Chapter 4 - THE ENEMY INSIDE

I moved through the hallway with my security team behind me.

Every instinct I had built over twenty years came alive.

Danger.

Someone was inside my home.

My home.

The place I built to protect my family.

The cameras showed nothing.

No alarms before entry.

No broken gates.

No forced doors.

That meant one thing.

Whoever entered knew exactly how my security worked.

“Show me the footage.”

Prescott handed me the tablet.

The screen showed the east hallway.

Empty.

Completely empty.

Then, at 2:17 a.m., the lights flickered.

A shadow appeared.

A person walked past the camera.

But the face was hidden.

I looked closer.

“Enhance.”

The image became clearer.

Still nothing.

But then I saw something.

A small detail.

A ring.

A silver ring on the person’s hand.

My blood froze.

Because I knew that ring.

I had seen it before.

On someone I trusted.

“Who has access to this hallway?”

Prescott looked at the list.

Then his expression changed.

“Lawson…”

“Tell me.”

He swallowed.

“There are only four people.”

“Names.”

He hesitated.

“Me.”

“Go on.”

“Dr. Yates.”

I nodded.

“Who else?”

His voice became quieter.

“Odette.”

The woman who managed my household.

The woman who had worked for my family for twelve years.

And the last name.

I already knew before he said it.

“Genevieve’s old assistant.”

I turned slowly.

“Where is she?”

Prescott checked his phone.

“She left the property two hours ago.”

My eyes narrowed.

“Find her.”

“Already trying.”

I looked toward my children’s room.

Then toward Clara.

She was standing in the hallway.

Watching everything.

“You knew.”

She shook her head.

“No.”

“You knew someone was inside this house.”

“No.”

“Then why are you not surprised?”

Her eyes filled with sadness.

“Because Genevieve warned me.”

I stepped toward her.

“What did she warn you about?”

Clara looked at Jonah and Blythe sleeping behind the glass.

Then she said:

“She told me that if anything happened to her…”

She paused.

“…the person who hurt her would come after the children next.”

My heart stopped.

A noise came from behind us.

A small sound.

A click.

Everyone turned.

The hallway lights went out.

Darkness swallowed the mansion.

Then a voice came through the security speakers.

A voice I recognized.

A voice that should have been impossible.

“Lawson…”

My blood ran cold.

Because that voice belonged to someone who was supposed to be dead.

“Your wife knew too much.”

The speakers crackled.

“And now…”

A pause.

“…your children are running out of time.”

I looked toward Jonah and Blythe’s room.

Then toward the darkness ahead.

Someone had declared war on the Mercer family.

And this time…

I wasn’t fighting for money.

I wasn’t fighting for power.

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TO BE CONTINUED...