Chapter 9 - THE SECOND BROTHER
Daniel’s team reached Bennett Textile Mill at dusk.
The building appeared abandoned.
Broken windows faced the river.
Snow covered the loading yard.
Daniel ordered two men to circle behind the structure.
He entered through the main doors with four others.
The red-brick walls matched the image from Elena’s files.
They found the concrete room in the basement.
The chair was empty.
The chain still moved.
A television screen on the wall flickered to life.
Nathan appeared.
“Daniel.”
“You always were Dominic’s obedient dog.”
Daniel raised his weapon.
Nathan smiled from the screen.
“You left the estate with six men.”
“Two work for me.”
Gunfire erupted behind Daniel.
One loyal guard fell.
Daniel turned and shot the traitor nearest him.
The second escaped up the stairs.
A timer appeared on the television.
Two minutes.
Daniel saw wires running from the screen into the wall.
“Move,” he shouted.
The team ran.
The mill exploded before they reached the loading yard.
The blast threw Daniel through a broken doorway.
Fire rolled across the snow.
Back at the estate, Dominic received no response from Daniel.
Marcus sat tied inside the library.
Blood ran from his split lip.
He had served Dominic for fourteen years.
Dominic had paid for his mother’s surgery.
He had stood beside Dominic at Elena’s funeral.
“Why?” Dominic asked.
Marcus leaned back in the chair.
“Nathan promised order.”
“I gave you rank.”
“You gave me responsibilities.”
“Nathan offered power.”
“You were willing to help kill a child for it?”
Marcus’s gaze moved toward the closed door.
“I was told Harper would be released.”
“You believed him?”
“I believed he needed Mia alive.”
“For the pendant.”
Marcus nodded.
“Where is Sofia?”
“I do not know.”
“Where is Nathan?”
“Preparing for Saturday.”
Dominic placed the photograph of Harper on the table.
“How did Nathan get this?”
Marcus did not answer.
Dominic understood.
Someone had entered Mia’s room after the rescue.
Someone close enough to photograph her.
Marcus had not acted alone.
Dominic left the library and went to the underground holding room.
The door stood open.
Claire was gone.
One guard lay unconscious beside the wall.
Another was missing.
A note rested on the floor.
Dominic picked it up.
Claire’s handwriting covered one side.
I warned you that Nathan was not running.
He is taking the house from the inside.
A scream echoed from the upper floor.
Dominic ran.
Harper’s bedroom was empty.
The window stood open.
A yellow ribbon had been tied around the latch.
Mia was gone too.
Tracks crossed the snowy roof toward the eastern courtyard.
Dominic followed them.
The trail ended beside a service road.
Tire marks led through the gate.
His phone rang.
Claire spoke.
“Do not blame me.”
“Where are they?”
“Nathan took them.”
“You helped him.”
“I helped myself.”
“What does he want?”
“You.”
Claire’s voice trembled for the first time.
“He wants you beneath the cathedral before midnight.”
“Saturday is two days away.”
“The wedding was never meant to happen on Saturday.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Dominic, look at the invitations.”
The line went dead.
An assistant brought him one of the ivory wedding invitations.
The date was Saturday.
The cathedral address appeared beneath it.
Dominic held the card near the fire.
Heat darkened the paper.
A second line of ink appeared.
FRIDAY.
May you like
MIDNIGHT.
BENEATH THE ALTAR.
