Chapter 30: Bloodlines and Betrayals

Cameron Blackwell.

The words hung heavy in the air, heavier than any threat that had come before. Luna stared at him, trying to piece together the implications. She had heard the name before—once, in whispers at a business dinner, and another time during a heated argument between Killian and his father that she hadn't been meant to overhear. But this was different.

This wasn't gossip. This was real. Dangerous. Immediate.

"I thought he was gone," she said slowly, her voice trembling against the weight of the revelation. "Disinherited. Exiled. Whatever word you want to use."

Killian's jaw clenched, the faintest tick betraying the storm behind his usually composed mask. "He was," he said, each syllable clipped. "But Cameron never disappears. He just waits."

"For what?" Luna asked, her eyes narrowing. "For the right moment to attack?"

Avery crossed her arms, her face pale but determined. "This whole thing—it wasn't just about scaring me. He wanted to make a statement. To rattle the one person Killian would risk everything to protect."

Luna's throat tightened. She didn't need a name to understand who Avery meant.

Killian's stare darkened. "He wants control. Power. Revenge. All of it."

Elijah moved to stand beside the monitor, scanning through the security footage again, his body tense. "But why now? Why come out of hiding after all this time?"

Killian exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. "Because the timing is perfect. My grandfather's will has passed all legal hurdles. I've assumed full control of Blackwell Industries. Our name is stronger than ever in global markets. And Cameron—he's always believed that seat belonged to him."

Luna frowned. "And targeting me… that's how he plans to break you?"

Killian looked at her then, something dangerous flickering in his eyes. "He doesn't care how he wins. As long as I lose everything first."

Luna's breath hitched. This wasn't just a sibling rivalry or a corporate power play. This was personal. Vicious. Calculated.

A few heartbeats passed in silence before Killian's phone buzzed on the table. He glanced at the screen—and every trace of color drained from his face.

Luna stepped forward, her chest tightening. "Killian? What is it?"

He didn't respond right away. Instead, he slowly turned the phone so everyone could see.

A photograph filled the screen.

Luna's face. Her profile was captured in crisp resolution.

There was a red crosshair centered right on her forehead.

And below it, a single message.

One misstep, and she's next.

Avery gasped. Elijah swore under his breath.

Luna's heart dropped like a stone. Her knees nearly buckled, but she held her ground, even as icy fear slithered up her spine.

"They're watching us," she whispered, her voice cracking.

"No," Killian said, his voice like steel. "They're watching you."

He stood abruptly, his entire body vibrating with fury. "Get a trace on that number. I want GPS, IP, signal triangulation—everything. I want to know where that message came from, and I want it yesterday."

Luna's eyes remained locked on the photo. Her skin prickled with a phantom sensation, as if someone truly had a scope on her right now. She stepped away from the screen, wrapping her arms around herself. "How did they even get this close? That image was taken today. I wore that coat today."

Killian's face twisted with rage. "That means they've breached more than just our systems. They're watching your movements in real-time."

Elijah was already on the phone, barking rapid orders to the tech team.

"I'm not going to live like a hunted animal," Luna said, her voice breaking the thick silence.

"You don't have a choice anymore," Killian snapped.

"I do," she shot back. "And I won't be hidden away behind reinforced glass just because your family has skeletons clawing out of closets."

"You think this is about pride?" Killian's voice rose, his fists clenching. "This is about keeping you alive."

"Alive isn't the same as living," she said, her voice low. "And if I keep running and hiding, I'm already letting him win."

Their gazes clashed—fiery defiance against desperate protectiveness.

Killian finally exhaled, his hands running through his hair. "Then we do it my way," he muttered. "You stay close to me. Everywhere. No exceptions. I want you within arm's reach at all times."

Before Luna could respond, the monitor behind them flickered suddenly.

Static burst across the screen, distorting the previous video feed. Everyone turned sharply as a low, smooth voice filtered through the speakers.

You should've killed me when you had the chance, brother.

Luna's blood ran cold.

The screen turned black again.

Avery's lips parted in shock. "That wasn't recorded, was it?"

Elijah's hands flew over the controls. "No. That was a live transmission. He hacked into our internal network."

Killian's jaw locked. "He's already inside."

"He's taunting us," Luna said, her voice a whisper.

"No," Killian growled. "He's warning us."

Avery turned toward him. "Cameron has access to everything. Security codes, schedules, encrypted messages. If he's inside, we're not just compromised—we're exposed."

Luna paced, her breath growing uneven. "How far will he go?"

Killian's eyes turned glacial. "As far as it takes."

Just then, the security door opened, and one of the surveillance team leads rushed in, out of breath.

"Sir—there's something else," he said, holding a small drive. "We recovered this from Damien's workstation. It was hidden in a dummy folder. We almost missed it."

Killian snatched the drive and plugged it into the nearest terminal. Files popped up on the screen—logs, recordings, and a video file labeled "Echo Protocol."

Luna's heart raced as the video began.

It showed Cameron, standing in front of a black backdrop, speaking directly into the camera.

This empire was never yours, Killian. It was mine by birthright, stolen by a bastard with a silver spoon. But I don't want your seat anymore.

I want your fall.

And I'll start with the one thing you care about most.

The video cut to a still image of Luna again.

Killian slammed his fist into the table, cracking the edge of the wood. "Enough."

Luna could barely breathe. "What is he talking about—what protocol?"

Elijah read through one of the accompanying documents. "It's a strategic attack sequence. Leaks, media scandals, financial manipulation. It's a full takedown plan—for Killian, and for Blackwell Industries."

"And me," Luna said softly, her voice trembling.

"Especially you," Elijah added grimly.

Killian turned toward her, eyes burning. "You stay with me now. Always. This ends with Cameron buried beneath the rubble of the empire he tried to steal."

But Luna wasn't listening anymore. Her gaze remained fixed on the screen.

Because she'd seen something else. Something buried in the corner of the video frame—a symbol she recognized.

A crescent emblem.

One she hadn't seen in years.

Her lips parted as the realization hit her like a lightning bolt.

"Killian…" she said slowly, her voice shaky. "I think Cameron's not working alone."

He looked at her sharply. "What do you mean?"

She turned toward him, her face pale. "That emblem—it belonged to the Obsidian Circle."

Killian froze. "That's not possible. That organization was dismantled years ago."

"Apparently not," Luna whispered. "And if they're back…"

Her voice trailed off.

Because if the Obsidian Circle had returned—an underground syndicate with ties to espionage, blackmail, and global manipulation—

Then Cameron wasn't just a rogue heir with a vendetta.

He was part of something much, much bigger.

Something darker.

Something deadly.

And they had just declared war.