Chapter 12 - THE MOTHER OF THE HOUSE
Evelyn Blackwood arrived at the mansion that evening.
She was sixty-three.
Elegant.
Controlled.
Untouchable.
She walked into the library and looked at Victor as though he were a disobedient child.
“You had my car stopped by armed men.”
Victor placed the photograph on the table.
Evelyn looked at it once.
Her expression did not change.
“Where did you get this?”
“Crane left it behind.”
“Crane is a coward.”
“Rosa says a woman with your ring ordered her to drug Ethan.”
Evelyn glanced at the black stone on her finger.
“Many women own black diamonds.”
“Not many have access to my house.”
Evelyn removed her gloves.
“I protected this family for forty years.”
“You protected the business.”
“The business is the family.”
Victor stared at her.
“Did you know Serena planned to control Ethan’s trust?”
“I knew she wanted security.”
“Did you know she planned to kill me?”
Evelyn looked away.
That was answer enough.
Isabella stepped forward.
“You knew?”
Evelyn’s voice remained calm.
“Your brother has become reckless.”
“He refused to expand the old routes.”
“He rejected alliances your father spent decades building.”
Victor’s eyes darkened.
“Those routes were criminal.”
“They made you powerful.”
“They made you feared.”
“They made every luxury in this house possible.”
Lily entered carrying her father’s notebook.
Evelyn looked at her.
“Thomas Ross’s daughter.”
Lily stopped.
“You remember him.”
“Your father was a self-righteous fool.”
“Did you kill him?”
Evelyn smiled faintly.
“No.”
“But I allowed the men who did.”
Lily’s face drained of color.
Victor stepped between them.
“You are finished.”
Evelyn laughed.
“You think arresting Serena ends this?”
“You think exposing me destroys the network?”
“It does not belong to one family.”
“It reaches judges, police chiefs and senators.”
Marcus entered.
“We have officers outside.”
Evelyn turned toward the window.
Blue lights reflected against the rain.
She looked back at Victor.
“You called the police.”
Victor shook his head.
“No.”
The library doors burst open.
Detective Paul Mercer entered with a tactical team.
He aimed his weapon at Victor.
“Victor Blackwood, get on your knees.”
Isabella stared at him.
“Why are you arresting him?”
Mercer smiled.
“For the kidnapping of his own son.”
May you like
Then he looked at Evelyn.
And she gave him a small approving nod.
