Chapter 6 - THE TRAP
Julian slammed the broken bottle into Victor’s forearm.
Victor shouted and dropped the shotgun.
Julian kicked it away and hit him twice in the face.
Victor collapsed against a wine rack.
Julian ran.
He took the stairs two at a time.
“LILY!”
No answer.
He burst into the guest hallway.
Empty.
Then he saw one of Lily’s shoes.
It lay in the middle of the carpet.
His stomach dropped.
“Lily!”
A door opened.
Eleanor stepped into the hall.
She held Lily by the wrist.
Lily’s face was wet with tears.
“Daddy!”
Julian stopped.
Eleanor had a small pistol pressed against Lily’s side.
“Let her go.”
“Give me the drive.”
Julian said nothing.
Eleanor smiled.
“You thought I didn’t know Thomas was copying files?”
“You shot him.”
“Victor did.”
“You ordered it.”
“Details.”
“Let her go.”
“The drive.”
Julian slowly reached into his pocket.
He pulled it out.
Lily shook her head.
“No, Daddy!”
Eleanor tightened her grip.
“Quiet.”
Julian looked at his daughter.
Then at the drive.
Then back at Eleanor.
“You want this?”
“Yes.”
He raised it.
Eleanor’s eyes locked onto it.
Julian threw it over the balcony railing.
Eleanor screamed.
“No!”
She turned instinctively.
Julian lunged.
He grabbed Lily and shoved Eleanor’s gun hand upward.
A shot fired.
The bullet tore into the ceiling.
Lily fell to the floor.
Eleanor clawed at Julian’s face.
“You idiot!”
Julian twisted her wrist.
The pistol dropped.
Lily grabbed it.
Everyone froze.
The eight-year-old stood holding the gun with both hands.
Her arms shook.
“Lily,” Julian said carefully.
She pointed it at Eleanor.
“You killed my mommy.”
Eleanor’s face changed.
For the first time, there was fear.
“Sweetheart,” she said softly, “give me the gun.”
“Don’t call me that.”
Julian approached slowly.
“Lily. Look at me.”
She was breathing too fast.
“She killed Mom.”
“I know.”
“She tried to kill me.”
“I know.”
“I hate her.”
Julian’s heart broke.
“You don’t need to become her.”
Lily looked at him.
Her fingers loosened.
Julian gently took the pistol.
Then a voice came from downstairs.
“Federal agents! Drop your weapons!”
Eleanor went white.
Julian almost laughed.
Lily had made the call.
She had reached the landline after all.
Boots thundered through the foyer.
Eleanor backed away.
“You stupid child.”
Julian stepped between them.
“Say that again.”
But Eleanor suddenly smiled.
“You think this is over?”
She pulled a tiny remote from her sleeve.
Julian’s eyes widened.
May you like
Eleanor pressed the button.
An explosion shook the mansion.
