Chapter 12 - LILY’S TESTIMONY
“Don’t.”
Lily’s voice echoed through the tunnel.
Victor looked at her.
Michael laughed.
“The nanny has an opinion.”
Lily stepped forward.
“You’re going to hurt Ethan whether he signs or not.”
Michael’s smile faded slightly.
“You don’t know me.”
“Yes, I do.”
Lily’s voice trembled.
“My father knew you.”
Michael’s eyes narrowed.
“And he left enough evidence for me to know exactly what you are.”
Serena looked toward Michael.
Lily continued.
“You didn’t bring Victor here for money.”
“You already had access to millions.”
“You brought him here because you want him humiliated.”
Victor slowly understood what Lily was doing.
She was keeping Michael talking.
Cole’s men were moving through the side tunnels.
Michael smiled.
“Smart girl.”
“My father was smarter.”
Lily replied.
“That’s why you were afraid of him.”
Michael’s expression hardened.
“I was never afraid of Daniel.”
“You killed him because he had proof.”
Silence.
Lily stepped closer.
“Say it.”
Michael laughed.
“Why?”
“Because you’ve waited nine years to tell someone how clever you were.”
That hit him.
Victor saw it.
Michael’s ego was the one weakness Daniel’s files had described repeatedly.
Michael wanted recognition.
He wanted Victor to know he had won.
Michael looked directly at Lily.
“Your father should have minded his own business.”
Lily’s eyes filled.
“So you killed him.”
“He forced my hand.”
Serena stared at Michael.
Victor remained still.
Michael continued.
“He thought a few ledgers could destroy me.”
“He was wrong.”
Lily’s hand remained inside her coat pocket.
Her phone was recording everything.
But Michael did not know that.
“What did you do to him?”
Lily asked.
Victor wanted to stop her.
He could see how much the question hurt.
But Lily needed the answer.
Michael smiled.
“I gave him one last chance.”
“He refused.”
“So I made sure he never spoke again.”
Lily’s tears finally fell.
Victor’s face became stone.
Michael had just confessed.
Not only to Lily.
To every law-enforcement contact Cole had quietly patched into Lily’s phone before entering the depot.
Serena suddenly realized something was wrong.
“Michael.”
He ignored her.
Lily continued.
“And Serena?”
Michael looked amused.
“What about her?”
“She was always disposable, wasn’t she?”
Serena turned sharply.
Michael’s silence answered.
“You promised me half.”
Serena said.
Michael laughed.
“I promised you whatever made you useful.”
Serena stared at him.
“You used me.”
Victor almost could not believe the absurdity of hearing those words from her.
Then Serena looked at Ethan.
Something dangerous changed in her face.
“If I get nothing, nobody gets anything.”
She lunged toward Michael.
Michael jerked backward.
Ethan slipped from his arms.
Lily screamed.
Victor moved.
But Lily was closer.
She threw herself forward.
Ethan fell.
Lily caught him inches above the concrete floor.
Her shoulder slammed into the ground.
She cried out.
But Ethan was safe.
Victor pulled them behind cover.
Gunfire erupted through the tunnel.
Cole’s team rushed in.
Michael ran.
Serena disappeared through another passage.
And somewhere beneath them, a warning alarm began to scream.
Cole looked toward the wall.
His face changed.
“Victor.”
May you like
“The fuel system.”
Michael had activated the explosives.
