The Graham Heir—I Am Not An Adopted Nobody

Chapter 55: Nightfall in Motion

The engine didn’t just roar, it sounded like it was breathing.

Avery steered the Pagani Zonda Barchetta out of the underground garage with the kind of care you’d use to hold a diamond. Her hands were steady on the wheel, her eyes glued to the mirrors to make sure she didn't nick the sides. The carbon fiber body reflected the overhead lights for one last second before they hit the dark, cool night of the city.

Anna leaned back in the passenger seat with a small, impressed smile on her face as she watched Avery work.

“Hey,” she said, her voice joyous over the low hum of the car. “You’re actually getting the hang of this pretty fast.”

Avery smirked, though she didn't take her eyes off the road. The Pagani rolled onto the main street like a predator finally waking up. It was low, wide, and looked like something out of a dream.

They hit the main boulevard. Avery kept it slow— Controlled And Elegant.

Anna tilted her head, her hair whipping in the wind. “You’re being way too gentle with her, Avery. It’s a Pagani, not a golf cart.”

“It’s a two hundred million dollar car, Anna,” Avery replied, her voice calm but firm. “I’m not going to be the one who wrecks it because I was being reckless.”

Anna laughed, a loud, happy sound. “Reckless? No. But come on— floor it. Robert didn’t give you the keys so you could drive like a grandmother. He’d want you to feel what this thing can actually do.”

Avery shot her a sideways glance, her grip tightening on the leather steering wheel. “Robert also likes his sister alive and breathing, Anna.”

“Floor it,” Anna insisted, her voice turning playful. She leaned over slightly. “Just once. I want to feel the night. I want to feel the wind.”

Avery hesitated for a second. She looked at the empty stretch of road ahead and the city lights sparkling like stars. Then, she exhaled.

“Fine. Hold on.”

Her foot snapped down.

The V12 engine didn't just respond, it screamed. The Pagani surged forward so fast it felt like the world was moving backward. The wind ripped over the open top, a violent, beautiful force that pinned them into their seats. The city blurred into long streaks of gold and white.

Anna let out a wild laugh. “Yes! That’s it! That’s the feeling!”

The air was cool and smooth against their skin. The roar of the engine bounced off the glass towers as they sped through the darkness. For a few seconds, there were no auctions, no threats, and no rival families on their minds— it was just the speed and the freedom of the road.

Music boomed through the speakers, the bass matching the growl of the car. Avery finally eased off the gas, letting the car settle back into a smooth glide.

“You’re absolutely insane,” Avery said, breathing hard but smiling wider than she had all day.

“And you loved every second of it,” Anna shot back, adjusting her sapphire necklace.

They drove a few more blocks before passing a massive, brightly lit steakhouse. 

The bold name reflected in the night sky through a beam— Papa Vittorio’s.

It was the kind of place with a long valet line and the smell of grilled meat drifting into the street.

Anna’s head snapped toward the building. “Oh my God. Stop.”

Avery laughed. “What now?”

“That’s the place! The one from I*******m,” Anna said, her eyes wide. “They say it has the best steak in the whole country. We’re right here. We have to.”

“Please,” Anna begged, looking at Avery with puppy dog eyes. “Just five minutes. A quick takeout. I’m starving and we have a long night ahead.”

Avery shook her head, unable to stay annoyed. “You can be tempting at times, you know that?”

“But you love me.”

Avery sighed, looking for a spot. “Alright. I’ll park, but we’re being fast.”

She guided the Pagani into a quiet side space, away from the main crowd. Even in the shadows, the car drew eyes instantly. People stopped walking, their phones coming out to record the ghost like machine sitting at the curb.

Anna stayed in the car, looking like a princess. Avery stepped out, smoothing her yellow gown. “I’ll be quick,” Avery said, closing the door with a solid clack.

Anna nodded, pulling out her phone to check her makeup. She scrolled lazily, feeling totally safe and untouchable. She didn't notice the shadow moving along the wall behind the car. She didn't notice the dark figure creeping up just beyond the reflection of the door panel.

The person moved with terrifying care— too quiet, too practiced. A hand, wearing a thin black glove, reached out toward the Pagani’s door handle.

But before he could touch the carbon fiber— 

A blur of black motion hit him from the side.

A strong, thick arm hooked around the attacker’s throat. A hand clamped over his mouth before he could even think about screaming. The attacker was yanked backward with brutal, silent efficiency, dragged into the dark gap between two parked cars.

There was a dull, quiet thud. A muffled gasp for air.

Anna’s head tilted slightly. “Hm?”

She glanced toward the sidewalk. Nothing. Just the cool night air and the distant sound of traffic. She shrugged and looked back at her phone. “Probably just the wind,” she muttered.

Behind the Pagani, pinned against the asphalt, the attacker lay frozen in pure terror. A cold, heavy pistol was pressed hard against his temple. The man in the black suit didn't say a word. 

His movements were precise, disciplined, and completely invisible. He blended into the night just like Robert’s father had promised.

Inside the Bertha Graham Memorial Hotel

Robert stood by the floor to ceiling window in his suite, looking out over the city. His phone was already at his ear.

“Have you sent them?” he asked, his voice low and calm.

On the other end, his father’s voice was steady. “They’ve been active since the second you dropped that call earlier and they were even at that garage.”

Robert blinked at his reflection in the dark glass. “Already? I didn't see anyone.”

“They are the best in the world, Robert,” his father replied. “They are trained to blend into the air. Even you shouldn't be able to notice them unless they want you to.”

Robert exhaled slowly. “I didn't.”

A brief, heavy pause followed. “You received a threat tonight,” his father continued. It wasn't a question. “Then assume they will try something small first. A test. A warning shot.”

Robert’s jaw tightened. He thought of Anna out there in the open car. “I understand.”

Back at the Steakhouse

Avery returned a few minutes later with a neatly packaged bag that smelled incredible. “Got it,” she said, sliding back into the driver’s seat. “The chef almost had a heart attack when he saw the car out the window.”

Anna looked up, a huge smile on her face. “You are officially my favorite person, Avery.”

They pulled away smoothly, merging back into the traffic.

Behind them, in the deep shadows, the man in the black suit hauled the attacker upright. The man struggled weakly, his eyes wide with fear. The gun pressed harder into his skull. The security agent finally spoke, his voice a low, terrifying whisper.

“You tried to touch the young master’s sister.”

The attacker began to tremble. The agent’s expression was as cold as the weapon in his hand. “Let’s go for a ride. I want to know exactly who sent you.”

A black Cadillac Escalade rolled silently out of the darkness. The doors opened, the man was shoved inside, and the SUV vanished into the night as if it had never been there at all.