Chapter 13 - The TrapFor the first time, Brandon realized I wasn't waiting to be rescued.The plan was simple.
Too simple.
That's what made it dangerous.
We returned to the house.
Not because it was safe.
Because it was the last place Marcus expected me to control.
Every camera was replaced.
Every lock changed.
Every account frozen.
Every document copied.
Claire had filed emergency notices with the court.
Daniel had contacted federal investigators.
And I had one job.
Act normal.
At 11:42 p.m., a car stopped outside.
Brandon looked through the window.
“That's Marcus.”
My heart began pounding.
“He came alone.”
“No,” I said.
“He never does.”
Three cars stopped.
Men got out.
Marcus was in the middle.
He walked toward the house.
Then he knocked.
I opened the door.
He smiled.
“Huy.”
I stared at him.
“What do you want?”
“The twins.”
“No.”
His smile disappeared.
“Let's not make this difficult.”
“You've already made it difficult.”
He stepped closer.
“You have something that belongs to my client.”
“Your client?”
“The company.”
I laughed.
“A baby isn't company property.”
He sighed.
“You really don't understand the world you're in.”
“I understand enough.”
“Give me the child.”
“No.”
Marcus looked past me.
Then he saw Brandon.
His expression changed.
“You.”
Brandon stepped forward.
“You used me.”
Marcus smiled.
“You let me.”
Brandon's face hardened.
“You threatened my family.”
“You had no family until you became useful.”
The words hit harder than a punch.
Brandon looked at me.
I saw something change in him.
Regret.
Real regret.
Marcus stepped into the hallway.
“Where is Emma?”
I said nothing.
He reached into his coat.
The police lights outside suddenly flashed.
Marcus froze.
Officers surrounded the property.
Claire walked through the front gate.
Daniel stood beside her.
Marcus looked around.
Then laughed.
“You thought this would be enough?”
I held up my phone.
“No.”
He stared.
“Then what?”
I pressed play.
His own voice filled the hallway.
Every instruction.
Every transfer.
Every threat.
Every payment.
Every conversation.
Marcus went pale.
“You recorded me?”
“No.”
I looked at Brandon.
“He did.”
Marcus turned.
Brandon said quietly,
“I sent everything.”
Marcus stared at him.
“You bastard.”
“I learned from you.”
The police moved forward.
Marcus tried to run.
He made it three steps.
Then officers tackled him.
The house went silent.
For the first time in months, I could breathe.
But there was still Evelyn.
And she was missing.
Three days later, the police found her.
She was waiting at the cabin.
Alone.
Except she wasn't alone.
A second person was there.
Someone none of us expected.
When Claire called, she gave me the name.
My heart stopped.
“What?”
Claire repeated it.
I couldn't speak.
Because the person who had helped Evelyn manipulate the fertility records wasn't Marcus.
It wasn't Brandon.
It wasn't Daniel.
May you like
It was someone from my own family.
My father.
