Chapter 14 - THE LAST DRAWING
Adrian woke to the sound of a heart monitor.
For one terrifying second, he thought he was back in the hospital.
Then he saw Lily.
She was asleep beside him.
Her hand was wrapped around his.
Sarah sat nearby.
Matteo stood at the window.
Vincent was speaking quietly into a phone.
Adrian tried to move.
Sarah immediately stood.
"Don't."
"How long?"
"Six hours."
"Maria?"
"Gone."
"Elias?"
"Gone."
"Volkov?"
Vincent answered.
"Dead."
Adrian stared.
"What?"
"Someone killed him."
"Who?"
Vincent looked at Matteo.
Matteo said:
"Maria."
Adrian slowly sat up.
"Why?"
"Because Volkov knew too much."
Lily stirred.
"Daddy?"
Adrian smiled.
"I'm here."
She opened her eyes.
"Are you okay?"
"I'm getting there."
She climbed onto the bed.
"Don't die."
Adrian pulled her close.
"I'm not planning to."
She looked at him seriously.
"I have something."
She reached into her backpack.
A drawing.
Adrian unfolded it.
His heart stopped.
It showed a house.
Sarah.
Lily.
Adrian.
Matteo.
And behind them stood Giovanni.
Not faceless.
Not frightening.
Smiling.
Adrian stared.
"Where did you get this?"
"I drew it."
"Why did you draw Grandpa?"
"I saw him."
Adrian's eyes narrowed.
"In a dream?"
Lily shook her head.
"No."
"Where?"
She pointed toward the hallway.
"He was here."
Adrian froze.
He looked at Vincent.
"Impossible."
Then the security alarm sounded.
Everyone stood.
Vincent checked the monitor.
His face went pale.
"Someone entered the building."
"Who?"
"We don't know."
Adrian grabbed his weapon.
Sarah took Lily.
The hallway lights flickered.
Then a voice came through the speaker.
"Adrian."
He recognized it.
Giovanni.
Adrian stared at the ceiling.
"Father?"
Vincent looked confused.
The voice continued.
"You found the truth."
Adrian stepped into the hallway.
"Where are you?"
A screen turned on.
Giovanni appeared.
Older.
Weak.
But alive.
Adrian stared.
"I knew it."
Giovanni smiled.
"You always were stubborn."
Adrian's voice shook.
"You let me believe you were dead."
"I needed you to become strong."
"You destroyed my life."
"I gave you one."
"Where are you?"
Giovanni looked toward Lily.
"Protect her."
Adrian's eyes narrowed.
"From what?"
"From me."
The screen went black.
A second later, an explosion shook the building.
Vincent shouted:
"Move!"
Smoke filled the hallway.
Adrian grabbed Lily.
Sarah followed.
They reached the emergency exit.
Outside, black SUVs surrounded the building.
Men stepped out.
Not Maria's men.
Not Elias's.
Giovanni's.
Adrian raised his weapon.
A man approached.
"We were ordered to bring you home."
"Where?"
The man smiled.
"Palermo."
Adrian stared.
"My father is there."
The man nodded.
"Waiting."
Adrian looked at Lily.
She was frightened.
He crouched.
"You don't have to be afraid."
She whispered:
"What if Grandpa hurts you?"
Adrian smiled sadly.
"Then I'll make sure he regrets it."
Lily hugged him.
"I don't want you to go."
Adrian held her.
"I'm not going anywhere without you."
Sarah looked at him.
"You can't take her into that world."
Adrian nodded.
"I know."
"Then what are you going to do?"
He looked toward the black SUVs.
"I'm going to end it."
Matteo stepped beside him.
"Then we go together."
Adrian looked at him.
"Brother."
Matteo smiled.
The word meant more than either expected.
They climbed into the SUV.
As the convoy disappeared into the night, Lily looked down at her drawing.
There was something written on the back.
Adrian didn't see it.
Sarah did.
Four words.
HE ISN'T THE ONE TO FEAR.
Sarah's blood went cold.
She looked toward the road ahead.
May you like
And whispered:
"Then who is?"
