Chapter 6 - The mansion exploded into chaos.Adrian's security team had been loyal for years.
Now half of them were running.
The other half were shooting at federal agents.
Adrian knew immediately this wasn't a raid.
It was a war.
He grabbed his daughters.
“Stay behind me.”
Evelyn stepped forward.
“No.”
Adrian looked at her.
“What?”
“You can't take them through the main tunnel.”
“Why?”
“Because that's where they expect you to go.”
Elena pointed toward a map.
“There is another route.”
Adrian followed her finger.
“Where?”
“Under the lake.”
Adrian stared.
“My property doesn't have a tunnel under the lake.”
Evelyn said quietly:
“It does.”
They moved through the underground facility.
Behind them, gunfire echoed.
The girls stayed unusually calm.
That frightened Adrian more than screaming would have.
“Olivia.”
She looked at him.
“How long have you known?”
“Known what?”
“That Mom was alive.”
Olivia glanced at Evelyn.
“Since Christmas.”
Adrian stopped.
“What?”
Sophie spoke.
“She visited us.”
“Where?”
“At night.”
“In my house?”
“Yes.”
Adrian looked at Evelyn.
“You were in my house.”
Evelyn's eyes filled with regret.
“I had no choice.”
“You watched me grieve.”
“Yes.”
“You watched me bury an empty coffin.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Evelyn couldn't answer.
Nora did.
“Because Uncle Marcus was watching Daddy.”
Adrian looked at her.
“So you thought pretending I was alone would protect me?”
Nora nodded.
Adrian's chest hurt.
He wanted to be angry.
But then he saw the fear in his daughter's eyes.
He hugged her.
They reached a steel door.
Elena entered a code.
The door opened.
A narrow tunnel stretched beneath the lake.
They moved quickly.
Then a loud crash came from behind them.
Victor.
He appeared at the entrance.
“Go!”
Adrian raised his gun.
Victor looked at him.
“They're coming.”
“Who?”
“Everyone.”
“Why should I trust you?”
Victor stared at him.
“Because I just killed three men who were coming for your daughters.”
He tossed a weapon toward Adrian.
Then he turned around.
Gunfire erupted.
Adrian hesitated.
Victor looked back once.
“Get them out.”
He disappeared into the darkness.
Adrian led the girls forward.
Halfway through the tunnel, Sophie stopped.
“Daddy.”
“What?”
“I left something upstairs.”
“What?”
“My box.”
Adrian almost smiled.
“We'll get it later.”
“It isn't a toy.”
“What is it?”
“A recording.”
Adrian stopped.
“What recording?”
Sophie looked frightened.
“Mom told me never to tell anyone.”
“Tell me.”
Sophie reached into her pocket.
She pulled out a tiny recorder.
“I recorded Uncle Marcus.”
Adrian pressed play.
Marcus's voice came through.
“We'll take care of the children.”
Another man's voice.
“What about Adrian?”
“Make him believe Evelyn killed herself.”
Adrian's body went cold.
The recording continued.
“And after the funeral?”
“Wait fourteen months.”
“Why fourteen?”
“Because that's how long the pressure takes.”
Adrian's eyes narrowed.
Pressure for what?
Sophie suddenly stopped the recording.
“That's all.”
“No.”
She shook her head.
“Mom said if we ever heard the rest, someone would die.”
Adrian stared.
“Play it.”
“No.”
“Sophie.”
She began crying.
Evelyn stepped forward.
“Don't.”
Adrian turned on her.
“Why?”
Evelyn looked at the children.
“Because I don't want you to know what I did.”
“What did you do?”
She whispered:
“I signed the order.”
Adrian froze.
May you like
“What order?”
“The order to have you killed.”
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