Adrian and Rose sat in the cozy corner of the restaurant, the dim lighting casting a warm glow over their table. The city skyline outside the window provided a breathtaking backdrop as they enjoyed their evening together. Rose had just taken a sip of her wine when she looked at Adrian, her eyes filled with a mix of excitement and calm."So, have you thought more about names?" Rose asked, her voice steady.Adrian nodded, a thoughtful expression on his face. "I have. What do you think about Melinda? We could name her after Linda, you know, since she's the reason we met."Rose considered it for a moment, her fingers tracing the rim of her glass. "Melinda... it’s a strong name. I like it. Linda’s been there for us through a lot; it feels right to honor her that way."Adrian smiled, relieved that she liked the idea. "I knew you'd agree. Melinda it is then."They shared a quiet moment, the weight of their decision settling in. It was a big step, naming their child, and it made everything fe
Adrian and Rose laid on the floor as the robbers were still making their rounds in the restaurant. Adrian kept his eyes down, trying to maintain a calm facade, though every instinct in his body screamed at him to stay alert. He couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off.The robbers were systematic, moving from table to table, demanding wallets and jewelry. As they approached Adrian and Rose’s table, he felt a chill run down his spine. He subtly shifted his position, placing himself closer to Rose.One of the robbers, a tall man with cold eyes, pointed his gun at Adrian. "Wallet, now," the man ordered, his voice a low growl.Adrian nodded slowly, trying to keep his movements calm and deliberate. "Sure, no problem." He reached into his pocket, pulling out his wallet and holding it out for the man to take. The robber snatched it from his hand without a word, stuffing it into a bag slung over his shoulder.Just as Adrian thought they were moving on, the robber barked, "Head up! Le
Blinks was in the middle of cleaning his handgun when his phone rang. He glanced at the screen, immediately recognizing Adrian’s number. Without hesitation, he answered the call.“Adrian, what’s going on?” Blinks asked, his tone alert.“They’re after me, Blinks. At the restaurant. High-rise,” Adrian’s voice came through, tense but controlled. In the background, Blinks could hear the unmistakable sounds of gunfire and chaos.“I’m on my way. Stay low,” Blinks replied, ending the call before Adrian could respond. He quickly strapped on his holster, tucking a few extra magazines into his jacket. Before leaving, he dialed another number—Ramsey’s.“Ramsey, it’s Blinks. Adrian’s under attack. Restaurant in the high-rise. Get units there, now.”“Got it. I’ll send a team. You sure you don’t want to wait?” Ramsey’s voice was calm, but there was a note of urgency beneath it.“No time. I’ll handle it until you get there.” Blinks didn’t wait for a reply. He hung up, grabbed his car keys, and was o
Adrian paced the floor of the safehouse, his fists clenched and his mind racing. The events of the past few hours had left him seething with anger. “We need to get Rose somewhere safe,” Adrian finally said, his voice tight with restrained fury.Blinks nodded in agreement. “Agreed. She shouldn’t be here when we go after Lazzaro.”They didn’t waste any time. Within minutes, Rose was ready to go, her expression calm but determined. She wasn’t the type to show fear, and even now, after everything that had happened, she remained composed. “Where are we going?” Rose asked as Adrian helped her into the car.“To the police station,” Adrian said. “You’ll be under Penelope and Ramsey’s protection. They’ll keep you safe until this is over.”Rose nodded, trusting Adrian’s judgment. As much as she wanted to stay by his side, she knew that her safety—and the safety of their unborn child—was the priority.The drive to the station was tense but silent. When they arrived, Penelope and Ramsey were al
Adrian sat silently in the car, the tension between him and Mr. Brooks palpable. The air was thick with unspoken words and years of unresolved issues. Mr. Brooks glanced at Adrian, his expression softening as he saw the storm of emotions in his son’s eyes."Adrian," Mr. Brooks began, his voice calm but heavy with the weight of what he needed to say. "I know you have a lot of questions. I owe you some answers."Adrian’s gaze remained fixed on the windshield, his jaw clenched. "You think?" he muttered, his tone sharp. "Why didn’t you tell me you were my father? Why let my mother suffer all these years? Why leave us in the dark?"Mr. Brooks sighed, rubbing his temples as if trying to ease the guilt that had been gnawing at him for years. "I wanted to protect you, Adrian. But I realize now that I failed in doing so."Adrian finally turned to look at him, his eyes filled with a mixture of anger and confusion. "Protect me? From what? From you? From the truth?""From the world," Mr. Brooks r
The towering Brooks mansion loomed ahead as Adrian, Anthony, and Blinks approached in tense silence. The weight of the moment was palpable, each step they took echoing on the gravel driveway like the ticking of a clock counting down to an inevitable confrontation. Adrian’s heart raced as they reached the grand entrance, the large oak doors standing tall as if guarding the secrets within. For Adrian, this was a place of many firsts—the first time he set foot in the Brooks estate as a member of the family he was about to reveal himself to. The mansion’s grandeur could not mask the rot that had festered within its walls for years. Today, that rot was about to be exposed.The doors swung open, revealing a dimly lit grand hall. Lady Barbara stood near the fireplace, her posture straight but her face drawn with weariness. Ada and Raymond sat on one of the long couches, their expressions impatient and guarded. Lazzaro, leaning casually against the wall, gave Adrian a cold, calculating glanc
The grand hall was in utter disarray, a cacophony of raised voices and frantic gestures. The revelation that Adrian was the sole heir to Mr. Brooks’ empire had thrown the room into chaos. Lady Barbara was on the verge of fainting, Ada was livid, and Raymond and Lazzaro were locked in a heated argument with Anthony, who was valiantly trying to maintain control.It was then that the door to the hall creaked open, and the man who had been presumed dead, the very man who was the catalyst of this storm, walked in.Mr. Brooks stood at the entrance, his imposing figure framed by the light filtering in from the hallway. His presence was like a cold gust of wind that swept through the room, instantly silencing the tumult. All eyes turned to him, the shock evident on every face.“Father?” Adrian’s voice was the first to break the silence, disbelief etched in every syllable.“Yes, Adrian,” Mr. Brooks replied, his tone even, though his eyes softened as they met his son’s. “I’m alive. And I see I’
Adrian’s heart was still pounding from the chaos inside the mansion when he rushed outside to find Blinks. The evening air was cool against his flushed skin, but there was a heaviness in his chest that wouldn’t go away. The door slammed shut behind him, muffling the sounds of heated arguments and panicked voices. He spotted Blinks near the garden, pacing back and forth with his phone pressed to his ear."Blinks!" Adrian called out as he jogged toward him, the urgency in his voice undeniable. "What’s going on?"Blinks turned to him, his face a mask of grim determination. He quickly ended the call and slipped his phone into his pocket. "We’ve got a serious problem, Adrian," he said, his voice low and tense. "Lazzaro’s gone desperate. Mr. Shin just sent word from the Black community—Lazzaro’s put a hit out on you. A group of assassins is on their way right now."Adrian felt a cold chill race down his spine. "Assassins? Here?"Blinks nodded, his expression hardening. "Yeah, and they’re no