Chapter 4 - VICTOR
The mansion lights went out.
Every one of them.
Julian grabbed a flashlight.
“Mom, stay here.”
“No.”
“Martha, please.”
“I’m not hiding while someone hunts my family.”
A crash came from downstairs.
Glass shattered.
Julian ran.
Three men in dark clothes entered through the kitchen doors.
The first swung a metal bar.
Julian ducked.
The bar smashed the wall.
He drove his shoulder into the man and sent him into the counter.
Another man rushed him.
Julian blocked the punch and slammed him against the refrigerator.
“Who sent you?”
The man smiled.
“You already know.”
Victor.
Julian turned toward the stairs.
“Mom!”
Martha screamed.
A third attacker was climbing toward her.
Julian charged.
He reached the landing just as the man grabbed Martha.
Julian hit him hard enough to knock him backward.
The man fell down six steps.
Martha collapsed against the wall.
“Are you hurt?”
“No.”
Then a voice came from the darkness.
“Impressive.”
Victor Laurent stepped into the light.
He wore a gray coat and carried no weapon.
“You've grown.”
Julian stared at him.
“You killed my father.”
Victor smiled.
“Your father killed himself.”
“You just sent three men into my house.”
“I sent them to retrieve something.”
“What?”
“The box.”
Julian’s blood ran cold.
Victor knew about the box.
“You’re not getting it.”
Victor sighed.
“Your father said the same thing.”
Julian lunged.
Victor stepped aside.
A gunshot cracked through the hallway.
Julian froze.
One of the attackers had fired into the ceiling.
“Next one goes through your mother.”
Victor looked at Martha.
“You should have stayed quiet.”
Martha’s voice shook.
“You promised me my son would be safe.”
Victor’s smile disappeared.
“I promised your husband.”
Julian stared at him.
“What promise?”
Victor walked closer.
“Your father and I made a deal.”
“What deal?”
“Ask your mother.”
Martha closed her eyes.
Julian looked at her.
“Mom?”
Before she could answer, Bianca appeared at the top of the stairs.
She was crying.
“Victor, stop.”
Victor looked at her.
“You were supposed to handle this.”
“I tried.”
“You failed.”
Julian stared at Bianca.
“You knew.”
Bianca whispered, “I never wanted anyone to get hurt.”
Victor laughed.
“You wanted the company.”
“I wanted Julian.”
“And now you have neither.”
Victor raised his gun.
Bianca stepped in front of Julian.
“Don't.”
For one second, Julian saw something real in her face.
Fear.
Then Victor fired.
Bianca screamed.
But the bullet never hit her.
Martha had stepped between them.
The bullet struck the wooden banister.
Julian pulled his mother down.
Victor shouted, “Move!”
The mansion filled with sirens.
Victor fled through the rear doors.
Julian chased him into the garden.
He reached the gate just in time to see Victor disappear into a waiting black SUV.
Then his phone buzzed.
A message from Bianca.
I DIDN’T KNOW HE WOULD KILL YOUR FATHER.
Julian stared at it.
May you like
Then another message appeared.
BUT I KNOW WHO ORDERED IT.
