Chapter 6 - the breach at the estate
The rain poured heavily through the shattered windows of the west wing as Adrian's guards successfully eliminated the remaining attackers in the courtyard.
Inside the quiet master study, the fire crackled in the stone hearth. Adrian sat behind his desk, the dusty leather pouch open before him.
He unfolded the yellowed letter written in James's unmistakable, sweeping cursive script:
Brother,
If you are reading this, it means Dominic has finally made his move, and I am gone. The woman holding this letter is Emma Hayes. She carries my child. I kept them secret from you because I knew Dominic was watching my every step, looking for a weakness to destroy our family.
Emma is innocent, Adrian. She knows nothing of our business. Promise me, as my brother, that you will protect them both with your life. Give Nora the future we never had.
Your brother, James.
Adrian stared at the handwriting, his dark eyes glistening with a rare, heavy tear that dripped onto the mahogany wood. Five years of anger, confusion, and grief dissolved into a profound, unshakeable clarity.
He stood up from his desk and walked over to the leather armchair near the fire, where Emma sat holding a sleeping Nora wrapped in a warm wool blanket.
Adrian crouched down beside her chair, his broad, tattooed hands resting on the armrests. His sharp, rugged face was softer than Emma had ever seen it.
"He loved you," Adrian said gently, his voice deep and solid. "James loved you very much."
Emma looked into his dark eyes, fresh tears spilling over her cheeks. "He wanted to tell you, Adrian. The night he died... he was on his way to this house to introduce us to you."
"Dominic intercepted him before he reached the gate," Adrian realized, his jaw setting like iron. "Dominic thought if he eliminated James, he could take the family's European shipping contracts for himself."
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Adrian reached out, his broad thumb gently wiping a tear from Emma's cheek. "You don't ever have to be afraid of me again, Emma. Under this roof, you and Nora are under my personal protection. No one touches my brother's family."
Emma looked into Adrian's intense, devoted gaze, feeling the heavy burden of four years of fear finally lift from her shoulders.
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