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Heir Of The Blackwood Legacy Chapter 11
Felicia stared at the woman she had called her mother all her life, her world crumbling piece by piece. Her hands trembled, gripping the edge of the table as she sought answers.“Who are you?!” she demanded, her voice breaking. “If you’re not my mother, then who is?”Victoria—no, the woman posing as Victoria Feathering—took a step back, her carefully crafted composure faltering. Edward’s smirk widened as he leaned casually against the wall, clearly enjoying the scene unfolding before him.“Tell her,” Edward prodded, his voice venomous. “Or should I?”Victoria’s lips tightened, and she cast a venomous glare at Edward. “You’ve said enough! This isn’t your place.”Felicia slammed her fist against the table, her voice ringing with uncharacteristic authority. “No more lies! No more games! I need the truth—now!”Victoria hesitated, her gaze flickering between Edward and Felicia. For the first time, Felicia saw something unfamiliar in her eyes: fear. With a trembling breath, Victoria began.
Heir Of The Blackwood Legacy Chapter 12
Or so she thought. She feared that knowing this information, someone was going to kidnap her.Felicia’s mind raced as she sat in the backseat of the cab heading toward the small apartment she shared with Mark. Her breath came in shallow gasps, and her hands trembled uncontrollably in her lap. The revelation about her parentage had shaken her to the core. Eleanor Blackwood, her biological mother? The truth was almost too surreal to comprehend. The woman she had thought was her mother—Victoria Feathering—had lied to her, manipulated her entire life for power.Felicia clenched her fists, her heart aching. Every decision Victoria had made, every manipulation, every act of cruelty toward Mark—it all made sense now. The Featherings had destroyed the Blackwoods, stolen their legacy, and now expected her to betray the one person she trusted most.Mark.She reached for her phone again, her fingers hovering over his number. She had to tell him everything. The betrayal, the lies, the danger. He
Heir Of The Blackwood Legacy Chapter 13
The dim light of the warehouse cast long shadows across the concrete floor, the air thick with tension. Victoria stood tall, her face twisted with cold satisfaction as she held the Blackwood ledger in her gloved hand. Felicia and Mark, bruised and restrained, were forced to their knees before her. Edward leaned casually against a pillar, his smirk growing wider with every passing second.“You’ve always underestimated me, Mark,” Victoria said, her voice a venomous melody. “And now, look at you. Helpless. Weak. Just like your father.”Mark’s eyes blazed with fury, his muscles straining against the ropes binding his wrists. “Say whatever you want, Victoria. This isn’t over.”Victoria chuckled, the sound echoing eerily in the empty warehouse. “Oh, Mark. It’s been over for your family for decades. You just didn’t know it.”Felicia struggled against her restraints, her voice sharp with defiance. “If you think this is the end, you’re wrong. You’ve spent your life destroying others, but we’l
Heir Of The Blackwood Legacy Chapter 14
The SUV screeched to a halt in front of the sprawling Blackwood estate, a house that had once symbolized power, legacy, and untouchable wealth. Now, it felt like an uneasy sanctuary amidst the chaos. Mark helped Felicia out of the car, his eyes scanning the shadows for any sign of pursuit. The night was eerily quiet, but his instincts screamed that they weren’t safe yet.Grayson stepped out and leaned against the vehicle, her sharp eyes assessing the surroundings. “This where you’re hiding out?” she asked, a trace of skepticism in her voice.Mark gave her a curt nod. “It’s more secure than it looks. Butler Thompson has been keeping it off the radar.”Felicia looked up at the towering structure, the weight of the evening pressing down on her. “Let’s just get inside.”The heavy oak doors creaked open as Butler Thompson greeted them, his expression shifting from relief to alarm as he took in their disheveled appearances. “Master Mark, Madam Felicia, what in heaven’s name happened?”Mark’
Heir Of The Blackwood Legacy Chapter 15
The explosion tore through the east wing of the estate, the force of it sending shockwaves that rattled the ground beneath Mark’s feet. His ears rang, and the acrid stench of smoke filled the air. The flames roared to life, casting a hellish glow across the night.“Felicia!” Mark shouted, his voice raw and frantic.Grayson grabbed his arm, trying to pull him back. “Mark, no! You can’t go in there! It’s too dangerous!”“She’s in there!” he roared, shoving her away. His eyes were wild, his focus solely on the blazing inferno. “Felicia and our baby are in there!”Grayson’s face twisted in frustration, but before she could say more, Edward’s mocking laugh cut through the chaos.“Touching, really,” Edward drawled, his expression smug as he watched the scene unfold. He adjusted his cuffs as though he weren’t standing in the middle of destruction. “But you should have known better than to bring her here. You practically handed her to me.”Mark turned on him, fury erupting in every word. “Wha
Heir Of The Blackwood Legacy Chapter 16
Felicia’s pulse quickened as Edward’s face came into view, his smug expression illuminated by the flickering lights of the warehouse. The cold concrete beneath her feet sent shivers up her spine as the two masked men dragged her forward, her wrists still bound tightly. She stumbled, but they held her upright, their grips bruising her arms.Edward stepped closer, his every movement deliberate. His dark eyes studied her, a sinister gleam in them. “Well, Felicia,” he began, his voice smooth and condescending, “you’ve been quite the thorn in my side.”Felicia glared at him, summoning all the courage she could muster. “What do you want from me?” she demanded, her voice sharper than she expected.Edward tilted his head, his smirk widening. “Straight to the point, I see. I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised. You always did have that… defiant streak. It’s one of the few things I respect about you.” He gestured toward a rickety chair in the middle of the room. “Please, have a seat. Let’s talk.”
Heir Of The Blackwood Legacy Chapter 17
Mark stumbled through the smoke-filled ruins of the Blackwood estate, his breath coming in sharp, uneven gasps. The east wing was engulfed in flames, the acrid scent of burning wood and plaster overwhelming his senses. He barely registered Grayson pulling him back from a collapsing beam, her curses lost in the roar of the inferno.“She’s gone, Mark!” Grayson shouted, her voice breaking through the chaos. “You can’t save her!”Mark’s body trembled, his fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white. “She’s not gone,” he growled. “She can’t be.”Grayson yanked him away from another falling ember, her grip firm. “You’re no good to her dead. Pull yourself together! If Edward has her, we’ll find her. But not like this.”Mark stopped struggling, his chest heaving with exertion and rage. He cast one last, desperate look at the burning wreckage before turning away. “If Edward’s taken her, then he’s made the biggest mistake of his life.”Grayson nodded, her sharp eyes scanning the area. “
Heir Of The Blackwood Legacy Chapter 18
The air in the Blackwood Archives felt suffocating, each step echoing ominously in the dimly lit corridors. Mark’s jaw tightened as he followed Julian deeper into the labyrinth, his mind racing with Edward’s cryptic text still fresh on his phone.Grayson walked beside him, her sharp eyes scanning the area for any signs of danger. “This guy of yours,” she whispered, her tone dripping with suspicion. “How much can we trust him?”Mark didn’t respond immediately. Julian had once been an ally—a dangerous, unpredictable one. Back in the days when Mark had worked to uncover the Feathering family’s crimes, Julian had provided critical intel… but at a steep price.“Not much,” Mark finally admitted, his voice low. “But he knows this place better than anyone. If he says he has the ledger, he does.”Grayson snorted. “Great. A deal with the devil. What could go wrong?”Ahead of them, Julian glanced back, his scarred face twisting into a smirk. “You two whispering sweet nothings back there? Don’t w
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Chapter 32
The cold night air clung to Mark’s skin as he stood beneath the flickering streetlamp. The roar of the SUVs’ engines faded behind him as they came to a sudden stop, but his attention was locked on the figure standing calmly in the center of the road.A voice—calm, smooth, and deliberate—cut through the silence.“Mark Ryder. It’s time we talked.”Mark’s muscles tensed, every instinct screaming that this was a trap. He took a slow, cautious step forward, his gun steady in his hand. “Who are you?”The figure shifted slightly, stepping into the pale glow of the streetlamp. The face that emerged from the shadows was lean, sharp-jawed, with salt-and-pepper hair swept neatly back. His tailored black coat and composed demeanor suggested influence—money, power.“I go by many names,” the man said, his expression unreadable. “But for tonight, you can call me Mr. Black.”Mark’s eyes narrowed. “You work for Rook.”A faint smile tugged at the man’s lips. “Rook doesn’t have employees. He has assets.
Chapter 31
The oppressive silence of the abandoned courthouse pressed against Mark’s senses as he stared down Mr. Finch, the man’s smirk a deliberate provocation. Finch sat back in his chair, completely at ease despite the weapons trained on him.Felicia stood next to Mark, her breath steady but her hand clenched tightly around his arm. She could feel the tension radiating off him, the barely restrained fury simmering beneath his calm exterior.Nathan and Grayson flanked the room’s entrance, their weapons raised and ready. Finch’s smugness wasn’t arrogance—it was calculated. He knew something they didn’t.Mark finally broke the silence, his voice sharp. “Where is Rook?”Finch raised an eyebrow, the faintest hint of amusement flickering across his face. “You think walking into this courthouse will hand you all the answers? Rook isn’t someone you find, Mr. Ryder. Rook finds you.”Grayson took a step closer, her weapon steady. “You don’t seem too concerned about being found. Is that because you’re
Chapter 30
Grayson knelt beside Caldwell’s lifeless body, her hand pressed against the warm pool of blood spreading beneath him. The faint hum of distant footsteps made her instincts scream to move, but she remained frozen for a moment.Caldwell’s final words echoed in her mind: “They’re everywhere… and they’ve already won.”Her grip tightened on her weapon, her sharp eyes darting toward the corridor. Whoever had fired that shot was long gone. A professional. No mistakes, no witnesses.But the truth hadn’t died with Caldwell. Not yet.She searched his pockets quickly, finding a secure USB drive tucked inside his jacket. She slipped it into her coat, rising just as the sound of approaching guards forced her to retreat into the shadows.Meanwhile – The Underground GarageMark arrived just as Felicia emerged from the service stairwell, her face pale but her steps determined.“Felicia!” he called, his heart racing as he closed the distance between them.She turned, relief flashing in her eyes for ju
Chapter 29
The moment the lights flickered, the tension in the grand hall of the Whitehall Estate spiked like a live wire. Guests exchanged wary glances, but the guards were already mobilizing, their hands on their weapons as the security system powered down.Felicia’s breath caught in her throat as she watched the vault’s bulletproof glass begin to hiss open. Her mind raced. Who else is here for the ledger?Mark’s voice came through the comm link in her ear. “Felicia, don’t move. Grayson and I are on our way to the auction floor.”Felicia’s eyes darted across the room, landing on Caldwell. He hadn’t moved. The president stood near the far wall, his face unreadable as he spoke quietly to one of his aides. The way his lips tightened, the subtle flicker of unease in his eyes—it was clear he hadn’t planned for this interruption either.But Caldwell wasn’t a man easily thrown off balance.Felicia whispered into the comm, “Caldwell looks rattled, but he’s not leaving. Whatever happens here, he wants
Chapter 28
The rain had eased, but tension hung heavier than the storm as the van skidded to a halt under the cover of an abandoned train depot on the outskirts of Black City. Rusted metal beams loomed above them, the scent of damp earth and oil lingering in the air.The escape had bought them minutes, but Mark knew minutes were never enough.Grayson killed the engine, the van settling into a tense silence.Nathan was the first to break it, his voice controlled but tight. “We can’t stay here long. Caldwell will have already flagged the city’s surveillance grid. He’s going to lock down the entire district looking for you both.”Mark was still gripping Felicia’s hand, but his mind was elsewhere—calculating, planning, searching for the angle they hadn’t yet seen. He turned to Nathan, his voice razor-sharp.“We can’t keep running. We need to be two steps ahead of Caldwell. You said the ledger wasn’t just financial records. You said it was a blueprint for corruption in this city. Where’s the real one
Chapter 27
The world seemed to slow in the aftermath of the explosion.Glass crunched beneath Mark’s boots as he shifted, his arms still protectively wrapped around Felicia. Her rapid breathing matched the racing of his own heart, but he kept his focus on the shadows outside the blown-out window.The figure in the gray suit stepped forward through the swirling smoke, the red laser sights of his tactical team sweeping across the room.Nathan pressed himself against the wall, gun raised but not yet firing. Grayson crouched low near the door, her weapon trained on the intruders but her finger not yet on the trigger.It wasn’t a firefight—yet.The man spoke, his voice calm but authoritative, the tone of someone used to giving orders.“Mark Ryder. Felicia Blackwood. You’re both coming with us. Step out quietly, and no one else has to get hurt.”Mark didn’t move. His mind was running through every possible scenario. Surrender meant death. Fighting was a death wish too—outnumbered, outgunned. But there
Chapter 26
The wind howled against the windows of the safe house as Felicia stood near the door, her hands clenched tightly at her sides. The revelation of her true lineage still echoed in her mind, but it didn’t matter—not right now.She needed Mark.Nathan Cross stood near the window, watching the shadows shifting outside with trained focus. His phone buzzed, and he glanced at the message. A single line flashed on the screen:“Inbound. 10 minutes. Secure the target.”Felicia noticed the tension in his face. “What is it?”Nathan hesitated, his jaw tightening. “Mark’s on his way. But we have company. Edward’s remaining men—whoever’s left—must have picked up your location. They’re moving in.”Felicia’s heart raced. “Then we have to leave. Now.”Nathan shook his head. “No. If we move now, they’ll catch us in the open. I’ve signaled for backup. Mark is almost here—”“I’m not waiting,” Felicia snapped, her voice firm. “If Mark’s close, I’m meeting him. I’m done being used as leverage.”Before Nathan
Chapter 25
The body lay still. Edward Feathering was dead.But Mark felt no victory. No relief.Only the hollow ache in his chest.The words Edward had spat with his dying breath echoed relentlessly in his mind—You’ll never see her again, Mark.It wasn’t over.Nathan Cross stood silently a few feet away, his gun lowered, his expression grim as the rain finally ceased. The mist from the river curled around the industrial yard, thick and heavy, swallowing the world into silence.Grayson approached cautiously, lowering her own weapon but keeping a watchful eye on the rooftops. “We need to go. Now. The longer we stay, the more exposed we are.”Mark remained frozen, his gaze locked on Edward’s lifeless body, his mind racing. Something didn’t feel right.It had been too easy.This wasn’t the end. It couldn’t be.Nathan shifted closer, voice low but urgent. “Mark. He was just a pawn. Killing him didn’t stop anything—it barely delayed it.”Mark’s head snapped toward him, eyes blazing. “Then who’s really
Chapter 24
The crack of the gunshot echoed through the industrial yard like a thunderclap. Edward stumbled back, clutching his shoulder as blood seeped between his fingers. His smirk twisted into a grimace, eyes narrowing with seething fury.Mark didn’t hesitate. His adrenaline surged as he lunged for cover behind a rusted cargo container, the red laser sights from the rooftop snipers dancing across the fog.Nathan Cross kept his weapon trained on Edward, his voice sharp. “Stand down, Edward! This doesn’t have to end like this.”Edward’s laugh was hollow, tinged with pain as he straightened. “Oh, but it does. And you know it.” He waved his uninjured hand, signaling his men. The snipers shifted positions, taking aim.Mark growled, voice cutting through the tension. “You’re out of your mind, Edward! Felicia isn’t even here! She was never here, was she?!”Edward’s lips curled into a cold, victorious smile despite the blood staining his coat. “You’re catching on. Took you long enough.”Nathan fired
