Chapter 8 - The Enemy of My Enemy
I demanded proof before opening the bunker.
Luca reminded me that at fourteen I had stolen our father's Bentley, destroyed Mrs. Donnelly's mailbox, and blamed him.
Only Luca knew that detail.
The doors opened.
I hit him twice before I embraced him.
I had spent thirteen years grieving, hating myself, and imagining his death.
Clara's reunion with him was worse.
She accused him of abandoning her and Emma.
Luca said everyone close to him became a target.
Clara told him abandonment was not protection.
Then little Emma stepped forward.
"Are you my daddy?"
Luca dropped to one knee and answered yes.
She tested him with her favorite color, animal, and ice cream.
He knew every answer.
She ran into his arms.
For a moment the war disappeared.
Then Luca saw the black box and ordered us to destroy it.
He explained that Adrian Mercer knew the Winter Protocol existed.
Adrian had captured Marcus three weeks earlier and wanted Luca to activate the system.
If the transfer failed, a fallback heir inherited the shadow trust.
That heir was supposed to be Victor's secret son.
Luca revealed the impossible truth.
Adrian Mercer was Victor's biological son and therefore a Vale descendant.
The protocol required three living bloodline authentications: Marcus, Luca, and Emma.
If one died after activation, the chain would fail and Adrian could seize the inheritance.
I told Luca we simply would not activate it.
He looked at the bunker monitor.
A timer appeared.
71:42:18.
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Victor had already triggered the first stage that morning.
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