Chapter 6 - Into the Rain
Nora stood between the two people she had trusted most in the world, surrounded by their web of greed and deceit.
""Nora, listen to me,"" Julian pleaded, stepping into the room, his eyes wild. ""Evelyn knew the city was closing in. She set up offshore accounts in your name three days ago. Chloe wasn't my mistress—she’s a state investigator! She cornered me in that room to offer me immunity if I turned over Evelyn's files. The dress was a sick psychological play to get you to burst in and blow the operation so Evelyn would panic!""
""Shut your mouth, Julian!"" Evelyn snapped, stepping toward him with blazing eyes. ""You pathetic little coward. You took your cut, and you took it eagerly!""
""I took it because you threatened to ruin Nora!"" Julian roared.
Nora looked between them. It didn't matter who was lying more; both had turned her life, her work, and her children's security into collateral for their toxic vanity. She felt a sudden, profound calm settle over her bones. The crying woman from the hotel hallway was dead.
""Get out of my way,"" Nora said, her voice dropping an octave.
""Nora, sweetheart, give me the drive,"" Evelyn demanded, reaching out to grab her daughter's arm. ""We can fix this as a family.""
Nora wrenched her arm away with violent force, shocking her mother backward against the mahogany bookshelf. ""We were never a family. We were your cover story.""
Julian stepped toward her, his expression desperate. ""Nora, take the girls and come with me to the station. I can protect you.""
""You can't even protect yourself,"" Nora said coldly.
May you like
She bolted past Julian, down the stairs, and into the dark hall. She grabbed her car keys, her phone, and her coat from the entryway stand. Julian lunged down the staircase after her, but Nora slammed the front door shut, locking him inside behind the heavy deadbolt with the exterior key.
Running into the downpour, she jumped into her Mercedes, locked the doors, and started the engine. As she backed out of the driveway, the headlights caught Chloe Vance standing calmly at the edge of the street, an umbrella over her head, typing into a smartphone as two black unmarked sedans boxed in the neighborhood exit.
