Chapter 4 - The Man in the Dark
The estate plunged into darkness.
My security team reacted instantly.
Doors locked.
Shutters dropped.
Emergency lights flickered on.
I drew the weapon hidden beneath my jacket.
Daniel whispered, “Where are the children?”
“With Grace.”
I moved upstairs.
A crash came from the nursery.
I ran.
The door was open.
The window was broken.
Grace stood in the corner holding Caleb.
Sophie was missing.
“Where is Sophie?”
Grace's face went white.
“She was beside me.”
I looked at the window.
A rope hung outside.
Someone had climbed in.
Someone had taken my daughter.
My phone rang.
Unknown number.
I answered.
A man's voice whispered:
“You should have stayed in London.”
“Marcus.”
“Smart.”
“Where is my daughter?”
A laugh.
“She isn't hurt.”
“If you touch her—”
“You'll do what?”
My jaw tightened.
“Tell me where she is.”
“You want Sophie back?”
“Yes.”
“Then come alone.”
“Where?”
“Your old boathouse.”
The call ended.
Daniel grabbed my arm.
“Don't go alone.”
“I have no choice.”
“You absolutely do.”
I looked at him.
“You don't understand.”
“I understand perfectly.”
He lowered his voice.
“That's what they want.”
I turned.
“Then we'll give them what they want.”
“But not the way they expect.”
Within five minutes, I had twelve men surrounding the property.
Only one went with me.
Daniel.
The boathouse stood at the edge of the lake.
The lights were off.
I entered.
“Sophie?”
Nothing.
Then a small voice.
“Daddy!”
I heard footsteps.
A figure emerged.
Marcus.
He held Sophie by the shoulder.
She was terrified.
I stopped.
“Let her go.”
Marcus smiled.
“You always did think money made you untouchable.”
“You're standing on borrowed time.”
He laughed.
Then another voice came from behind me.
Vanessa.
“I told you he would come.”
I turned.
She was holding a gun.
For the first time, I realized the truth.
This wasn't about money.
It wasn't about the house.
It wasn't even about my children.
They had been planning something much bigger.
Vanessa pointed the gun at me.
“Put your weapon down.”
I did.
Marcus smiled.
Then Sophie screamed.
“Daddy!”
Vanessa's finger tightened.
But before she could fire, the lights came on.
My men flooded the boathouse.
Marcus turned.
Daniel tackled Vanessa.
The gun hit the floor.
Sophie ran straight into my arms.
I caught her.
“You're safe.”
She sobbed against me.
Marcus tried to escape.
He didn't get three steps.
Two guards slammed him against the wall.
Vanessa screamed.
“You don't understand!”
I looked at her.
“Then explain.”
She stared at me.
“You killed my brother.”
I froze.
“What?”
She smiled through her tears.
“My brother didn't die in that accident.”
My blood ran cold.
“What brother?”
May you like
She whispered:
“Your firstborn.”
