LITTLE STAR ⭐️ 🥰
1866 Words
HIS POSSESSION
Chapter 41; LITTLE STAR
For one terrible second, Ethan forgot how to breathe.
Grandpa.
The word echoed through his mind.
The man standing across the abandoned platform looked older than the memory Ethan had buried somewhere inside himself.
But it was him.
The same eyes.
The same voice.
The same face that had haunted a childhood memory Ethan had never been able to fully understand.
“Little star.”
Ethan’s fingers went cold.
Adrian immediately stepped in front of him.
“Stay behind me.”
Ethan barely heard him.
His eyes remained fixed on the man.
“My grandfather is dead.”
The man’s mouth curved.
“That’s what your mother wanted you to believe.”
Ethan’s heart slammed against his ribs.
Adrian’s gun remained trained on him.
“Put the weapon down.”
The man laughed.
“You sound exactly like your father.”
Adrian’s expression hardened.
“Don’t mention Daniel.”
“Why?” The man tilted his head. “You seem very interested in protecting him now.”
Adrian’s eyes flicked toward Daniel.
He was still behind the bench, one hand pressed against his injured shoulder.
Ethan started toward him.
Adrian caught his arm.
“Wait.”
“He’s hurt.”
“Daniel is alive.”
“Then let me help him.”
Adrian’s gaze remained on the older man.
“He’s trying to separate us.”
The man smiled.
“At least you’re learning.”
Ethan stared at him.
“Why?”
The smile disappeared.
“Why what?”
“Why did you leave?”
The man’s eyes settled on Ethan.
“You think I left?”
Ethan’s voice shook.
“I was a child.”
“Exactly.”
“You disappeared.”
“I was taken away.”
“By who?”
The man’s expression changed.
For the first time, Ethan saw something other than cruelty in his eyes.
Fear.
“Your mother.”
Ethan froze.
Adrian looked at him sharply.
“What?”
The man continued.
“Your mother took you and ran.”
Ethan shook his head.
“No.”
“She knew what your father had discovered.”
“About the archive?”
“About the people inside it.”
The man slowly lowered his weapon.
Adrian didn’t.
“Keep your gun down.”
“Your father found names,” the man said. “But your mother discovered something far more dangerous.”
Ethan swallowed.
“What?”
The man looked directly at him.
“One of those names belonged to someone she loved.”
Ethan frowned.
“My mother loved my father.”
“No.”
The answer came too quickly.
Ethan’s stomach twisted.
“Then who?”
The man’s eyes moved toward Daniel.
Daniel looked away.
Ethan noticed.
“Daniel?”
His father said nothing.
Ethan’s voice rose.
“Dad.”
Daniel finally looked at him.
“Not here.”
Ethan stared at him.
“Everyone keeps saying that.”
He looked between the three men.
“Not here. Not now. You’re not ready. You’re too young.”
His voice cracked.
“I’ve spent my whole life being too young for the truth.”
Silence.
Ethan stepped away from Adrian.
“Now I’m old enough.”
No one answered.
Ethan’s eyes filled.
“So tell me.”
The older man slowly lowered his weapon completely.
“Your mother loved your father.”
Ethan waited.
“But she trusted someone else.”
Adrian’s eyes narrowed.
“Who?”
The man smiled faintly.
“You’re asking the wrong question, De Luca.”
Adrian’s jaw tightened.
“What question should I ask?”
The man’s gaze returned to Ethan.
“Ask him why your mother never told you who your real father was.”
Ethan froze.
Daniel’s face went pale.
Adrian’s expression changed.
And suddenly Ethan heard nothing.
Not the station.
Not the distant rain.
Not even his own breathing.
He looked at Daniel.
“What did he mean?”
Daniel’s lips parted.
Nothing came out.
Ethan took one step toward him.
“Dad.”
Daniel looked at him.
“What did he mean?”
“I…”
Ethan’s face hardened.
“Who is my real father?”
Adrian looked at Daniel.
The silence answered before he did.
Ethan’s stomach dropped.
“No.”
Daniel shook his head.
“Ethan, listen to me.”
“No.”
“Your mother loved you.”
“Don’t talk about her.”
“She did everything to protect you.”
“Then tell me the truth!”
His voice echoed through the station.
Daniel flinched.
Ethan’s eyes burned.
“Am I your son?”
Daniel looked at him.
Then finally whispered:
“Yes.”
Ethan’s shoulders dropped.
For a moment, relief.
Then confusion.
“Then what did he mean?”
Daniel didn’t answer.
The older man stepped forward.
“Because your father isn’t the only person who knows the truth.”
Adrian’s weapon lifted again.
“Enough.”
The man smiled.
“You’re protecting him from the truth now?”
“I’m protecting Ethan from you.”
The man looked amused.
“You already sound possessive.”
Adrian’s eyes became dangerous.
“Take one more step and you’ll find out exactly how possessive I can be.”
Ethan looked at him.
There was something frightening in Adrian’s voice.
Not anger.
A promise.
The older man smiled.
“Just like your father.”
Adrian’s finger tightened around the weapon.
Ethan immediately touched his arm.
“Adrian.”
Adrian glanced at him.
Ethan shook his head.
“Don’t.”
Their eyes held.
Adrian slowly lowered the gun.
The older man watched them.
And Ethan realized something.
He was studying Adrian.
Studying the way Ethan touched him.
The way Adrian reacted.
The way they looked at each other.
As if he had just discovered something useful.
Ethan stepped closer to Adrian.
“Don’t look at him.”
Adrian’s gaze remained on the man.
“Why?”
“Because he’s trying to get inside your head.”
Adrian finally looked at Ethan.
“I’m fine.”
Ethan gave him a look.
“You’re terrible at lying.”
Adrian almost smiled.
Almost.
Then Daniel groaned.
Ethan turned immediately.
“Dad.”
He rushed toward him.
This time, Adrian followed.
Daniel’s hand was soaked with blood.
Ethan dropped beside him.
“You’re bleeding badly.”
“It’s a graze.”
“You were shot.”
“I’ve survived worse.”
Ethan looked up.
“That’s not comforting.”
Daniel almost smiled.
For the first time, Ethan saw a glimpse of the father he’d spent twenty-seven years imagining.
Daniel reached toward his face.
His hand stopped halfway.
Ethan noticed.
Slowly, he leaned into it.
Daniel touched his cheek.
His eyes filled.
“You look like her.”
Ethan swallowed.
“You remember me?”
“Every day.”
“Then why didn’t you come back?”
Daniel’s expression broke.
“I tried.”
“When?”
“More than once.”
“Then why?”
Daniel looked toward the older man.
“Because every time I got close, someone disappeared.”
Ethan followed his gaze.
His grandfather.
Daniel’s voice lowered.
“He made sure I stayed away.”
Ethan stared.
“Why would my grandfather want me?”
Daniel’s expression hardened.
“Because of what you carry.”
Ethan instinctively touched the pendant.
“The key?”
Daniel shook his head.
“No.”
His eyes moved to Ethan.
“You.”
Ethan’s stomach tightened.
“Again with that.”
Daniel looked at Adrian.
“Has he told you?”
Adrian frowned.
“Told me what?”
Daniel’s expression changed.
“Then he doesn’t know.”
Ethan looked between them.
“Know what?”
Before Daniel could answer, the station lights flickered.
Adrian immediately stood.
“Everyone move.”
The older man stepped backward.
Ethan looked at him.
“Wait!”
The man smiled.
“You’re asking the wrong questions, little star.”
“Tell me!”
He turned.
Ethan started after him.
Adrian caught him around the waist.
“No.”
“Let me go!”
“Absolutely not.”
“Adrian!”
A loud metallic crash echoed from the far end of the station.
Then smoke filled the platform.
Ethan coughed.
Adrian pulled him against his chest.
“Close your eyes.”
“What about my father?”
“My men are getting him.”
Ethan struggled.
“I can’t leave him!”
“Daniel is coming with us.”
Adrian’s arms tightened around him.
“Trust me.”
Ethan froze.
Those two words.
Somehow, they worked.
He stopped fighting.
Adrian guided him through the smoke.
Outside, the rain had begun falling heavily.
Ethan stumbled into the open air.
Adrian immediately turned.
“Where’s Daniel?”
“He’s here.”
One of Adrian’s men brought Daniel out.
Ethan rushed toward him.
“Dad.”
Daniel caught his hand.
“Listen to me.”
Ethan crouched beside him.
“What?”
Daniel’s eyes moved toward Adrian.
Then back to Ethan.
“Don’t go home.”
Ethan frowned.
“What?”
“Don’t go anywhere without Adrian.”
Ethan stared.
“Why?”
Daniel’s grip tightened.
“Because your grandfather isn’t the only person hunting you.”
Ethan’s blood went cold.
“What do you mean?”
Daniel looked toward the burning station.
“Your grandfather wants something from you.”
“What?”
Daniel hesitated.
Then whispered:
“Your mother’s final secret.”
Ethan’s eyes widened.
“Where is it?”
Daniel looked at him.
“She left it with someone.”
“Who?”
Daniel’s eyes moved to Adrian.
Ethan followed his gaze.
Adrian’s expression hardened.
“Why are you looking at me?”
Daniel’s lips parted.
“Because…”
A sudden gunshot rang out.
Daniel jerked.
Ethan screamed.
Adrian pulled him down.
His men immediately returned fire.
But Ethan wasn’t looking at the attackers.
He was looking at Daniel.
Blood spread across his father’s chest.
“Dad!”
Ethan scrambled toward him.
Adrian caught him.
“NO!”
“Let me go!”
“Ethan!”
“He’s been gone for twenty-seven years!”
Ethan fought against Adrian’s arms.
“I just found him!”
Daniel’s eyes were open.
Barely.
Ethan dropped beside him.
“Dad, stay with me.”
Daniel’s fingers found his wrist.
His voice was almost inaudible.
“Your mother’s…”
Ethan leaned closer.
“What?”
“Best friend…”
Ethan froze.
“Celeste?”
Daniel shook his head weakly.
“Not Celeste.”
Ethan’s breath caught.
“Then who?”
Daniel looked toward Adrian.
Then whispered one final word.
“Adrian.”
Ethan turned.
Adrian went still.
Daniel’s eyes closed.
Ethan stared at Adrian.
“What did he mean?”
Adrian didn’t answer.
“Adrian.”
Nothing.
Ethan’s voice trembled.
“What does he mean?”
Adrian looked at him.
And for the first time since Ethan had met him.
Adrian looked genuinely afraid.
Not for himself.
For what Ethan was about to discover.
And somewhere behind them, among the chaos and rain, Ethan’s grandfather watched from a distant rooftop.
He lowered his weapon.
And smiled.
Because the truth had finally begun to surface.
End of chapter 41 🖤
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