Chapter 12 - Whispers in the DarkBack at the penthouse, Catherine was feeding Penelope when I walked in. She looked up, instantly sensing the dark cloud hanging over me.
"What did you find?" she asked, setting the baby bottle down gently.
I walked over, pulling up a chair beside her. I didn't want to hide anything from her anymore. Trust was the only armor we had left.
"Daria had a secret adopted son—Julian's brother, Victor," I explained, watching the color drain from Catherine's face. "They didn't just want me grief-stricken and manageable. If I died without an heir, the entire multi-billion-dollar empire would have legally defaulted to Daria's secret trust, bypassing the traditional Kincaid bloodline entirely."
Catherine clutched Penelope tighter to her chest, her knuckles turning white. "And Julian? Where is he?"
"Running," I said, my jaw tightening. "He knows the federal case against Daria is airtight. But he also knows that as long as you and Penelope are alive, the shadow board's plan is completely ruined."
Before Catherine could reply, the penthouse's secure intercom system chimed sharply.
Warning. Biometric override detected at private service elevator. Unknown signature.
My heart slammed against my ribs. The penthouse was locked down tighter than a military bunker. Only my fingerprint, Catherine's, and Marcus's codes could bypass the system.
"Get into the panic room behind the master closet right now," I ordered, grabbing my secure satellite phone and drawing the heavy-duty tactical firearm I kept in the hidden wall safe.
"Samuel, no—I'm not leaving you!" Catherine cried, tears springing to her eyes.
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"Listen to me!" I said, my voice urgent but steady. "Take Penelope and go. If I don't open that door in ten minutes, use the secure tunnel to reach the extraction vehicle. Do you understand?"
With trembling hands, Catherine kissed my cheek, grabbed the baby, and bolted into the master bedroom, sealing the heavy steel-reinforced panic room door behind her.
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