Chapter 5
Gordon finally talked when I told him Felix had.
Not from conscience.
From fear Felix knew more than he did.
“Rebecca came back furious.”
He leaned forward.
“She had a knife.”
Convenient.
“Did she use it?”
“No.”
“Threaten anyone?”
“No.”
“Then why mention it?”
He looked away.
Because holding a kitchen knife while angry helped him justify what followed.
Rebecca demanded Molly.
Walter refused.
She tried to walk past him.
Gordon stopped her.
Then Walter did something calculated.
He brought Elliot into the room.
Eleven months old.
He placed the baby in one nanny’s arms.
Molly in another.
And asked Rebecca:
“Which child leaves with you tonight?”
My hands went cold.
Same game.
The origin.
Rebecca refused to choose.
Good.
Walter called that ingratitude.
Gordon called it hysterical.
Then they separated the children anyway.
Molly remained at the estate.
Elliot was sent to another Cross property with a caretaker.
Rebecca was told she would see neither until she “calmed down.”
That was imprisonment without locking Rebecca herself anywhere.
Control through access.
“Where did she go?”
Gordon swallowed.
“She came after Dad.”
My eyes narrowed.
“She tried to expose him.”
“To whom?”
He laughed bitterly.
“You.”
Of course.
Rebecca had tried to reach me.
But I was the secret head.
Most outsiders believed Walter still held domestic authority and that I handled only business operations.
Messages passed through filters.
Walter controlled those filters.
Rebecca’s request never reached me.
I felt anger turn inward.
Dangerous.
Rafe noticed.
“Boss.”
I nodded once.
Stay specific.
My structure created a blind spot.
Walter exploited it.
That was mine to fix.
Not mine to absorb as guilt for his choices.
I looked at Gordon.
“Where is Rebecca?”
He stared at the floor.
“She’s alive.”
My breathing stopped.
“Where?”
“North lodge.”
A Cross property three hours away.
I stood.
“And Molly?”
He hesitated.
“Not with her.”
Of course.
“Elliot?”
Silence.
May you like
The family had been separated for eighteen months.
On purpose.
