Chapter 11 - THE TRAP BENEATH CHICAGO
Lily called Victor immediately.
He answered on the second ring.
“Serena sent me a message.”
Victor listened.
“Could Michael have sent it?”
“Yes.”
“Could Serena?”
“Yes.”
That was the problem.
They could trust nothing.
Victor’s convoy stopped two blocks from the depot.
Cole studied the building plans.
“There are underground fuel lines.”
Victor understood.
“If Michael rigged them—”
“The entire lower level could go.”
Victor called Lily.
“Stay at the mansion.”
“I’m coming.”
“No.”
“Victor.”
“No.”
Lily’s voice hardened.
“I know those tunnels better than your men.”
Victor almost refused again.
Then he remembered Daniel had taken Lily there as a child.
Ten minutes later, Lily arrived with two guards.
Victor was furious.
But there was no time to argue.
She studied the map.
“This tunnel isn’t right.”
Cole frowned.
“What?”
“There used to be a maintenance passage here.”
She pointed to the eastern wall.
“My father showed me.”
“It connected to the old loading platform.”
The passage did not appear on current plans.
Victor looked at Cole.
“That’s our entrance.”
They entered through the abandoned tunnel.
Water dripped from rusted pipes.
The air smelled of oil and concrete.
Lily moved carefully.
Then she heard something.
A baby crying.
“Ethan.”
Victor caught her before she ran forward.
“Wait.”
The crying continued.
Lily listened.
Then her face changed.
“That’s a recording.”
Victor understood.
Michael was guiding them.
They moved in the opposite direction.
At the end of the tunnel, they found Adrian Cross.
He was standing beside a steel door.
Gun in hand.
Victor stared at the man who had protected his home for seven years.
“Why?”
Adrian looked exhausted.
“Money.”
“That simple?”
“No.”
Adrian shook his head.
“Michael had evidence against my brother.”
“He owned me.”
“You could have come to me.”
“And told you I betrayed you?”
“Yes.”
Adrian laughed bitterly.
“You would have killed me.”
Victor looked at him.
“Maybe.”
“At least my son would still be in his bed.”
Adrian lowered the weapon slightly.
Then a shot cracked through the tunnel.
Adrian collapsed.
Michael’s voice came through hidden speakers.
“Touching reunion.”
Victor pulled Lily behind a concrete pillar.
Cole’s men spread out.
“Michael.”
Victor shouted.
“Enough.”
“Bring me Ethan.”
A door opened at the far end.
Michael stepped into view.
Five years had changed him.
Gray touched his hair.
A scar ran along his jaw.
But the smile was the same.
Beside him stood Serena.
Her hands were no longer tied.
Victor understood.
The video had been staged.
Serena smiled.
“You really thought I needed saving?”
Lily felt sick.
Michael lifted Ethan into view.
The little boy was awake.
His face crumpled when he saw Lily.
“Lily.”
She moved instinctively.
Victor stopped her.
Michael smiled.
“Give me the drive.”
Victor held it up.
“Give me my son.”
Michael shook his head.
“First, you sign something.”
Serena carried a folder forward.
Victor opened it.
Guardianship documents.
Corporate transfers.
Control of the Blackwood trust.
Victor looked up.
Michael smiled.
“You built an empire.”
“Now sign it over.”
May you like
Victor looked at Ethan.
Then he picked up the pen.
