Chapter 5 - The Trap at the Estate
The message contained four words.
GIVE ME THE LEDGER.
Victor read it once.
Then burned it.
Emma stared at the flame.
“He thinks I have it.”
“No,” Victor said.
“He thinks I care whether you get hurt.”
Emma looked at him.
“Do you?”
Victor met her eyes.
Paul quietly left the room.
Victor waited until the door closed.
“Yes.”
Emma’s breath caught.
Victor continued before she could answer.
“Which means Dalton believes you're leverage.”
“So what happens?”
“You leave.”
Her expression hardened.
“No.”
“This isn't a negotiation.”
“Where?”
“Another property.”
“And Liam?”
“Already there.”
Emma stared at him.
“You planned this.”
“Obviously.”
“You really are unbearable.”
“So I've been told.”
She turned toward the door.
Victor caught her hand.
“Emma.”
She stopped.
His voice changed.
“This isn't about control.”
“Then what is it?”
“Keeping you alive.”
Emma looked down at their hands.
Then back at him.
“You can't protect everyone.”
“No.”
Victor's thumb moved slightly against her fingers.
“But I can protect you.”
The moment ended when alarms sounded downstairs.
Victor released her instantly.
Paul’s voice came through the hallway.
“Lock the West Wing!”
Victor moved toward the door.
Emma grabbed his arm.
“What happened?”
“Someone triggered the service entrance.”
“Dalton?”
“Maybe.”
Victor opened a drawer.
Emma saw the pistol.
Her face tightened.
Victor noticed.
He closed the drawer again without taking it.
“Stay here.”
“You're injured.”
“Not anymore.”
“You were barely standing three days ago.”
“Emma.”
“You're not invincible.”
Victor stared at her.
“No one has spoken to me like this in years.”
“Maybe everyone else is smarter.”
“Probably.”
Despite everything, she almost smiled.
Then Paul entered.
“False alarm.”
Victor turned.
“What?”
“Delivery truck hit the exterior sensor.”
Emma exhaled.
Paul continued.
“But we found Dalton.”
Victor's eyes hardened.
“Where?”
“Airport.”
“Leaving?”
“Trying.”
Victor straightened his cuffs.
“Have the authorities take the evidence.”
Emma blinked.
Paul nodded.
“The financial records?”
“All of it.”
Emma looked surprised.
“You're turning him over?”
Victor faced her.
“What did you expect?”
She didn't answer.
Victor understood anyway.
“That I'd make him disappear?”
Emma remained silent.
Victor approached her.
“You've heard stories about me.”
“Yes.”
“Some are true.”
That wasn't comforting.
“But Dalton stole from dozens of people. If I settle this privately, those people never get justice.”
Emma stared at him.
Victor continued.
“He faces what he did publicly.”
Paul nodded.
“I'll make the call.”
After he left, Emma said quietly, “You surprise me.”
“Don't sound so disappointed.”
“I'm not.”
Victor moved closer.
“How not disappointed?”
Emma smiled.
“Don't push your luck.”
May you like
For the second time, Victor Hayes laughed.
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