Chapter 16 - Betrayal in the Dark
Clara felt a cold dread wash over her, but she refused to let panic show on her face. She took a step back, looking for an escape route, but another guard stepped out of the shadows behind her.
"I think there's been a mistake," Clara said, her voice cool and commanding. "I am a guest of Marcus Vance. If you touch me, his firm will sue your employer into bankruptcy before the night is over."
The guard in front of her didn't flinch. "Mr. Vance is currently occupied. Please, follow us."
Realizing she had no choice, Clara walked between the two guards as they led her up a private elevator to the penthouse suite of the hotel. The doors opened to reveal a luxurious, dimly lit office.
Julian Thorne sat behind a massive mahogany desk, holding his tablet. On the screen was a live diagnostic report showing the unauthorized data transmission. Standing next to him was a man Clara recognized instantly—David, Marcus’s private investigator.
Clara’s heart sank. David had betrayed them.
"Ah, Clara," Thorne said, gesturing to the chair in front of his desk. "Please, sit. I must admire your audacity. To think you could walk into my house, steal my data, and walk out of here alive."
Clara looked at David, her eyes cold with betrayal. "How much did he pay you, David?"
David looked down, unable to meet her gaze. "More than Marcus could ever afford, Clara. I have a family to feed."
"Everyone has a price, Clara," Thorne sneered, leaning forward. "Your friend Marcus is a brilliant attorney, but he is naive. He believes in the system. I own the system. I have been watching you at that little seaside cottage for months. I sent you that little toy from the ICU to see if you would be smart enough to stay hidden. But you just couldn't let it go, could you?"
"You killed my son," Clara said, her voice dropping to a whisper of pure, concentrated fury. "You and Garrett used sick children as lab rats for your failed drug, and then you buried the evidence."
"Your son was collateral damage in the pursuit of medical progress," Thorne said coldly. "And now, you and Marcus Vance have become a liability. David has graciously informed me of Marcus's whereabouts. My men are securing him as we speak. You see, Clara, you didn't just fail to pay your debt. You've run out of time."
May you like
Thorne nodded to the guards. "Take her to the research facility in the industrial district. We will make sure her and Mr. Vance's deaths look like a tragic, drug-related accident. A double suicide of a grieving mother and her obsessive lover. It’s a very clean narrative."
Clara was grabbed roughly by the arms. As they dragged her out of the room, she looked back at Thorne. "You think you've won, Julian. But a cornered mother is the most dangerous thing in this world. You should have killed me three years ago."
