Chapter 3 - The Matriarch’s Gambit
The rain lashed against the French windows of Julian’s private study. Outside, sirens wailed in the distance as local authorities were kept at bay by the Vance security perimeter. Julian slammed his fist onto the mahogany desk, fracturing the antique wood.
""Track the plates,"" he roared at his head of security. ""Victoria couldn't have made it far. She has a safe house near the docks, the chalet in Aspen, and the private strip in New Jersey.""
""They used unmarked tactical vehicles, Mr. Vance,"" Marcus replied, dabbing at a bleeding temple. ""No plates. They jammed our local satellite feed. They knew our blind spots.""
""Because Victoria built them,"" Emma said, stepping out from the bathroom. She had cleaned the cuts on her knees and changed out of the ruined maid's apron into dark slacks and a leather jacket she had pulled from Julian's wardrobe—clothes that still smelled faintly of the life they once shared. ""She designed the compound’s security protocol five years ago.""
Julian stared at her. The anger within him was warring with a devastating tide of grief. ""Why didn't you come back sooner? Four years, Emma. Four years I grieved you. Four years I poured everything into that little boy, thinking he was my only link to a memory.""
Emma walked toward him, stopping mere inches from his chest. Her hazel eyes were wet, mirror images of Leo's. ""Because Victoria took him from my arms the moment he was cut out of me. She threatened to kill him if I ever made contact. She kept me locked in a private sanitarium in Zurich for three years until I finally found a way to slip through the system. I took the maid job two days ago just to get close enough to lay eyes on him.""
Julian swallowed hard, his throat dry. ""He has your eyes.""
""He has your stubborn chin,"" she whispered.
Suddenly, Julian’s secure phone buzzed against the marble tabletop. The screen displayed an unknown, encrypted frequency. Julian tapped the speakerphone.
""Julian, darling,"" Victoria’s smooth, aristocratic voice purred through the speaker. ""I see you’ve reunited with the help. How poetic.""
""Where is my son, Victoria?"" Julian’s voice dropped to a lethal decibel. ""Return him to this house, or I will burn every empire your family owns to ashes.""
""Your son?"" Victoria chuckled darkly. ""He is an asset, Julian. And tomorrow morning, the board meets to transfer the Vance holdings to my trust as Leo’s appointed conservator. If you ever want to see the boy draw another breath, you will sign over your voting rights at dawn. Oh, and Julian... do not bring Emma. She was never meant to survive the night.""
The call terminated abruptly.
May you like
Julian picked up his weapon, sliding it into his holster. ""We have four hours until sunrise.""
Emma chambered a round into her pistol, her jaw set. ""Then let's go hunting.""
