Chapter 11 - THE HUNT
“DOWN!”
Ethan tackled Julian.
A bullet struck the boat.
Everyone screamed.
They jumped into the water.
Julian dragged Martha toward the shore.
Bianca pulled Clara behind a concrete barrier.
More shots followed.
Then silence.
Ethan peered over the edge.
“They're gone.”
Julian breathed hard.
“Good.”
“No,” Ethan said.
“They wanted us alive.”
Julian understood.
They were being pushed toward the estate.
They went anyway.
At midnight, Julian entered the mansion with Martha, Bianca, Ethan, and Clara.
The lights came on.
Arthur Vale stood at the end of the hall.
Julian stared at the man who had once been his grandfather.
“You're alive.”
Arthur smiled.
“Family should never be strangers.”
Julian stepped forward.
“You destroyed my family.”
Arthur shook his head.
“Your father did that.”
“He tried to protect us.”
“He tried to expose me.”
Martha shouted, “You killed him!”
Arthur looked at her.
“He chose to die.”
Julian's face hardened.
“You murdered him.”
Arthur sighed.
“You've inherited his temper.”
He snapped his fingers.
Screens descended from the ceiling.
Videos appeared.
Julian's father.
Evelyn.
Victor.
Martha.
Everyone.
Then Bianca.
A recording showed Bianca signing documents.
Julian looked at her.
She shook her head.
“That isn't what it looks like.”
Arthur smiled.
“Isn't it?”
Julian didn't answer.
Arthur turned to Martha.
“You should have died tonight.”
Martha stepped forward.
“You failed.”
Arthur's expression changed.
Then the mansion doors locked.
Gas began leaking from the vents.
Julian shouted, “Run!”
Everyone scattered.
Ethan smashed a window.
Clara found an emergency switch.
Bianca grabbed Martha.
“Come on!”
They escaped into the garden.
Julian looked back.
Arthur was still standing inside.
He didn't run.
He simply watched them.
Then he raised a phone.
Julian's phone rang.
Arthur spoke.
“Your company board meets tomorrow morning.”
“What about it?”
“I have enough evidence to remove you.”
Julian laughed.
“You think this is about the company?”
Arthur smiled.
“No.”
He paused.
“It is about blood.”
The call ended.
Julian looked at his family.
Then at the mansion.
He realized Arthur wasn't trying to take his money.
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He was trying to make Julian destroy his own family.
And the first person Arthur intended to sacrifice was Bianca.
