Chapter 5 - Checkmate in the ConservatoryThe heavy glass door shattered inward, shards spraying across the Italian tile floor.
Meredith Shaw sat at a wrought-iron table in the center of the indoor greenhouse, calmly sipping Earl Grey tea from a porcelain cup. She wore an emerald silk robe that shimmered under the amber lights, her silver-streaked hair pinned up in an immaculate bun.
She didn't even flinch at the sound of the shattered glass. She merely set her teacup down with a delicate clink.
"Declan, darling," Meredith said, turning her head with a serene, terrifying smile. "I was wondering when you’d finally connect the dots. Though I must admit, I expected you to figure it out a week ago. You're losing your edge, little brother."
Declan raised the Glock, his aim locked squarely between his sister's eyes. The barrel didn't tremble by a millimeter.
"Where is the master control unit, Meredith?" Declan’s voice was a low, lethal purr. "Give me the frequency router, or I swear to God, I will paint this glass with you."
Meredith let out a soft, musical laugh. She leaned back in her chair, crossing her legs.
"Shoot me, and the encrypted cloud server holding the historical audio logs of your daughters' screams automatically uploads to every major news outlet and the federal family services board," Meredith said smoothly, her eyes gleaming with malice. "Within ten minutes, the state will seize Grace and June for their own protection, citing 'severe domestic endangerment by a known syndicate leader.' You'll never see them again."
Emma stepped out from behind Declan, her eyes blazing with indignation.
"You tortured two innocent little girls just to get back at your brother?" Emma demanded, stepping right up to the edge of the table. "They were terrified every single night! They thought they were losing their minds!"
Meredith turned her gaze toward Emma, her smile dropping into a mask of pure ice.
"And who are you, little mouse? The temporary help? The disposable maid playing savior?" Meredith sneered. "In our world, weakness is a disease. Declan raised them soft. I was just hardening them for the real world. Though, admittedly, it was quite fun watching them cry."
That was the mistake.
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Meredith had looked away from Declan for a fraction of a second too long.
Declan didn't shoot her. Instead, he holstered his gun with lightning speed, lunged across the table, grabbed the front of Meredith’s silk robe, and hauled her straight out of her chair.
