Chapter 11 - A MOTHER’S PRICE
The message included coordinates.
An abandoned Harlow shipping warehouse by the river.
And a deadline.
Two hours.
Marcus shook his head.
“It’s a trap.”
“Obviously.”
Anna stood beside Damian.
“We still go.”
“No.”
She glared at him.
“You’re not deciding for me.”
“I’m not bringing you anywhere near Celeste.”
“She kidnapped your mother.”
“My mother helped create this nightmare.”
“That doesn’t mean she deserves to die.”
Damian looked at her.
There it was again.
The part of Eliza that had always made him ashamed when he chose anger over mercy.
“You stay in the armored vehicle.”
“We’ll negotiate that later.”
“No.”
Anna smiled without humor.
“Good to know almost dying didn’t make you less controlling.”
Marcus looked away, hiding a grin.
Damian pointed at him.
“Not funny.”
They reached the warehouse after dark.
Police tactical units stayed hidden several blocks away.
Celeste had warned that Victoria would die if she saw police.
Damian entered carrying the drive.
Anna was supposed to remain outside.
She lasted forty seconds.
Inside, the warehouse smelled like rust and river water.
Victoria sat tied to a chair beneath a hanging light.
Blood ran from her forehead.
Damian stepped forward.
“Mother.”
“I’m fine.”
A slow clap echoed through the building.
Celeste emerged from behind a shipping container.
No silk gown now.
No diamonds.
Jeans.
Black jacket.
A pistol.
“You always did love dramatic entrances,” Damian said.
Celeste smiled.
“I learned from your family.”
“Let her go.”
“Drive.”
He held it up.
“You first.”
“Damian.”
“Celeste.”
Her smile disappeared.
“I gave you two years.”
“You stole two years.”
“I loved you.”
“You drugged my wife.”
“She was leaving you.”
“That wasn’t your decision.”
“She hated what you were becoming.”
“She hated what I did.”
Celeste’s eyes sharpened.
“Same thing.”
A sound came from the shadows.
Anna stepped into view.
Damian nearly lost his mind.
“Eliza!”
Celeste pointed the gun.
“There she is.”
Anna stopped.
“You tried to kill me.”
Celeste laughed softly.
“I tried to free all of us.”
“By pushing my car off a mountain?”
Victoria looked at Anna.
“It wasn’t supposed to happen that way.”
Everyone froze.
Damian turned.
“What?”
Victoria closed her eyes.
Celeste smiled.
“Oh, Damian. You still don’t understand.”
Victoria whispered, “I only wanted to scare her.”
Damian stared at his mother.
“You were involved in the crash?”
“I told Celeste to get the evidence back.”
Anna’s face changed.
“You sent her after me.”
Victoria’s voice broke.
“I thought you had copies. I thought you were going to destroy the company.”
“You tried to destroy my life!”
“I built that company!”
“And I was your family!”
Victoria looked away.
Celeste stepped closer.
“She was always so self-righteous.”
Anna stared at her.
“You ran me off the road.”
“You wouldn’t stop.”
“You left me there.”
“No.”
Celeste smiled.
“I climbed down after you.”
Anna’s breathing stopped.
Memory exploded.
Rain.
Blood.
Mud.
Celeste dragging her from the wreck.
Not rescuing her.
Pulling the wedding ring off her finger.
Pouring gasoline inside the car.
Anna screamed.
“You burned it!”
Celeste’s eyes glittered.
“I needed Damian to believe you were dead.”
Damian took one step.
Celeste aimed the gun at his chest.
“Don’t.”
Then Victoria spoke.
“Tell him the rest.”
Celeste’s expression changed.
Damian stared.
“What rest?”
Victoria looked at him.
May you like
“She didn’t just want Eliza gone.”
A gunshot exploded.
