Chapter 6 - The Last Betrayal
Claire planned to leave Friday.
On Thursday night, Gabriel entered the kitchen.
“We have a problem.”
Adrian looked up.
“What?”
“Victoria made a call from county detention.”
“To whom?”
“We don't know.”
Claire's stomach tightened.
Adrian immediately turned to her.
“Take Noah upstairs.”
“No.”
“Claire.”
“Don't start ordering me around now.”
Gabriel’s phone rang.
He answered.
Then his expression changed.
“What?”
Silence.
“When?”
He hung up.
“Daniel is missing.”
Adrian stood.
“Since when?”
“Twenty minutes.”
A car engine roared outside.
Then headlights stopped near the front doors.
Daniel stumbled into the foyer.
His shirt was torn.
Gabriel rushed forward.
“What happened?”
Daniel held up a phone.
“Victoria had another man inside your security team.”
Adrian’s expression hardened.
“Who?”
Daniel played a message.
A male voice spoke.
“Leave the estate. Claire Bennett and her son are the remaining witnesses.”
Claire pulled Noah closer.
Adrian said,
“Name.”
Daniel swallowed.
“Peter Kane.”
Gabriel froze.
Peter had worked beside him for nine years.
Adrian asked,
“Where is he?”
The lights went out.
Noah screamed.
Claire dropped to her knees.
“Stay with me.”
Emergency lights flickered on.
A shadow moved at the end of the corridor.
Gabriel shouted.
“Peter!”
Peter Kane stepped into view.
No gun raised.
His hands were empty.
Adrian stared at him.
“What are you doing?”
Peter looked exhausted.
“Trying to stop this.”
Gabriel kept his weapon trained on him.
“Explain.”
“Victoria called me.”
“And?”
“She ordered me to kill Claire.”
Adrian’s face became deadly still.
Peter reached into his jacket.
Gabriel raised his gun.
“Slow.”
Peter removed a phone.
“I recorded everything.”
Adrian took it.
Victoria’s voice played.
Cold.
Precise.
“Remove the woman and boy before the hearing. Without them, Adrian’s story becomes weaker.”
Peter's recorded voice answered.
“No.”
Victoria laughed.
“Everyone has a price.”
Peter said,
“Not anymore.”
The recording ended.
Peter looked at Adrian.
“I spent years doing things I shouldn't have done.”
Adrian said nothing.
Peter continued.
“I won't touch a child.”
Noah peeked from behind Claire.
Peter looked away.
Adrian handed the phone to Gabriel.
“Give this to the prosecutors.”
Gabriel lowered his weapon.
Peter exhaled.
Claire looked at Adrian.
“Is it finally over?”
Adrian looked at Noah.
May you like
Then at her.
“It will be.”
