Chapter 16
The interrogation took place in the soundproofed basement of the estate. Adrian stood over the Chicago assassin, his open-collar black shirt clinging to the broad muscles of his shoulders. The man was broken, gasping for air, fully realizing why people called Adrian Cole a monster.
"The Commission... they know you have James’s drive," the bleeding man coughed, spitting blood onto the concrete. "They aren't going to stop, Cole. They sent a strike team. They are coming tonight. They are going to hit the mansion from the water."
Adrian’s jaw tightened. The boathouse overlooking the dark waters of the Sound was the only vulnerable approach to the sprawling grounds.
"How many?" Adrian demanded, his voice a low, gravelly vibration.
"Fifty men," the assassin wheezed, a dark smile playing on his lips. "You can't hold them all off. They are going to slaughter your guards, take the drive, and burn the girl."
Adrian didn't flinch. He turned to Marcus, who was standing by the heavy metal door. "Execute him. Then prep the armory. We do not wait for them to breach the walls. We meet them at the water."
Upstairs in the private study, Adrian found Emma packing a small bag with Nora’s essentials. Nora was sitting on the velvet sofa, adjusting her yellow purse. She looked up at Adrian, tilting her head to the left, resting her chin on her curled fist—the exact stance of her late father.
"Uncle Adrian, are the bad men coming again?" Nora asked innocently.
"Yes, little boss," Adrian said smoothly, crouching down on his haunches to be at her eye level. "But they are not going to get past the front door."
"Adrian," Emma said, her voice shaking with sudden anxiety. "You can't fight an entire syndicate alone. Let us run. Let us take the drive and disappear. It’s what James wanted."
Adrian stood to his full, towering height. He stepped close to Emma, reaching out to gently cup her fair, rosy face.
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"James wanted you to be safe. He wanted Nora to be free from the violence," Adrian whispered softly. "If you run, they will hunt you for the rest of your lives. The only way to guarantee your safety is to eradicate the threat completely. I will not let the syndicate swallow her whole."
Emma looked into his intense gaze without fear. She saw the depth of his love, the unbreakable promise he had made to her four years ago. She nodded slowly. "Then finish this, Adrian. For James. For us."
