Chapter 4 - THE HOUSE WITHOUT WINDOWS
Claire woke in darkness.
Her wrists were tied.
Her head throbbed.
The first thing she heard was Noah crying.
“Mommy?”
“I'm here.”
“Where are we?”
“I don't know.”
Eli was breathing quickly.
Claire tried to stay calm.
“Listen to me. We're going to be okay.”
She didn't believe the words herself.
A door opened.
Light flooded the room.
A man walked inside.
Claire recognized him immediately.
“Richard.”
Julian's father.
Alive.
Older.
But unmistakable.
He smiled.
“You always were stubborn.”
Claire stared at him.
“You kidnapped my children.”
“I protected my family.”
“They aren't your family.”
Richard laughed.
“They carry Bennett blood.”
“They are Julian's sons.”
His expression hardened.
“Julian is weak.”
Claire spat,
“You destroyed your own son.”
“I saved him.”
“You made him believe his wife abandoned him.”
“I made him believe he could survive without you.”
Claire struggled against the ropes.
“You don't get to call that love.”
Richard walked closer.
“You were pregnant with twins.”
“Yes.”
“You should have told Julian.”
“I tried.”
“I know.”
He smiled.
“And that's why I had to stop you.”
Claire's eyes filled with rage.
“You told me Julian didn't want them.”
“He didn't know.”
“You lied.”
“Yes.”
“And you threatened me.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Richard leaned closer.
“Because your pregnancy threatened everything.”
“What does that mean?”
He didn't answer.
Instead, he walked toward the boys.
Noah moved in front of Eli.
“Don't touch him.”
Richard stopped.
For a moment, something almost like admiration crossed his face.
“Brave.”
Noah glared.
“My daddy will come.”
Richard laughed.
“Your daddy doesn't even know where you are.”
Claire smiled despite her fear.
“He'll find us.”
Richard's smile disappeared.
“Yes.”
He looked toward the door.
“That is exactly what I'm counting on.”
Meanwhile, I sat in Victor's car outside the warehouse.
The police had arrived.
But there was no evidence.
No Claire.
No children.
No suspect.
Only tire marks.
Victor watched me.
“You need to understand something.”
“I don't want explanations.”
“You need them.”
“My sons are missing.”
“And your mother is missing too.”
I looked at him.
“Where is she?”
“Safe.”
“You kidnapped her.”
“I moved her.”
“That's what kidnappers call it.”
Victor sighed.
“She wanted to tell you the truth.”
“Then why didn't she?”
“Because she was afraid.”
“Of Dad?”
“Of what he would do to you.”
I looked through the windshield.
“Tell me everything.”
Victor was silent.
Then he began.
“Your father built his empire through three things: money, fear, and secrets.”
“And you?”
“I tried to leave.”
“What happened?”
“He couldn't let me.”
Victor told me about a business deal gone wrong.
About a warehouse fire.
About a fake death certificate.
About disappearing overseas.
And then he told me about Claire.
“Your father discovered she was pregnant.”
“How?”
“He paid someone at the clinic.”
My stomach tightened.
“He knew about the twins before I did.”
“Yes.”
“Why didn't he tell me?”
“Because he was afraid of losing control.”
“Control of what?”
Victor looked at me.
“The company.”
I frowned.
“What does that have to do with my children?”
“Your father had created a trust.”
“What trust?”
“A family trust worth nearly nine hundred million dollars.”
I stared at him.
“What?”
“The trust was supposed to pass to your children.”
My pulse accelerated.
“Why?”
“Because your father knew he was sick.”
“But he didn't leave anything to me?”
“Not directly.”
“Then why hide my children?”
“Because the trust required legitimate heirs.”
I laughed bitterly.
“So he stole my family for money?”
“Not only money.”
“What else?”
Victor looked away.
“Your father was laundering money through the family company.”
I went silent.
“If the trust were exposed, federal investigators would uncover everything.”
“And my children?”
“They were leverage.”
My phone buzzed.
A video had arrived.
I opened it.
Claire sat on the floor.
Noah and Eli beside her.
My blood froze.
A man stood behind them.
Richard.
My father.
Alive.
He looked directly into the camera.
“Julian.”
I couldn't breathe.
He smiled.
“Come home.”
The video ended.
Victor stared at me.
“Where?”
I showed him.
His face changed.
“I know that house.”
“Where is it?”
“Outside Tacoma.”
“Then let's go.”
Victor grabbed my arm.
“You don't understand.”
“What?”
“That house doesn't have windows.”
I stared at him.
“Why?”
“Because your father built it to hold people.”
I looked at the screen again.
My children were trapped there.
May you like
And I knew one thing with absolute certainty.
I was going to burn that house to the ground before I let anyone touch them.
