Chapter 3 - THE GIRL WHO REMEMBERED LIGHTWe spent the next hour in the panic room.
Not because it was safe.
Because it was the only room in the mansion with walls thick enough to slow down an attack.
Marcus finally answered his phone.
I heard his breathing.
"Boss."
"Where are you?"
"Garage."
"How many men?"
A pause.
"None."
My grip tightened around the phone.
"What happened?"
"They came through the service tunnel."
"How many?"
"At least fifteen."
"Are you hurt?"
"No."
"Then get to the house."
"I can't."
"Why?"
Marcus lowered his voice.
"Because they're wearing our uniforms."
I closed my eyes.
Someone inside my organization had betrayed me.
Maybe more than one person.
I looked across the panic room.
Grace sat beside Evelyn.
The two of them were whispering.
I hated it.
I hated how naturally they trusted each other.
I hated that Evelyn knew things about my daughter that I didn't.
And most of all, I hated the possibility that my entire life had been built around a lie.
"Grace."
She turned.
"Yes?"
"Tell me what you remember."
She was silent.
Then she said:
"Light."
"What?"
"Before I was blind."
My chest tightened.
"You were born blind."
"No."
Her fingers trembled.
"I remember sunlight."
I stared at her.
Evelyn didn't interrupt.
Grace continued.
"I remember a yellow room."
My wife and I had painted Grace's nursery blue.
"Mom was holding me."
Grace's voice became softer.
"There was a man."
"Who?"
"I don't know."
"What did he look like?"
"I couldn't see his face."
My heart pounded.
"Why?"
"Because he wore a mask."
"What happened?"
Grace swallowed.
"He said, 'The Wolf has chosen her.'"
I looked at Evelyn.
She looked disturbed.
"What else?"
Grace touched her temple.
"There was a needle."
My breathing stopped.
"Someone injected you?"
"I think so."
"And then?"
"I remember screaming."
She paused.
"Then darkness."
The room went silent.
"Who did that to you?"
Grace shook her head.
"I don't know."
I looked at Evelyn.
"Tell me what you know."
She stared at the floor.
"My wife discovered that your organization had been infiltrated."
"My organization?"
"The Wolf had men inside your business."
"Why?"
"Because your company moved money for them."
I slammed my fist against the table.
"Impossible."
"Your shipping routes were perfect."
I stared at her.
"What shipping routes?"
"The ones you thought were legitimate."
A cold realization settled over me.
For years, my organization had moved weapons.
Money.
People.
I had always believed those operations were controlled by my own men.
Maybe they weren't.
Maybe I had been moving cargo for another organization without ever knowing it.
And my wife had discovered it.
"Elena tried to expose them."
"Yes."
"Vincent stopped her."
Evelyn didn't answer.
I already knew.
My phone vibrated.
A video.
From an unknown number.
I opened it.
The screen showed a dark room.
A chair.
Someone tied to it.
A woman.
Long hair.
My heart stopped.
Elena.
Older.
Thinner.
Alive.
I leaned closer.
She lifted her head.
"Michael."
I dropped the phone.
Grace stood.
"Mom?"
The video continued.
Elena looked directly into the camera.
"I know you won't believe this."
She smiled weakly.
"But if you're watching this..."
Her eyes filled with tears.
"...it means Evelyn found you."
I looked at Evelyn.
She had gone completely still.
Elena continued.
"Don't trust anyone."
The video glitched.
Then her voice became urgent.
"Especially Vincent."
The screen went black.
I turned toward Evelyn.
"You knew."
"Yes."
"She's alive."
"Yes."
"Where?"
"I don't know."
"You're lying."
"I lost contact with her six years ago."
"Then how did you know?"
Evelyn stepped closer.
"Because she was the one who sent me."
My pulse raced.
"To do what?"
"Protect Grace."
"From Vincent?"
"From everyone."
A siren sounded outside.
We all looked toward the monitor.
A vehicle had entered the estate.
A black SUV.
No plates.
Another followed.
Then another.
Marcus's voice came through the speaker.
"Boss."
"What?"
"There are civilians in the vehicles."
"Who?"
Marcus hesitated.
"Families."
"What families?"
"Your family."
My stomach dropped.
"That's impossible."
"Boss..."
Marcus's voice cracked.
"They have your mother."
My grip tightened.
Then the mansion speakers came alive.
A man's voice filled every room.
Vincent.
"Michael."
I stepped toward the control panel.
"Let them go."
Vincent laughed.
"You always were sentimental."
"Where are you?"
"Closer than you think."
A camera feed appeared.
Vincent stood in the entrance hall.
Behind him were six armed men.
Beside him stood my mother.
Her hands were tied.
Vincent held a gun against her head.
"Bring Grace to me."
"No."
"Then your mother dies."
Grace moved beside me.
"Dad."
I looked at her.
Her face was strangely calm.
"Don't give me to him."
"Never."
Grace shook her head.
"He doesn't want me dead."
I stared.
"What?"
"He wants something inside me."
Vincent's voice echoed again.
"Smart girl."
Every hair on my body stood up.
"You can hear me."
Grace turned toward the speaker.
"Yes."
Vincent laughed.
"Then perhaps you're finally ready."
The lights flickered.
Once.
Twice.
Then every door in the mansion locked simultaneously.
Vincent spoke one final sentence.
"Michael, ask your little blind daughter what she really remembers."
The cameras went black.
May you like
And Grace whispered:
"I know where Mom is."
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