Chapter 5 - Shadows at the DoorBy five in the morning, Nathan arrived at Blackwood Estate
Lily and Maya were asleep in the master guest suite, tucked safely under thick velvet blankets. For the first time in their lives, they were sleeping in absolute safety, surrounded by thermal cameras, bulletproof glass, and a dozen loyal guards.
Nathan sat in the grand library, reviewing hidden financial ledgers that Vance’s team had managed to recover from a hidden safe inside his father’s old office.
The documents revealed a horrific trail of corruption. Eight years ago, Julian had discovered that Davidson was laundering billions through offshore shell companies tied to human trafficking and illegal weapons trading. When Julian threatened to go to the FBI, Davidson arranged the fatal crash. William Collins, terrified of losing his company and his remaining son, had bribed local officials, covered up the murder investigation, and hidden Clara and her unborn twins in exchange for keeping Davidson at bay.
William had spent the last eight years playing a deadly game of chess, keeping Davidson close while building a vault of evidence to destroy him upon his death.
Suddenly, Nathan's phone buzzed. An unknown, encrypted number was calling.
Nathan answered immediately. "Speak."
A rough, strained voice came through the speaker. "Nathan... is that you?"
Nathan sat up straight. "Clara?"
"They... they have me," Clara gasped out, her voice laced with pain. "Davidson’s men... in an abandoned warehouse near the docks... Pier 42. They know the girls ran to the cemetery... they don't know you have them yet, but they're going to kill me at dawn if—"
A heavy thud echoed through the phone, followed by a harsh male voice grabbing the line.
May you like
"Mr. Collins," the sinister voice sneered. "We know Clara left a message. If you want her alive, come to Pier 42 alone in one hour. Bring whatever documents your father left behind. If we see a single cop or guard, the mother dies."
The call went dead.
