father died and I was sent away. My entire identity was hidden from me."He lifted the photograph and now you're standing here telling me my grandmother is alive."His voice cracked."So don't you dare tell me I'm not ready."The man's expression finally softened. "Then listen."Adrian waited. "Your grandmother survived the accident."Adrian's chest tightened. "But she was badly injured. She was unconscious for weeks. By the time she woke up..."The man paused. "...your grandfather had already made his decision.""What decision?”“To make the world believe she was dead."Adrian stared at him."Why?""Because someone was looking for h

The steel door slammed shut. The sound reverberated through the underground chamber.Adrian didn't move. Victor didn't either.For several seconds, there was nothing but darkness.Then a faint red light appeared above the door.Adrian's eyes adjusted.The underground office slowly emerged from the shadows.The old desk. The scattered files, the photographs.The locked cabinets. Everything suddenly looked different more sinister.Like a room that had been waiting fifteen years for him to return.Victor whispered,"Adrian.""I heard him.""No."Victor's voice was tense."Look behind you."Adrian turned.A small monitor mounted on the wall had switched on.Static flickered across the screen. Then a man's face appeared.Older, sharp features, silver hair. Cold eyes.Adrian recognized him immediately.The mysterious man from the photographs.His uncle. The man everyone had been searching for.The man supposedly behind the Black Crown.Adrian stepped closer."You're my uncle."The man smile

Victor's finger tightened around the trigger.Adrian didn't move.For several seconds, nobody breathed.The silence inside the office was so complete that Adrian could hear the faint hum of the computers beneath the desk.His eyes remained fixed on Victor.Not the gun. Not Emilia.Victor and the man who had driven him here.The man who had stood beside him at the estate. The man who had warned him about the trap.The man who had followed him into the building.The man who had just pointed a gun at Emilia."Victor."His voice was quiet.Almost frighteningly quiet. Victor swallowed."I'm sorry."Adrian's gaze hardened."You've said that already.""I know.""Then say something else."Victor's jaw tightened.Adrian took a slow breath. "Why are you pointing that gun at her?"Victor didn't answer. "Who ordered you?"Still nothing.Adrian's eyes narrowed. "Augustus?"Victor flinched. It was barely noticeable but Adrian saw it."So it is him.""No."Victor shook his head."No, Adrian.""Then