Chapter 9 - FIRE AT THE LAKE HOUSE
Evelyn Montigue did not look like a criminal.
She looked like someone who chaired museums.
Someone who hosted charity galas.
Someone magazines would call timeless.
She stood beneath the headlights wearing a camel-colored coat.
Charles held a gun beside her.
Three armed men surrounded the house.
Evelyn lifted a bullhorn.
“Victor.”
“We don’t need violence.”
Damian whispered, “That’s usually what people say right before violence.”
Marcus checked the back windows.
“Two men east side.”
“One at the garage.”
Victor asked, “Can we get the kids out?”
“Basement tunnel.”
Victor looked at him.
“There’s a tunnel?”
“Old storm shelter.”
Marcus shrugged.
“I checked the property before bringing you.”
Victor nodded.
“Nora takes Sophie.”
“Martha takes Ethan.”
Ethan appeared behind them.
“No.”
Victor turned.
“You are going.”
“I’m not leaving you.”
Victor knelt.
“You are.”
“Dad—”
“Ethan.”
His son’s eyes filled with tears.
Victor softened.
“You know what brave means?”
Ethan nodded.
“Sometimes it means staying.”
Victor shook his head.
“Sometimes it means leaving so someone else can fight without being afraid for you.”
Ethan looked toward Damian.
Then back.
“Promise you’ll come.”
Victor hugged him.
“I promise.”
A bottle smashed through the front window.
Flames exploded across the rug.
“MOVE!” Marcus shouted.
Smoke filled the room.
Nora ran toward the basement with Sophie.
Martha pulled Ethan after her.
Victor, Damian, and Marcus attacked the fire with extinguishers while more glass shattered.
Another firebomb landed in the dining room.
Evelyn’s voice came through the bullhorn.
“Bring me the children and everyone walks away!”
Victor stared through the smoke.
“She really thinks I’ll do that?”
Damian grabbed his shoulder.
“She doesn’t need you to agree.”
“What?”
Damian pointed toward the tunnel door.
Marcus ran toward it.
Seconds later he returned.
“Tunnel exit is compromised.”
Victor’s stomach dropped.
“How?”
“They knew about it.”
Damian looked toward Martha.
Only five people knew the address.
Martha shook her head.
“Don’t look at me.”
Nora cried, “I didn’t tell anyone.”
Marcus checked his phone.
Then looked at Victor.
“My car tracker.”
“What?”
“Someone cloned the signal.”
Damian cursed.
“They followed us.”
A loud crash shook the back wall.
An SUV rammed through the garage door.
Gunfire followed.
Marcus returned fire.
Victor grabbed Ethan and dragged him behind a stone fireplace.
“Stay low!”
Sophie screamed downstairs.
Charles shouted from outside.
“Last chance!”
Victor looked toward Damian.
“Can you get them through the north wall?”
“There’s a boat dock.”
“Go.”
Damian stared.
“What about you?”
“I’ll draw them south.”
“You’re insane.”
“I’m their target.”
“You’re my brother.”
The words stopped Victor.
For nine years, neither had called the other that.
Victor looked at him.
“Then help me save my kids.”
Damian nodded.
He took Ethan.
“Come on.”
Victor grabbed a fireplace poker and smashed a side window.
Smoke poured outside.
He climbed through.
“EVELYN!”
Every head turned.
Victor stepped into the rain.
“I’M HERE!”
Evelyn smiled.
“Where are the children?”
“Safe.”
Charles raised his gun.
Victor spread his arms.
“You want a Blackwood?”
“Take one.”
Evelyn studied him.
“So much like your mother.”
Victor’s face hardened.
“Did you kill her?”
Evelyn smiled again.
No answer.
That was enough.
Victor stepped forward.
“You did.”
“She took everything from me.”
“She was your employer’s wife.”
“She was a coward.”
Victor’s jaw clenched.
“You sabotaged her car.”
Evelyn’s smile disappeared.
“Your father ordered it.”
Victor froze.
“No.”
“He wanted a divorce.”
“She threatened to expose him.”
“He asked Charles to solve the problem.”
Victor stared at Charles.
Charles looked away.
Victor’s stomach twisted.
“My father killed my mother.”
Evelyn shrugged.
“And then he blamed me.”
“He always needed someone disposable.”
Victor looked toward the burning house.
His entire childhood shattered in less than a minute.
Then Evelyn said:
“And Serena finally became useful.”
Victor looked at her.
“You used your own daughter.”
“I created my daughter.”
“I shaped her.”
“I taught her what the Blackwoods took from us.”
Victor’s voice went quiet.
“And when she stopped obeying?”
Evelyn’s face said everything.
Victor realized.
“You tried to kill Serena in the river.”
Charles laughed.
“She became sentimental.”
Victor’s eyes narrowed.
“What do you mean?”
“She stopped me from shooting you.”
Charles raised his gun.
“So Evelyn decided she had outlived her purpose.”
Before Victor could respond, a scream came from the dock.
Ethan.
Victor turned.
One of Evelyn’s men had found them.
He was dragging Ethan through the rain.
Damian lay bleeding near the boat.
Victor’s entire world narrowed to his son.
Evelyn smiled.
May you like
“Now.”
“Let’s negotiate.”
