LOGINPhil felt a wave of shock flush through his core as he felt a sharp pain in his shoulder. He glanced at his shoulder and saw blood blooming from it. Michael strolled forward and paused behind her. Phil fell to his knees, his hand on his shoulder. “I’m sorry,” he whispered—to Jane, or to himself. Jane stared at him for a moment, she felt pity—something she never thought she'd feel for him after what she had done to her. But, he was the one who made her stronger, the one who was there for her when she had nowhere to go. The sound of the sirens grew nearer. “Go,” Phil said. “Before they get you. Go, now!” Jane was stuck for a moment. Then she turned, grabbing Michael and Luke, dragging them toward the shadows of the garden beyond the greenhouse. Phil could not take his eyes off them as they vanished through the garden. His vision blurred. Jane didn't look back—not for a second. She knew she had to move with strict urgency. She was momentarily paralyzed after Phil’s encounter but s
As they stepped into the corridor behind the study, the once-peaceful environment erupted into controlled chaos. Emergency lights strobbed along the wall painting everything in red shadows. From both sides of the hallway, armed security men trooped in. The men who came in were Palmer’s private security men mixed with a few of Blackwood's estate cards who appeared confused. They had forgotten where their loyalty lay. “I think we should go left. It feels safe to do that. left, now!” Michael barked, his voice sounded strained, but it had command in it. Jane reacted instantly, hooking Luke’s arm around her shoulders as she pivoted. Her father’s weight dragged on her, years of confinement and injury slowed him, but she refused to let go. She felt Michael’s hand at the small of her back, firm, guiding, protective.A disturbing sound erupted behind. The sound was deafening in the narrow passage. A plastic material exploded right by Jane’s head. She was fast enough to dodge it. She turned b
Phil knew he had to make the tough decision. One he never anticipated. He was being tested. The organization wanted to know where his loyalty lies. The only way was to put Jane in the mix. They knew he had a soft spot for her. Meanwhile, in the Blackwood mansion, the words struck like a blade through the bare skin. Jane released her breath after she realized she had been holding her breath. “You’ve been aware of most of our moves,” she said slowly. “You were there. You listened attentively and silently. You reported every move. You coward.”Daniel’s smile widened further, “You were outstanding, I must admit. The ruthless Kate Vance who has now made love her weakness. You were the perfect weapon. The updates I gave them were top-notch.”Jane’s fingers trembled, but she managed to roll them into fists. Michael turned his head slightly, his voice was a low rumble. “You were a contributing factor in making her suffer. You're a disgrace, Daniel. You know nothing about loyalty.”Daniel’s
“The backup generators will kick-start after five minutes I think, that's all the time we have,” Jane said, her eyes fixed on the timer she was setting on her wristwatch. “Let's move, now.” They rolled like shadows with Jane leading the way to the old greenhouse. It was the entry point to the service tunnel. The greenhouse was a prestigious antique that her mother cherished—a glass sanctuary now overrun by vines and the touch of neglect. Jane looked around, trying to remember where the entrance was. Then, she found it. The tunnel’s entrance was hidden under a heavy, antique stone planter. The tunnel had become tighter than Jane anticipated. It was a narrow, claustrophobic passage that reeked of damp earth and forgotten things. They crept through the darkness in a slow but deliberate fashion. They used the faint glow of their headlamps to maneuver their way through the tunnel. “I don't think he's holding your father as a way of showing off, Jane,” Michael whispered, his voice echoin
The room was filled with silence, vengeance, and pain. The realization of the fresh betrayal sent a wave of nausea through them. The depth of the deception, the sheer audacity of his performance, was staggering. He hadn't just delivered the worst form of betrayal, he had lived a complete lie for years, basking in the reflected glory of the family he was strategically destroying. He was a man no one would believe could hurt a fly. “He’s played his role emphatically. I must give him that. He has been secretly gaining power,” Michael stated, his eyes blazing with a dangerous light. “Everything is coming together now. If he has been in the shadows and causing havoc, then I think he was the one who really tipped off the police about the fraud. He must be the one who put the eagle crest on the Project Manowa documents. He should be the one behind using your father’s own security system to build his empire. He is the one they call ‘The Taker.’ I believe this strongly. No one else could be.”
The picture on the screen felt like an uppercut, taken right on the chin. It was a picture that mocked their failure—a picture that sent a wave of emotions through their core. The study, once a place of peace, knowledge, and warmth, was now a stage for a nightmare. Her father, once a king in the mansion, was now a disgraced and dethroned king. The shadowy figure behind him was a phantom, a ghost in their own narrative, and the eagle tattoo was a brand, a symbol of a power they had grossly underestimated.“My father is not free,” Jane whispered, her voice shaking and her breath hitched. “They have him in our house, Michael.”Michael wrapped his arm around her, providing a solid, grounding presence in the dizzying whirlwind of her despair. Michael tried hard to mask his anger. His blood was running hot but he had to stay calm, support Jane, and come out with a plan. “I don't think Phil has a hand in this one. For the first time, he isn't the one taunting us,” he said, his voice a low, d







