LINES OF LOYALTIES

Samantha's POV As we left the event and into the crisp night air, the only thing supporting me was Adrian's hand on my back. The ballroom's glitz and laughter seemed like a faraway memory. I was aware that the Blackwoods had adversaries and shadows, but tonight's face-to-face encounter with Victor had made all of those hypothetical dangers tangible and imminent. As we crossed the driveway to the town vehicle that was waiting, Adrian continued to hold my back. Since he and Victor had locked eyes, a silent storm had been brewing, and I could feel the stress radiating off him. I felt like there was an unsaid competition between them, and I wanted to ask him about it, but now was not the right time. We slid into the backseat once the driver opened the car door for us. Adrian tightened his jaw and kept his face turned aside, staring at the city lights as they passed. "Will you explain what that was about to me?" As the car drew away from the gala, I broke the silence with a whispered question. "Or must I make a guess?" His eyes were dark and impenetrable as he looked at me. "It's better not to ask." I crossed my arms and sighed. "It's too late." For a brief moment, Adrian's eyes softened, and he reached for my hand, stroking my knuckles with his thumb in a way that felt comforting and protective. "Victor has been waiting for a chance to get his hands on anything that has to do with my family's business. He reminded me tonight that he's closer than I realize. The truth of what he had spoken weighed heavily on me as I swallowed. "But why now?" He gave a headshake. "Victor needs no justification other than his own ambition and avarice. Any leverage he can find is what he's after. Make use of leverage. I felt vulnerable in a way I had never experienced before as the word replayed in my head. I looked away, regretting what I had done. Adrian was unaware of Leo's existence and my entire backstory. Adrian's hold on my hand became a little tighter. "No matter what he has planned, it will fail. Not while I am in charge. "But, Adrian, can you maintain control?" I looked into his face and inquired. He turned and gave me a fierce glare. "I have no other option." We entered the quiet lobby of Adrian's penthouse as the car arrived. The weight of the evening, laden with unsaid words and unsaid concerns, weighed down on us as we ascended in the elevator. The silent tension between us grew when Adrian went to get himself a drink when we arrived at his suite. I was at my breaking point. I walked over to Adrian and said, "I need to know the truth." "We must be honest with one another if Victor is as dangerous as he appears to be." He took a leisurely sip after pausing to swirl the amber liquid in his glass. "Samsa, are you implying that you haven't told me something?" I kept my eyes on him even though my heart skipped a beat. "Adrian, I am aware that you have secrets. The same as I do. But perhaps it's time to lay everything out if we're going to tackle this together. His intense gaze made my skin tingle as he examined me. "What are you trying to say exactly?" After a brief moment of doubt, I compelled myself to speak. "Leo." The quiet was overwhelming. Adrian's brows narrowed in bewilderment as his glass froze halfway to his lips. "How about Leo?" I inhaled deeply. He is more than just my son. He is ours. There was nothing for a long time. Then, with a deliberate motion, Adrian put down his glass, his face unreadable. "Ours?" Even though his voice was barely audible, the intensity of it made my heart race. Unable to find the right words to ease this realization, I nodded. "I made numerous attempts to inform you...However, there was never a perfect time. Adrian ran a hand through his hair and laughed bitterly. "And you believed that tonight, after Victor essentially declared war on me, was the right time?" His tone made me wince. Adrian, I didn't want to hide it from you. But you must realize that my top goal was keeping Leo safe. "Your priority," he said again in a firm tone. For four years, you kept him away from me. Did you doubt that I could have kept him safe? My eyes pricked with tears as I shook my head. It was more than that. Neither you nor I were in a position to know at the time. Even the nature of our friendship was unclear to me. Adrian tightened his jaw. "So you made a decision for us both." He paced in the direction of the floor-to-ceiling windows and turned away. My heart ached with grief as I stood motionless, gazing at his profile against the cityscape. I said in a barely audible whisper, "I thought I was doing the right thing." His silence was heavier than words, and he didn't answer. Years of concealment and a sea of broken trust made the gap between us seem insurmountable. Adrian turned at last, his eyes hardening with new resolve. "I will not allow Victor to be near Leo if he is my son. or you. My stomach churned as I struggled with hope and anxiety. "What are you going to do, Adrian?" Despite the rage that was bubbling beneath the surface, he went closer and cupped my face with his kind palm. "I will put an end to this. I'll make sure Victor regrets ever pursuing us, no matter what he has planned. I got a chill at the intensity in his eyes. However, his phone buzzed before I could reply, causing the moment to be abruptly interrupted. His face changed from fury to alarm as he looked at the screen. "This is Victor." "Don't respond," I muttered, my voice shaking. "He'll only attempt to control you." Adrian's jaw, however, tensed, and he hit the button to switch the call to speaker. "Winner." Victor's voice, smooth with threat, purred across the speaker, "Adrian." "Wow, what a family reunion you have planned." "What are you looking for?" Adrian's voice was restrained and icy. With a smirk on his face, Victor answered, "I thought I'd give you a little warning." "I am aware of your priceless secret. And I am fully aware of where to look for him. My heart pounded, fear coursing through my body. Victor was aware of Leo. Adrian's expression darkened as his hand tightened into a fist. "If you come in contact with him—" "Oh," Victor responded casually, "I won't have to do a thing." "Adrian, I have pals everywhere. Allies who are willing to assist me in spreading a message. There was a stillness that was more deafening than anything Victor could have spoken as the call ended. Adrian's expression was a mix of dread and rage as he glanced at me. "We must take Leo to a secure location. Right now. I nodded as my thoughts raced with potential outcomes and I had an adrenaline rush. "I'll give my mom a call. She can take him out of the city to the lake cottage. Adrian had already started to move, reaching for his phone and his jacket. "I'll be there by morning, and security will be on standby." I will ensure that nobody of you is left without protection. The truth of the situation hit me hard as I dialed my mother's number. The threat had moved from being far away to being present, imminent, and encroaching. However, Adrian's phone buzzed once again as the call was connecting, so he responded without looking at the caller ID. "Yes?" Through the line came a voice I didn't recognize, desperate and urgent. There was an incident during the event, Mr. Blackwood. Your father has sustained injuries. As Adrian took in the news, his face turned pale and his eyes met mine. "How bad is it?" It's...important," the voice uttered. "You must return right away." It all changed in that instant. Leo was in Victor's sights, and Adrian's father was barely surviving. I grounded Adrian by squeezing his hand as I felt the weight of our combined troubles. "How are we going to proceed?" Adrian's determination hardened as he glanced at me. "First, we'll visit the hospital. And then... His eyes were dark with resolve as he drifted off. "I'll finally put an end to this with Victor." Between us, the uncertainty hung heavy and unforgiving. We were engaged in a conflict that would alter everything, and we were running out of time and options. The only certainty I had as we stepped out of the apartment was that we were both heading into the unknown—together.