Chapter 7
Diane changed tactics.
She stopped denying.
“Of course I wanted you alive.”
“What was Thursday?”
“You needed distance.”
“From what?”
“This house.”
“My organization?”
“Yes.”
“Grace?”
She smiled faintly.
“Especially Grace.”
My hands tightened.
“Why?”
“Because every time that child cries, you stop thinking.”
“She’s three.”
“She’s leverage.”
Even Sabrina stared at her.
Diane didn’t care.
“You make emotional decisions around her.”
“She is my daughter.”
“Exactly.”
My mother could turn love into a tactical flaw without blinking.
“What did you intend to do?”
“Take you somewhere quiet.”
“Kidnap me.”
“Give you time.”
“To do what?”
“Remember who made you.”
I laughed once.
“You planned an abduction as family therapy?”
“You always become vulgar when angry.”
There she was.
Even cornered, correcting my tone.
Connor whispered:
“There’s another video.”
Diane turned.
“No.”
First genuine command born from fear.
Connor froze.
She softened her voice.
“Think about Bella.”
Bella stiffened.
“Think about your mother.”
Connor’s hand shook.
I stepped between them.
“What are you threatening?”
Diane smiled.
“Nothing.”
Connor whispered:
“She said Bella would lose her room if I told.”
Sabrina turned.
“What?”
“And that you’d send me away.”
My sister went pale.
Diane rolled her eyes.
“Temporary discipline.”
Connor started crying.
She sighed.
“There. More tears.”
I crouched.
“No one is sending you anywhere.”
He nodded.
Then showed me the tablet.
“Aunt Natalie… I think they’re already here.”
Several unfamiliar signals had appeared on the estate network.
Moving.
Toward us.
My captain checked the screen.
“These aren’t guest devices.”
I looked at Diane.
“Vale?”
She smiled.
“You always were intelligent after someone handed you the answer.”
I raised my radio.
“Lock every gate.”
My captain answered instantly.
Then a guard near the north lawn spoke.
“Boss. East service gate just opened.”
I looked at Diane.
She had once controlled every lock on this estate.
Someone was still using her old authority.
May you like
The attack hadn’t begun outside.
It had already been invited in.
