Chapter 7 - The Brother Behind the Door
Arthur shouted her name.
No answer.
Marcus drew his weapon.
Daniel stayed behind cover.
Another sound came from the corridor.
Footsteps.
Then a vehicle engine outside.
Arthur ran toward the rear exit.
A black sedan accelerated away.
Victoria was gone.
Marcus checked the license plate.
Stolen.
Arthur called her.
No answer.
Again.
Nothing.
Then Maya called.
Arthur answered immediately.
“Are you okay?”
Her voice was shaking.
“Dad.”
It was the first time she had called him that.
Arthur stopped.
“What happened?”
“There’s someone outside.”
Arthur’s blood went cold.
Security was with them.
“Where?”
“Across the street.”
“What do they look like?”
“A man.”
“Stay away from the windows.”
Ethan spoke in the background.
“Maya.”
Then the call disconnected.
Arthur was already running.
They reached the house twenty minutes later.
Security had detained a man.
Arthur recognized him.
Sebastian Whitmore.
Victoria’s brother.
Sebastian smiled when Arthur approached.
“Finally.”
Arthur stopped.
“You’re either very brave or very stupid.”
Sebastian laughed.
“I came voluntarily.”
“Why?”
“To save my sister.”
Arthur stared at him.
“You took her.”
“No.”
“You were at the facility.”
“No.”
Arthur showed him the message.
DO NOT TRUST VICTORIA.
Sebastian read it.
Then smiled.
“Elena wrote that?”
“Yes.”
“She’s smarter than I remembered.”
Arthur grabbed his jacket.
“Where is she?”
Sebastian didn’t resist.
“I don’t know.”
Arthur shoved him backward.
Sebastian remained calm.
“But Victoria does.”
Arthur froze.
“She told us she didn’t.”
“She lied.”
Maya appeared behind Arthur.
Sebastian saw her.
His expression softened strangely.
“You look like Elena.”
Maya recoiled.
Arthur stepped between them.
“Talk.”
Sebastian looked at Arthur.
“My father didn’t keep Elena prisoner for fourteen years.”
Arthur frowned.
“He couldn’t.”
“Why?”
“Because Elena escaped six years ago.”
Arthur stared at him.
Sebastian continued.
“She came back voluntarily.”
“Why would she do that?”
“To protect the children.”
“From what?”
Sebastian looked at Maya.
“From Victoria.”
Arthur laughed.
“You expect me to believe Victoria is more dangerous than Charles?”
Sebastian’s smile disappeared.
“My sister isn’t afraid of my father.”
Arthur remembered Victoria arriving bruised.
“She said you attacked her.”
“I did.”
Maya gasped.
Arthur’s eyes hardened.
Sebastian raised his hands.
“She was trying to destroy evidence.”
“What evidence?”
“The evidence that proves she ordered Elena’s car crash.”
Silence.
Arthur felt the room tilt.
“No.”
Sebastian nodded.
“She was twenty-three.”
“She had just discovered Elena had children with you.”
“Victoria didn’t even know me.”
Sebastian looked almost sympathetic.
“Yes, she did.”
Arthur stared.
Sebastian continued.
“She had been watching you for months.”
“Why?”
“Because she wanted you.”
Arthur laughed in disbelief.
Sebastian shook his head.
“You still don’t understand my sister.”
“She doesn’t lose.”
“She doesn’t share.”
“She doesn’t forgive rejection.”
Arthur looked toward the hallway.
Victoria’s photographs still hung on the wall.
Sebastian spoke quietly.
“She wanted Elena gone.”
“My father wanted the files.”
“Their interests aligned.”
Arthur felt nauseated.
“So they tried to kill her.”
“Yes.”
“And then Victoria married me.”
“Yes.”
“Why would Elena come back voluntarily?”
Sebastian looked at Maya and Ethan.
“Because Victoria found them.”
Arthur’s blood ran cold.
“When?”
“Six years ago.”
“What did she do?”
Sebastian looked at the floor.
“She arranged an accident involving Maya’s school bus.”
Maya went pale.
“I remember that.”
Arthur turned.
Maya whispered.
“The brakes stopped working.”
Sebastian nodded.
“Elena returned the next day.”
Arthur stared at him.
“She surrendered herself.”
“Yes.”
“To protect them.”
“Yes.”
Arthur’s chest tightened.
“Where has she been?”
Sebastian hesitated.
Then he looked toward the front window.
A red laser dot appeared on his chest.
Marcus shouted.
“DOWN!”
Glass exploded.
Everyone hit the floor.
Sebastian screamed.
Arthur dragged Maya behind the wall.
Security rushed outside.
The shooter disappeared.
Sebastian lay on the floor.
Blood spread across his shirt.
Arthur pressed both hands against the wound.
“Stay with me.”
Sebastian coughed.
“Victoria…”
Arthur leaned closer.
“What?”
Sebastian grabbed his wrist.
“She has Elena.”
Arthur froze.
“Where?”
Sebastian struggled for breath.
“The house…”
“What house?”
May you like
Sebastian’s grip weakened.
“The house Arthur never knew he owned.”
