Chapter 2 - The Breach in the FortressWhile Walter moved to secure the perimeter and investigate how a civilian child had slipped through a multi-million-dollar defense grid, Bennett carried Mia—and a very disgruntled gray cat with one white foot—into the grand study.
The room was lined with dark mahogany bookshelves, old oil paintings, and a massive oak desk that had belonged to the founding fathers of the Cross syndicate. Bennett set Mia down in a plush leather armchair that swallowed her whole.
"Do you want water? Milk?" Bennett asked, standing awkwardly beside the desk.
"Milk would be nice," Mia said, swinging her legs back and forth. "Do you live here all by yourself? It’s very big. It looks like a castle where a dragon lives, but you don't look like a dragon. You look sad."
Bennett froze. A muscle ticked in his jaw. "Most people don't think I look sad, Mia. They think I look dangerous."
"Only bad guys think people look dangerous," Mia stated matter-of-factly, stroking Button, who had curled up in her lap. "Are you a bad guy?"
Before Bennett could answer, the heavy oak doors swung open. Walter stepped inside, accompanied by a pale, trembling woman in her late twenties wearing a faded apron and a worn jacket. Her eyes were wide with panic, scanning the opulent room until they landed on Mia.
"Mia!" the woman screamed, rushing forward and scooping the child out of the chair, clutching her fiercely to her chest. "Oh, sweet Jesus, Mia, what were you thinking? I turned around for five minutes—"
"I was looking for Button, Mom. I found him. And this nice man has a big house and a cat named Button too, sort of."
The mother looked up, her gaze finally meeting Bennett Cross. Recognition flashed across her face, followed instantly by absolute terror. Color drained completely from her cheeks. She stumbled backward, shielding Mia with her body.
"Mr... Mr. Cross," she choked out, her voice trembling violently. "I swear to God, we didn't mean to trespass. We live in the cottage down by the old quarry road. We just—we didn't know—"
Bennett stared at the woman. The fear in her eyes was real, deep, and justified. But as he looked closer at her face, another shockwave hit him.
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The woman wasn't just a random local.
She had Elena’s eyes.
