THE PRICE OF SILENCE AND THE WEIGHT OF BLOOD

Kenneth’s breath hitched in his throat. The noise of the ballroom—Eleanor’s sobbing, the click of handcuffs, the frantic whispers of ruined investors—faded into a dull, distant roar. He tapped the encrypted prompt, his thumb leaving a faint streak of sweat on the glass screen.

The safe house in Geneva was not an asset of Vanguard. It was not listed on any corporate registry, nor had it ever been mentioned in any deposition. It was where Kenneth had hidden the only thing that mattered before he stepped back into this viper’s nest: the original paper archives of his grandfather, the true founder of the Miller dynasty, along with a woman Arthur had spent thirty years pretending was dead.

""Clara,"" Kenneth said, his voice dropping into a razor-sharp tone that she recognized instantly.

Clara’s warm expression vanished, replaced by an alert, guarded intensity. She scooped Lily up into her arms, pressing the little girl’s face into the crook of her neck so she wouldn't see the wreckage of her uncle Julian pinned to the floor. ""What happened?""

""Take Lily to the armored transport outside. Victor is at the wheel. Do not stop for anything, and do not use the main highway,"" Kenneth commanded, his eyes locked onto hers. ""Go straight to the secondary airstrip.""

""Kenneth, who breached it?"" Clara whispered, fear finally bleeding into her dark eyes.

Kenneth looked over at Arthur, who was being dragged past him by two officers. Despite the silver cuffs biting into his wrists, the old man’s downcast face suddenly lifted. A slow, sickening grin spread across Arthur’s cracked lips, teeth stained red from biting his own lip in fury.

""You thought you were the only one who learned how to play the long game, Kenneth?"" Arthur whispered hoarsely as he passed. ""You think Vanguard is untouchable? You forgot who introduced you to European finance.""

Kenneth felt a cold dread settle in the pit of his stomach. ""You didn't introduce me to anyone, Arthur. You stole everything grandfather built.""

""Grandfather?"" Arthur let out a wet, raspy laugh that made the arresting officer yank his arm forward. ""Your grandfather was weak. But the men he owed money to weren't. They’ve been waiting for you to bring all the assets into the light. You just handed them the entire portfolio on a silver platter.""

Arthur leaned closer, his whisper dripping with venomous triumph. ""Call Geneva, Kenneth. Ask if your grandmother is still breathing.""

Kenneth felt the room tilt beneath his feet. He lunged forward, grabbing Arthur by the lapels of his tuxedo before the officers could react, pinning the old man against the edge of a mahogany pillar. ""Where is she, Arthur?! What did you do?!""

""Mr. Miller, step back!"" Vance shouted, pulling Kenneth away.