Chapter 6 - The River House
The rain turned into a torrential downpour by the time Elena pulled the sedan behind a dilapidated boat shed forty miles north of the city. The Blackwood River churned violently in the dark, swollen with autumn runoff.
At the end of a rotting pier sat a single-story wooden house with yellow light bleeding through water-streaked blinds. Elena grabbed the baby bag, scooped Leo into her arms, and scrambled up the wooden steps.
She pounded on the weathered oak door. ""Frank! Please, open up! It's Elena!""
The door cracked open on a heavy brass chain. A weathered eye peered through the gap, followed by the metallic click of a deadbolt sliding back. Frank Vance—Julian's estranged older brother—stood in the doorway holding a kerosene lantern. He wore a faded flannel shirt and looked older than his forty years, the scars from his own exile from the Vance empire etched deep across his brow.
""You're out of your mind coming here,"" Frank said, his voice flat, but he stepped aside and pulled them into the warmth of the room.
The house smelled of woodsmoke, wet dog, and black coffee. Elena collapsed into an armchair near the stone hearth, immediately unbuttoning her shirt to feed the starving child.
""Julian was arrested outside the restaurant,"" Elena said, her voice trembling. ""Arthur took him. He's threatening federal charges unless I give Leo back.""
Frank shut the door, latched the deadbolt, and walked over to the hearth. He looked down at the infant feeding quietly in Elena’s arms. A shadow of bitter amusement crossed his face.
""Arthur doesn't want the baby because he loves him,"" Frank muttered. ""He needs Leo to secure the third seat on the Vance Maritime board. The trust dictates that the shares can only pass through legitimate male heirs of the second generation. If Julian is imprisoned and declared unfit, Arthur takes control of Leo's inheritance.""
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Elena looked up, stunned. ""Julian told me it was about control.""
""It's always about control,"" Frank replied, pulling a heavy steel lockbox from beneath the floorboards. ""And Julian left something here six months ago that Arthur would burn this state to find.""
