Chapter 8 - Winter House
Thomas sat in an old hospital chair with his hands visible.
Adrian never lowered the weapon.
Grace held Lily several feet away.
Emma stayed beside her mother.
Thomas began talking.
Eighteen years earlier, Adrian’s father, Nicholas Vale, discovered that Victor was secretly building relationships with rival organizations.
Victor denied it.
Nicholas never found enough proof to move against his own brother.
So he created Winter House.
A small network of men outside the official organization.
Their purpose was simple.
If Victor betrayed the family, they would remove him before he could destroy it.
Thomas was one of them.
“So you worked for my father before you worked for me.”
“Yes.”
“And you never told me.”
“Your father ordered me not to.”
Adrian’s jaw tightened.
“He’s been dead nine years.”
Thomas looked down.
“I should have told you.”
“Yes.”
“I didn’t because Winter House did things you were trying to leave behind.”
Adrian almost laughed.
“You mean murder.”
Thomas did not answer.
Grace looked between them.
“Did you know about the ambush?”
Thomas shook his head.
“I knew Victor had become active again.”
“I knew money was disappearing.”
“I knew Evelyn had discovered something.”
“So I prepared an escape route.”
“For Evelyn?”
“And Lily.”
Adrian stared at him.
“Why didn’t you warn me?”
“Because Marcus was controlling access to you.”
“That is not an answer.”
Thomas leaned forward.
“Because I didn’t know whether you were involved.”
Silence filled the room.
Adrian’s face changed.
“You thought I would kill Evelyn?”
“No.”
“I thought Victor might have convinced you Lily was a threat to your control.”
Adrian crossed the room and struck Thomas hard enough to knock the chair sideways.
Grace gasped.
Thomas stayed on the floor.
Adrian crouched.
“I would have died for them.”
Thomas looked up.
“I know that now.”
Adrian stood.
Thomas wiped blood from his lip.
“I was wrong about you.”
“But I was right about Marcus.”
Adrian turned away.
“Where is Evelyn’s phone?”
“Safe.”
“Give it back.”
“Not yet.”
Adrian turned.
Thomas continued.
“Marcus and Victor are moving tonight.”
“How do you know?”
“Because the recording isn’t the most valuable thing Evelyn found.”
Thomas reached inside his jacket.
Adrian raised the weapon again.
Thomas slowly removed a key.
“Evelyn hid the original financial ledger inside a vault.”
“Where?”
Thomas looked toward Grace.
“Under the Vale mansion.”
Adrian frowned.
“There is no vault under my mansion.”
Thomas shook his head.
“Not your mansion.”
“Your father’s first house.”
Adrian understood.
The old Vale estate had been abandoned for almost twenty years.
It sat north of the city on eighty acres of forest.
Thomas continued.
“Marcus knows the ledger exists.”
“Victor knows it exists.”
“And tonight, they’re going to Winter House to destroy it.”
Adrian checked his watch.
“How long?”
Thomas looked at the rain outside.
“Maybe an hour.”
Adrian holstered his weapon.
Grace stepped forward.
“You can’t leave Lily exposed again.”
“I’m not.”
Adrian looked at Daniel.
“Take them somewhere Marcus has never heard of.”
Daniel nodded.
Thomas rose slowly.
Adrian looked at him.
“You’re coming with me.”
Thomas managed a humorless smile.
“I assumed so.”
As they started toward the exit, Emma called out.
“Mr. Adrian.”
He turned.
Emma held out her worn gray rabbit.
“For Lily’s daddy.”
Adrian took it.
“Why?”
Emma smiled faintly.
“So you come back.”
Adrian looked at the toy.
Then at Lily.
“I will.”
May you like
This time, he intended to keep the promise.
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