Chapter 4 - THE BROTHER IN THE SHADOWS
The realization that Clara’s death four years ago had not been a tragic twist of fate, but the opening move in a cold, calculating nightmare, transformed Ethan's grief into something dangerous.
For four years, Ethan had lived with the guilt that Clara had died while driving to pick up his medication during a rainstorm. He had blamed himself for her death every single day. He had married Vanessa because she seemed like a gentle, healing soul who stepped into his broken life and helped him pick up the pieces.
It had all been a play. A staged, horrific performance written in blood.
"Where is Carter Sterling?" Ethan asked, his knuckles turning white as he gripped the hospital bed sheet.
"He disappeared three hours ago," Kane said. "The moment we raided the Malibu house, Carter cleaned out his apartment in Venice Beach and went off the grid. We have an APB out on him across California, Nevada, and Arizona."
"He knows he's exposed," Ethan said, his eyes narrowing. "Carter was the mechanic who worked on Clara's brakes. He sabotaged her car."
"That's our working theory," Kane admitted. "And if Carter is running, he knows Vanessa is facing life without parole. He knows that if he gets caught, he's going to death row. A cornered animal like Carter Sterling is extremely dangerous, Mr. Bennett. We are putting round-the-clock armed security on this hospital room, and on your house once you're discharged."
"I don't care about the house," Ethan said, looking over at Sophie’s sleeping form. "I want him found. I want every asset I own put toward tracking him down."
Ethan picked up his personal phone from the nightstand and dialed a private number.
"Ethan?" a gravelly, authoritative voice answered on the second ring. It was Arthur Pendelton, Ethan’s former head of corporate security—a retired Delta Force operator who now managed a private global intelligence firm.
"Arthur," Ethan spoke, his voice completely devoid of emotion. "I need your entire team activated tonight. I want Carter Sterling found. I don't care what state he's in, what border he's trying to cross, or who he's hiding with. Find him before the police do."
"I heard about Vanessa on the news an hour ago, Ethan," Arthur said, his tone turning deadly serious. "My men are already deploying. We're tracking his cell tower pings and financial trails. If Carter Sterling is breathing on this continent, I'll have his location within twelve hours."
"Bring him to me alive, Arthur," Ethan said flatly. "I want answers."
Ethan hung up the phone and looked over at Detective Kane, who was staring at him with a mix of concern and warning.
"Mr. Bennett," Kane said softly. "Let us do our jobs. Vigilante action will only destroy the legal case we are building against Vanessa."
"I'm not going to break the law, Detective," Ethan lied smoothly, his eyes cold as ice. "I'm just going to make sure my daughter never has to live in fear again."
Two hours later, while the hospital fell into late-night quiet, Ethan’s phone buzzed with a text message from an unknown number.
Attached was a picture taken from outside the hospital building, looking up at the ninth-floor window where Sophie’s room was located. A red laser dot was aimed directly at the glass of Sophie’s window.
May you like
Below the picture was a single line of text:
Tell the cops to drop the warrants against Vanessa, Ethan. Or your daughter doesn't leave this hospital alive.
