Chapter 19 – The Woman in Black
The tension in the room thickened.
The woman stood in the doorway, her presence immediate and absolute. Even the guards—who had been firing without hesitation moments ago—froze at the sight of her.
She was in control.
Adrian's grip on the suited man loosened slightly as he turned his full attention to her. He had spent years tracking down the mastermind behind Orion's Circle. He had imagined an untouchable figure, hidden behind layers of deception.
But here she was.
Real. Unshaken. Watching him like he was the final piece of a puzzle she had already solved.
Evelyn shifted beside him, her grip tightening on her gun. "Who the hell is she?"
The woman's lips curled into a slow, deliberate smile.
"You've been chasing ghosts, Adrian," she said. Her voice was smooth, measured, like she had nothing to fear. "Reddington. The Hollow. These men…" She gestured vaguely at the fallen guards. "But you never stopped to wonder who built the game you've been playing."
Adrian kept his stance firm. "And I suppose that's you."
Her eyes glimmered with amusement. "You can call me Selene."
---
The Truth Behind Orion's Circle
Adrian didn't move. His instincts screamed at him—this wasn't just another leader.
Selene stepped forward, her heels clicking against the floor. "You think you've unraveled Orion's Circle, but you've barely scratched the surface."
She tilted her head, studying him like a curious experiment.
"We never wanted you dead, Adrian," she continued. "You were never just a prisoner. You were a test."
Adrian's jaw tightened. "A test for what?"
Selene exhaled, almost disappointed. "For something much bigger than revenge, or power, or any of these small battles you think you're winning."
She took another step closer.
"You survived Blackgate. You tore through Reddington's empire. You infiltrated The Hollow—and still, you're standing." Her gaze flickered toward Evelyn. "And you brought her with you. Impressive."
Evelyn raised her gun slightly. "If you think I'm just a bystander—"
Selene smiled. A knowing smile. "Oh, I don't."
For the first time, Adrian felt something stir in his gut. Unease.
Selene knew something.
Something he didn't.
---
A Bigger Game
Adrian took a step forward, gun still trained on her. "If you weren't behind my kidnapping, who was?"
Selene's eyes darkened. "I never said I wasn't involved. But I wasn't the only one."
She gestured around them. "Orion's Circle is just a name. A tool. The real players have been operating far beyond what you can see."
Adrian clenched his teeth. "Then tell me who."
Selene smirked. "I already have."
Adrian's mind snapped back to her words.
You never stopped to wonder who built the game you've been playing.
And then—it hit him.
His breath stalled. It wasn't about Orion's Circle.
It was about him.
Blackgate wasn't just a prison.
It was a training ground.
Reddington wasn't a mastermind.
He was a watchdog.
Adrian hadn't been kidnapped to be silenced.
He had been chosen.
Evelyn saw the shift in his expression. "Adrian?"
His grip tightened. Selene had been watching him this entire time.
And now, she had made her move.
"You're lying," he growled.
Selene's smirk never wavered. "Aren't you tired of chasing ghosts?"
She reached into her coat and pulled out a small black envelope. She tossed it toward him, and Adrian caught it instinctively.
"A little gift," she said smoothly. "When you're ready to stop running in circles, open it."
Adrian didn't move.
Selene turned toward the doorway. Guards stepped back without a word.
Evelyn raised her gun. "You're just going to let her walk out of here?"
Selene glanced over her shoulder. "I already won, darling."
Then, she disappeared into the shadows.
Adrian looked down at the envelope in his hand.
Inside it… was the next piece of the puzzle.
And for the first time since this all began, Adrian wasn't sure he wanted to open it.