Chapter 10
Natalie cried.
Real tears.
That did not make her innocent.
“I never agreed to hurt Lily.”
I looked at her.
“You slapped her.”
“She ruined the plan.”
Silence.
Again.
Truth escaping faster than excuses.
I moved Lily behind my guard.
“Explain the boy.”
Natalie shook her head.
Victor answered.
“Mercer believes blood matters.”
“To what?”
“Influence.”
No inheritance documents.
No legal tricks.
Just old mafia thinking.
A son connected to Whitmore blood would carry weight with men who still thought women and daughters were temporary.
I looked at Victor.
“You promised Mercer access through my son.”
“No.”
“Then what?”
“A relationship.”
I laughed once.
“With a fetus?”
Victor’s jaw tightened.
“You mock traditions you benefit from.”
“I mock you.”
Natalie wiped her face.
“Dad said once the baby was born, Mercer would stop threatening us.”
I turned.
“Threatening you?”
There.
New layer.
Victor looked furious.
Natalie continued.
“He has recordings.”
“Of what?”
Victor snapped:
“Enough.”
She ignored him.
“Dad and Ethan met with Mercer months ago.”
Ethan stood.
“Natalie.”
She looked at him.
For once, fear moved sideways in the family.
Not toward me.
Toward each other.
“What recordings?”
Natalie whispered:
“Victor promising him three Whitmore routes.”
My captain looked at me.
Victor had been bargaining with Mercer before he had any power to give.
“And when Mercer demanded proof?”
Natalie lowered her eyes.
“Dad said he could deliver you.”
“How?”
Silence.
I already knew.
Livestream.
Lily.
Ethan’s punch.
The birthday trap.
Mercer had turned Victor’s own promise into a deadline.
I looked at my wife.
“When did you join them?”
“Two months ago.”
“Why?”
Her face hardened.
“Because I was tired.”
“Of?”
“Being second.”
“To Lily?”
She said nothing.
That was the answer.
Natalie touched her stomach.
“I am carrying your future.”
I stared.
“And Lily is what?”
Her mouth tightened.
“Your past.”
Lily heard that.
This time she didn’t cry.
She simply looked at Natalie.
That hurt worse.
Then Noah spoke.
“Dad said something about tonight.”
Ethan’s face changed.
“What?”
Noah looked at me.
“He said if the livestream failed, Mercer would come himself.”
I looked toward the windows.
May you like
The street outside had gone very quiet.
Too quiet.
