Chapter 6 THE DEVEREUX CURSE

The wind howled as Adrian stepped into the gated estate on the outskirts of the city-the one he swore never to return to. Memories hung heavy in the air like cobwebs, clinging to the back of his throat. Every stone in the driveway was a reminder of the life he tried to leave behind.

A life full of secrets.

A life full of blood.

He strode up the steps and was greeted by Butler Gregory, the only man in this mansion who had shown him genuine loyalty.

"Master Adrian," the older man said with a hint of sadness in his voice. "You came back."

"I didn't come back to stay. I came to finish what should've ended five years ago."

Gregory nodded and stepped aside. "Your father is waiting in the atrium. He's not pleased."

"He never is."

Adrian entered the lavish room with tall glass windows, heavy drapes, and oil paintings of generations of Devereux men who all wore the same expression-ruthless and cold.

His father, Richard Devereux, sat in a high-backed leather chair like a monarch on a decaying throne. His gray eyes narrowed the moment he saw Adrian.

"Ah. The prodigal disappointment returns."

Adrian didn't flinch. "You've been watching her."

Richard chuckled. "So it's true. You had a bastard child with a common girl and now you're playing house."

Adrian's fists clenched. "Say her name. Say Leah's name with respect-or I swear, I'll forget you're my father."

Richard stood slowly. "And you think you can protect her? That child? From this family's enemies?"

"I will protect them. Even if it means destroying the Devereux name."

A glint of something dangerous danced in Richard's eyes. "You're too late, Adrian. The moment you disappeared, the board started sniffing around. And now? You've brought them the ultimate weapon-a child they can use against you. Against me."

Adrian moved closer. "Then give me what I want. A list of everyone who knows about Caleb. The cars. The movements. Who's tracking Leah?"

Richard exhaled, turning toward the fire. "There are forces inside this family you never understood. You think I'm the monster, but I've kept worse at bay for years."

"I'm not afraid of monsters anymore," Adrian growled. "I've become one to survive."

His father turned slowly. "Then you'd better pray the woman and child you love never see that side of you."

---

The Next Day – Leah

Leah sat in a quiet café, stirring her coffee but not drinking it. The conversation with Adrian from the night before still haunted her. There was something heavy in his voice. Something final.

She kept glancing over her shoulder, heart racing for reasons she couldn't explain. A strange man had followed her down the street earlier-was it paranoia, or real danger?

Then Adrian walked in, jaw tight, eyes stormy.

He didn't sit right away. He scanned the café, then walked behind her and lowered his voice. "We're being watched. Smile. Act normal."

Leah's blood went cold. "What?"

He finally sat, pretending to read the menu. "They know about Caleb. I don't know how deep it goes yet, but I'm working on it."

Leah leaned in. "Who are they?"

Adrian met her eyes. "My family. The Devereux legacy isn't just built on money. It's built on blackmail, betrayal, and power plays that ruin lives. I tried to shield you. That's why I left you."

Her hand trembled. "You left me pregnant. Alone."

"I thought it was the only way to keep you safe. But I was wrong. And now I'll do whatever it takes to keep you both out of their reach."

Leah swallowed hard. "You're scaring me."

"You should be scared," Adrian whispered. "Because if I don't end this-my father, the board, maybe even my brother-they'll come for Caleb. And they won't care that he's just a child."

---

That Night – A Flashback

Five years ago, Adrian sat in a dark boardroom as voices argued around him.

"He's too soft."

"He's sleeping with a waitress, for God's sake!"

"She could be a liability."

"Dispose of her."

Adrian had said nothing at the time, jaw locked, heart torn. When he returned to Leah's apartment that night, he watched her sleeping-peaceful, glowing, innocent.

He kissed her one last time, then slipped away into the night.

He left without a word.

Because he knew if he stayed, they would kill her.

And now, the ghosts of that night were back-and they wanted more than revenge.

They wanted blood.

-

The words hung in the air between them like a noose. Leah sat still, trying to process everything Adrian had just told her. She wasn't just a single mother who had been abandoned by a rich lover. She had unknowingly stepped into the middle of a war-a brutal, ruthless battle between power-hungry men and their buried sins.

"I don't understand," she finally whispered, fingers clutching her coffee mug. "Why Caleb? Why would they want him?"

"Because he's blood," Adrian said, his voice tight. "Because the Devereux board is filled with old men who see heirs like property-pieces in a game they can use to keep the family's fortune under their control. If they get to him before I can secure full custody and protect him legally, they'll drag him into their world. Mold him. Use him. And when they're done..."

He didn't finish.

Leah's hands shook. "So what do we do?"

Adrian glanced out the café window. A black SUV idled across the street. "We go underground. Temporarily. I've arranged a safe house. You and Caleb need to disappear-tonight."

Her eyes widened. "You want me to just run?"

"I want you to live, Leah. I want our son to survive. That's all that matters right now."

She blinked rapidly, heart pounding. "Why are you doing this now? After all these years?"

He looked at her-really looked-and his voice dropped to a whisper full of emotion. "Because every day I spent away from you was a lie. Because I chose the wrong kind of loyalty. And now... I won't make the same mistake again."

Leah swallowed the lump in her throat, her heart aching despite the fear. "What about you?"

"I'll stay behind. Lead them in the wrong direction. There's something I need to finish here. Something only I can do."

She shook her head. "I can't leave you behind, Adrian."

"You must. For Caleb's sake."

Just then, his phone buzzed. A single message.

UNKNOWN: You should have killed the past, Adrian. Now the past will kill your future.

His jaw locked. He turned the screen so Leah could see it.

Her lips trembled. "What does that mean?"

"It means," he said grimly, "they know about Caleb. And the countdown has already begun."

---

That Night – A Secret Location

The rain came down hard as Leah and Caleb were escorted into a sleek black car by Adrian's trusted guard, Marcus. Adrian stood a few feet away, soaked, watching them go.

"Where are we going?" Caleb asked sleepily.

"To a secret vacation house," Leah said softly, brushing his curls. "Somewhere only special people get to visit."

"Will Daddy be there?"

She hesitated. Adrian stepped forward, crouched beside the door, and pressed a kiss to Caleb's forehead.

"I'll come find you soon, buddy. But you have to be brave, okay? Protect Mommy."

Caleb nodded solemnly. "Like a knight."

Adrian smiled, but there was pain in his eyes. "Exactly."

Leah leaned forward, their foreheads touching for a breathless second. "Don't get yourself killed."

"I won't," he said. "Not until I end this."

As the car pulled away, Adrian turned back toward the shadows.

War had come knocking.

And he was done running.

---