Chapter 13 - Blackout
Valentina ran toward the staircase in total darkness.
“Elliot!”
Emergency lights flickered red along the baseboards.
Marco reached the landing first.
One guard lay dazed outside Elliot’s room. The other was missing.
The bedroom door stood open.
Elliot was gone.
On his pillow rested one white wedding rose.
Nathan picked it up with shaking fingers.
“Serena’s bouquet.”
Valentina’s phone rang.
Gloria.
She answered.
“Where is my son?”
Gloria’s voice was calm.
“Your son is fine. For now.”
“If you touch him—”
“You keep making this emotional. That’s always been your weakness.”
Valentina gripped the phone so hard her knuckles hurt.
“What do you want?”
“The genuine deed. The trust authorization. And Rachel Kim’s laptop.”
Rachel whispered, “She wants the evidence.”
Gloria heard her.
“And no police.”
Valentina said, “Where?”
“The boathouse.”
Nathan stared at her.
Blackthorn’s old boathouse sat beside the lake, half a mile through the woods.
Gloria added, “Bring Nathan.”
“Why?”
“Because he needs to decide which family he belongs to.”
The call ended.
Marco checked his weapon.
“We’re not letting you walk in there alone.”
Valentina looked at Nathan.
“You heard her.”
He nodded slowly.
“Yes.”
“What family do you belong to?”
His answer came without hesitation.
“Elliot’s.”
Valentina held his gaze for one long second.
Then Rachel spoke from behind them.
“Before you go, there’s something else in Gloria’s files.”
She turned the laptop around.
May you like
A life insurance policy appeared on the screen.
The insured name was Valentina Reyes.
