Chapter 3
Victoria laughed like I had embarrassed her.
“Nathan, don’t be ridiculous.”
I ignored her.
Marcus answered on the second ring.
“Sir?”
“The security network is offline. I want the manual lockdown. Now.”
“Already moving.”
“And Marcus?”
“Yes, sir?”
“Find who cut the system.”
There was a brief pause.
“Understood.”
I hung up.
The house groaned around us.
A storm hit the windows.
Thunder rolled over the roof.
Grace still stood near the island, pale and swaying.
I could see how much pain she was hiding.
That made me think of the woman I knew five years ago.
Grace Bennett at twenty-four.
Laughing barefoot on the cabin dock.
Stealing my sweatshirt.
Telling me she hated rich men who thought money was a personality.
Then kissing me before I could argue.
Three weeks later, she vanished.
No note.
No explanation.
Just a message from her number saying she had made a mistake and wanted nothing from me.
I had believed it because pride was easier than heartbreak.
Now she stood in my kitchen with a child who had my eyes.
I hated myself for every year between.
“Grace,” I said quietly. “Did you send me that message?”
Her lips parted.
“What message?”
I knew the answer before she said it.
Victoria folded her arms.
“This is pathetic.”
I turned on her.
“Where is your phone?”
She stiffened.
“My phone?”
“Give it to me.”
“Nathan.”
“Now.”
Her eyes flashed.
“You have no right.”
“I own this house. I own the network you just had disabled. I have every right to protect a child under my roof.”
Grace looked down at Lily.
Lily whispered, “Can we go home?”
Grace closed her eyes.
“We will, baby.”
“No,” I said too fast.
Lily flinched.
I softened my voice.
“I mean, please don’t leave yet. Not until it is safe.”
Grace looked at me like she wanted to believe me and hated herself for it.
Victoria backed toward the doorway.
Clara stepped into her path.
Victoria’s face twisted.
“Move.”
Clara did not.
Marcus entered then with two guards behind him.
His flashlight swept across the tile and stopped on the hockey stick.
Then on Grace’s shoulder.
His expression changed.
“Sir.”
“Find the backup camera feed,” I said.
Victoria went still.
“There is no backup.”
I slowly turned toward her.
“How would you know that?”
She swallowed.
“I mean, if the system is offline—”
Marcus interrupted.
“The kitchen camera stores thirty seconds locally before upload. If the unit is intact, we may recover it.”
Grace breathed out.
Victoria lunged for the camera remote on the counter.
Marcus caught her wrist.
The mask fell completely.
She screamed, “You stupid man. You have no idea what she did.”
I stepped closer.
“What did Grace do?”
May you like
Victoria’s eyes burned.
“She survived.”
