Chapter 7 - THE WIFE THEY PLANNED TO KILL
Everett wanted Sterling dragged downstairs immediately.
Willa stopped him.
“You need proof.”
“I heard him.”
“A court didn’t.”
“I don’t need a court.”
Willa stared at him.
“That’s exactly what Sterling expects.”
Everett went quiet.
“You kill him, you become the monster he says you are.”
“You think I care what people say?”
“I think you care what happens after you.”
That landed.
Everett looked away.
Willa sat beside him.
“We expose him.”
“And Whitfield.”
“And whoever helped them.”
A knock came.
Crowley entered.
“We found Ruth.”
Willa stood so fast the chair fell.
“Where?”
“Private rehabilitation center in Wisconsin.”
“Is she okay?”
“She’s alive.”
Willa covered her mouth.
Crowley continued.
“Sterling’s people registered her under a false name.”
Everett looked at Marcus.
“Bring her back.”
“Already arranged.”
For the first time since the wedding, Willa’s shoulders dropped.
Then Crowley added, “There’s more.”
He handed Everett a tablet.
Security footage.
Sterling entering Everett’s room repeatedly during the coma.
Sometimes alone.
Sometimes with Whitfield.
One video showed Sterling standing beside Everett’s bed.
Audio crackled.
“You always thought you were smarter than me.”
Sterling leaned toward unconscious Everett.
“You built the empire. Fine. I’ll inherit it.”
Everett watched without blinking.
Willa touched his wrist.
Sterling continued on video.
“And that homeless girl? She’ll be useful for a week.”
Willa’s stomach tightened.
Then Sterling laughed.
“After you stop breathing, she’ll have an accident too.”
Marcus exhaled.
“That’s conspiracy.”
“That’s attempted murder,” Willa said.
Everett’s voice was cold.
“That’s confession.”
They copied the footage.
But before Marcus could contact federal investigators, the mansion’s power died.
Every light went black.
Everett looked up.
“Generator?”
Crowley checked his radio.
Nothing.
Willa heard glass break downstairs.
Then gunfire.
Pop.
Pop.
Pop.
Crowley drew his weapon.
“Stay here.”
Everett tried to stand.
His legs buckled.
Willa caught him.
“You can barely walk.”
“Give me a gun.”
“Absolutely not.”
“Willa.”
“You’ve been in bed eight months!”
Another burst of gunfire sounded downstairs.
Rosa screamed.
Everett grabbed the bedside drawer.
Inside was a pistol.
Willa stared.
“You had a gun in an ICU?”
“I’m from Chicago.”
She almost laughed despite herself.
The bedroom door slammed open.
A masked man rushed in.
Everett raised the weapon.
His hand shook.
Willa grabbed his wrist, steadied it—
BANG.
The attacker fell backward.
Everett looked at her.
“You said no gun.”
“I changed my mind.”
Footsteps thundered in the hallway.
Crowley yelled, “They’re coming upstairs!”
Willa dragged Everett toward the bathroom.
Behind them, another attacker entered.
Before he could fire, Rosa appeared from the side and smashed a lamp over his head.
“RUN!”
Willa and Everett made it into the hidden service corridor.
Everett leaned heavily against her.
“Sterling?”
“No,” Willa whispered.
“He’s locked inside.”
Everett stopped.
They looked at each other.
If Sterling was still under guard—
May you like
Someone else had ordered the attack.
Cliffhanger: Sterling was only part of the conspiracy, and the person truly running it was still free.
