The smell of antiseptic pierced the air.
The white light was too bright.
The sound of medical equipment beated in a slow, rhythmic pattern, cold and emotionless.
Behind the door marked ICU, the world seemed to have stopped.
Adrian Blackwood stood there.
Motionless.
Not sitting.
Not speaking.
Just… waiting.
For someone like him.
Waiting was the most painful thing.
Just a few hours earlier.
Everything had collapsed in a matter of seconds.
The sudden pain.
The blood.
The panic.
And something he had never imagined.
Sophia lay weak in his arms.
Unconscious.
Her body cold.
And the blood…
There was too much of it.
"Save her."
That was the only sentence that escaped Adrian's lips when they arrived at the hospital.
Not an ordinary order.
But a plea.
Forced into a command.
Now.
He could only stand.
Staring at the red light above the door.
Unblinking.
Unchanging.
As if it was deliberately toying with his patience.
Daniel stood a few meters behind.
Daring not approach.
Not knowing what to say.
Because there were no words.
That could ever be enough.
Leonard leaned against the wall.
Usually relaxed.
But now.
Silent.
His face serious.
He had no comments to make.
"How long?"
Adrian's voice finally broke the silence.
Soft.
Yet enough to make everyone tense.
Daniel swallowed hard.
"The doctor said… her condition is critical."
Those words.
Hung in the air.
Heavy.
Dangerous.
Adrian did not answer.
But his jaw tightened.
His hands clenched into fists.
Until his knuckles turned white.
The ICU door opened.
A doctor stepped out.
His face grave.
Everyone immediately moved closer.
"How is she?" Adrian asked.
Directly.
Without pleasantries.
The doctor took a breath.
"We managed to stop the bleeding…"
Everyone held their breath.
"But.."
That single word was enough.
To make their hearts stop for a moment.
"…her condition is still very fragile."
Adrian did not blink.
"And the baby?"
Silence.
The doctor hesitated.
But finally answered,
"We are still trying to save them."
That sentence.
Offered no certainty.
Yet also.
Did not completely extinguish hope.
Adrian closed his eyes for a moment.
Just one second.
But in that second.
Everything inside him.
Was churning.
He opened his eyes again.
Colder.
Sharper.
"Do whatever it takes."
His voice was not loud.
But absolute.
"Anything."
The doctor nodded quickly.
"Yes, Mr. Blackwood."
The door closed again.
And Adrian.
Was alone once more.
Outside.
Waiting.
But this time.
Something had changed.
Because this was no longer about war.
Not about revenge.
Not about power.
This.
Was about loss.
Something he could not accept.
Hours passed.
No one moved.
No one left.
Time felt slow.
Every second.
Felt like a minute.
Every minute.
Like an hour.
Until finally.
The light changed.
Red.
Turned green.
The door opened.
Everyone stood up immediately.
The doctor came out again.
His expression… slightly lighter.
"We managed to stabilize her condition."
The held breath.
Finally released.
Daniel almost collapsed onto his seat.
Leonard exhaled a long breath.
But Adrian.
Did not show a big reaction.
He simply looked at the doctor.
"And the baby?"
The doctor smiled faintly.
"Still holding on."
Those two words.
Were enough.
In what felt like an eternity.
Something inside Adrian.
Softened.
A moment later.
He was allowed to enter.
The room was silent.
Machines beeped softly.
And in the middle of it all.
Sophia lay there.
Pale.
Weak.
But… alive.
Adrian stepped closer.
Slowly.
As if afraid.
Even the sound of his footsteps might disturb her.
He stood beside the bed.
Looking at her.
For a long time.
Without speaking.
Without moving.
Then.
Slowly.
He raised his hand.
Touching Sophia's fingers.
Cold.
But real.
"Don't do this again…"
He whispered softly.
There was no strength in his voice.
Only… fear.
That he had hidden all this time.
Sophia's fingers moved.
Slightly.
But it was enough.
Adrian tensed immediately.
His eyes focused.
"Sophia…"
Her eyelids fluttered.
Slowly.
Then opened.
Just a crack.
Blurry.
But conscious.
Their gazes met.
And in that moment.
Everything else.
Did not matter.
"You… are still here…" Sophia's voice was weak.
Adrian smiled faintly.
"Where else would I go?"
Sophia tried to smile.
But she was too tired.
"The baby…"
That single word.
Pierced him instantly.
Adrian looked at her deeply.
"Still holding on."
Sophia's eyes glistened slightly.
But she did not cry.
Not anymore.
Because she knew.
This was not over.
"Marcus…" she whispered.
That name.
Brought everything rushing back.
Adrian nodded.
"I will take care of it."
His tone changed again.
Cold.
Sharp.
Dangerous.
Sophia looked at him.
And she knew.
What that sentence meant.
This was not an empty promise.
This.
Was judgment.
Outside the room.
Daniel and Leonard waited.
The door opened.
Adrian stepped out.
The aura around him.
Was different.
Calmer.
But also.
Deadlier.
"She is stable," he said briefly.
Both nodded in relief.
But they knew.
That was not the only important news.
Adrian stared straight ahead.
"From now on…"
He paused for a moment.
But it was enough to make the air feel heavier.
"…no one touches her again."
Leonard smirked slightly.
"Good. Because I was starting to get annoyed too."
Daniel swallowed hard.
"What is the plan?"
Adrian did not answer immediately.
But his eyes.
Already gave the answer.
This war.
Had changed.
This was no longer strategy.
This.
Was personal.
And anyone who stood against him.
Would not survive.
The hospital corridor fell silent again.
But this time.
Not because of uncertainty.
But because a new storm was being prepared.
Adrian Blackwood stood near the long window at the end of the corridor.
His hands in his pockets.
His gaze piercing through the glass.
But his mind.
Was not there.
Behind him, soft footsteps approached.
Leonard Graves stopped a few meters from Adrian.
"Everyone is in position," he said briefly.
"This hospital is now like a fortress."
Adrian did not turn around.
"Not enough."
Leonard let out a small sigh.
"Nothing is ever enough for you."
A few seconds of silence.
Then Leonard continued,
"Our intel team is moving. Traces of Marcus Sterling are starting to appear."
This time.
Adrian turned.
His gaze cold.
"Where."
Leonard smirked slightly.
"Several locations. But the most active one… an old facility on the outskirts of the city."
Adrian understood immediately.
"A temporary base."
"Yes. And it seems he doesn't intend to hide for long."
Silence fell.
But not hesitation.
Rather, a decision already formed.
"I am going," Adrian said.
Directly.
Without discussion.
Leonard raised an eyebrow.
"Alone?"
Adrian looked at him.
And that was enough as an answer.
Leonard exhaled a long breath.
"Fine. But at least let me come along for the fun."
On the other side of the floor.
Daniel sat in the waiting chair.
Laptop on his lap.
Screen filled with data.
But his focus.
Was not entirely there.
He glanced toward Sophia's room door.
Every few seconds.
As if making sure.
She was still there.
The kid sat beside him.
Quieter than usual.
But his eyes.
Were sharp.
As if seeing something others could not.
"You can still feel it?" Daniel asked softly.
The kid nodded.
"That connection…"
"…has not disappeared."
Daniel gritted his teeth.
"Meaning he can still find us."
The kid looked at his own hands.
The cables there were now inactive.
But…
He knew it was only temporary.
"I can hold it back… for a while."
Daniel turned quickly.
"How long?"
The kid did not answer directly.
But his face.
Was enough to give the answer.
Not long.
The room door opened slowly.
A nurse came out.
Signaling that Sophia could be visited for a short while.
Daniel stood up immediately.
But the kid did not follow.
"I'll just stay here," he said softly.
Daniel nodded.
Then went inside.
Inside.
The light was dimmer.
Calmmer.
Sophia lay there.
Still weak.
But her eyes were more aware now.
Sophia turned as Daniel entered.
"Is everything… safe?" she asked weakly.
Daniel smiled faintly.
"For now."
Sophia exhaled softly.
But her expression was not truly relieved.
"He won't stop…"
Daniel nodded.
"We know."
He hesitated for a moment.
Then said,
"Adrian has made his move."
Sophia closed her eyes briefly.
As if gathering strength.
"Or… retaliating."
Daniel did not deny it.
"He won't let this slide."
Sophia opened her eyes again.
Her gaze deeper.
"That is exactly what I am worried about…"
A brief silence.
Daniel did not know what to say.
Because he knew.
Sophia was right.
If Adrian moved.
It was not just a counterattack.
It was total destruction.
Outside.
Adrian walked toward the elevator.
His steps firm.
Without hesitation.
Leonard was already waiting there.
"The car is ready," he said.
The elevator doors opened.
They stepped inside.
The doors closed.
The small space.
Was filled with a heavy aura.
Leonard glanced briefly.
"You know this won't be simple."
Adrian did not turn.
"I am not looking for simple."
The elevator descended.
Slowly.
Every second.
Felt like a countdown.
Toward something that could not be stopped.
When the doors opened.
The night air greeted them instantly.
Cold.
Silent.
But filled with threat.
A black car was waiting.
Engine running.
Lights dimly lit.
Adrian got in without saying a word.
Leonard followed.
The car drove off.
Leaving the hospital behind.
Leaving the only place.
That still felt like "peace".
Inside the car.
There was no long conversation.
Only the sound of the engine.
And their own thoughts.
Leonard finally spoke,
"Are you sure he is there?"
Adrian stared ahead.
"I don't need to be sure."
"As long as it is his trail, I will come."
Leonard smiled faintly.
"Insane."
But there was no refusal there.
Only acknowledgment.
Meanwhile.
In a place far from the city.
Dim light illuminated a large room.
Monitors glowed.
Data flowed.
And in the middle of it all.
A man stood.
Calm.
Observing.
Marcus Sterling.
His smile thin.
As if everything was going according to plan.
"He will definitely come…"
He muttered softly.
He touched the screen.
Displaying specific data.
"And this time…"
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"…I won't miss the chance."
Behind him.
Several people stood.
Ready.
Waiting for orders.
Marcus turned slightly.
"Prepare everything."
His voice calm.
But absolute.
"If he wants war…"
He smiled.
Deeper.
Darker.
"…I will give it to him."
Inside the speeding car.
Adrian closed his eyes for a moment.
But not to rest.
But to remember.
Sophia's face.
Her condition.
Her weak breathing.
And one thing.
That had almost been lost.
His hands clenched.
His eyes opened again.
Colder.
Sharper.
More dangerous.
Because now.
This was no longer about the past.
Not about old grudges.
This.
Was about someone he would never let go.
And anyone who tried to take that away from him.
Would pay.
With everything.