Chapter 4 - The ConfrontationWhen Marcus entered the room, he saw Adrian standing behind the desk, the dossier open, his hand resting on the handle of a suppressed pistol.
Marcus stopped. He didn't look surprised. He looked disappointed.
"You were always too curious for your own good, Adrian," Marcus said, his voice calm, almost conversational.
"Twelve years, Marcus," Adrian said, his voice low. "Twelve years I trusted you with the keys to my house, the safety of my business, the legacy of my father. Why?"
"Because your father was a weak man who allowed his empire to crumble for the sake of 'honor,'" Marcus spat, his composure finally cracking. "I built this. I expanded it. I made us stronger, richer, and more powerful than the DeLucas ever dreamed. And you wanted to throw it all away for a piece of paper and a wedding ring?"
"The treaty was the only way to save the family from a civil war that would have ended us," Adrian said.
"There was no civil war coming, Adrian! There was only expansion!" Marcus began to walk toward the desk, his hand moving toward his jacket.
Adrian didn't hesitate. He pulled the pistol and fired—not to kill, but to maim. The bullet caught Marcus in the shoulder, sending him spinning backward into the bookshelf.
May you like
"I wanted to kill you, Marcus," Adrian said, walking around the desk as Marcus groaned in pain. "But I need to know one thing. Who was in the bridal suite with Julian Vane?"
Marcus laughed, a wet, blood-filled sound. "You think Julian is the only one? Look at your staff, Adrian. Look at your housekeepers. You’re surrounded by people who have lost loved ones to your family’s 'legacy.' It’s not just me. The whole house is a ticking bomb."
