Chapter 11

“Hmm… why isn’t Lisa picking up?” Reinhardt muttered, frustration in his voice. “The business should be done by now, it’s already the third day.”

He tried calling again but still got no answer. With a sigh, he grabbed his phone.

“Hello, Veronica. Please connect me to Braun,” Reinhardt said.

“Alright, Reinhardt,” Veronica replied from the other end.

Moments later, Braun’s voice came through.

“Braun, you said you wanted to see me. I’m in my office,” Reinhardt said before hanging up.

He picked up the folder Siegfried and Konrad had sent, documents about Lisa. Just as he was about to open it, Braun walked in. Reinhardt quickly slid the file aside, not wanting him to see it.

“Good morning, Reinhardt,” Braun greeted. “There’s something important I need to tell you.”

“Alright, but before that, are you and the others still checking on Nancy every day?” Reinhardt asked.

“Yes, of course. Her kids are always with her, so there’s nothing to worry about.”

“Good.” Reinhardt nodded. “Now, what did you want to talk about?”

Before Braun could answer, the door burst open and Veronica rushed in.

“Reinhardt!” she exclaimed. “I just got an email from an external source, it says Lisa’s missing.”

Reinhardt froze. “What? Missing? What source?” His voice was sharp, his body tense, his eyes wide.

“The email says it’s from someone named Tesa, Lisa’s friend,” Veronica explained.

“What?” Reinhardt’s heart dropped. “Braun, get Rowan and Johan. We’re leaving for Ohio immediately but first, I need to speak with Tesa.”

Sweat formed on his palms as he tried to steady himself. “This can’t be happening,” he muttered. “What the hell is going on?”

He turned to Veronica. “You’ll handle things with Nancy until we’re back. Something’s gone terribly wrong.”

Reinhardt rushed out of his office, leaving Veronica and Braun behind.

“Braun, what did you come to discuss with Reinhardt? Are you hiding something from me?” Veronica asked, a sharp smile on her face.

“Hiding? Why would I?” Braun replied, standing up and straightening his tie. “I’ve done what you asked. But I need to be clear...nothing must happen to Lisa.”

“What do you mean?” Veronica snapped, suspicious.

Braun pointed toward Reinhardt’s desk. “Look at those documents. They’ll tell you more than you think.”

Veronica walked over to the desk and opened the file. It was all about Lisa.

“I know Reinhardt is suspicious of her,” she said, flipping through the papers, “but why is he so determined to dig up every detail?”

“This isn’t the place for this discussion, Veronica,” Braun said, moving toward the door.

“If you betray me, I will kill you,” Veronica hissed.

“I’m not betraying you,” Braun said without turning back. His voice was cold. “You’ll change your mind about this plan once we talk properly. Nancy is in your care now , I’ll be watching to see what you do.”

He left the room, leaving Veronica holding the file and her anger simmering.

“Damn it!” Veronica exclaimed.

“The plan has to change again.” Her lips tightened in anger.

It was always hard to read Braun — and that was the last thing she wanted. Depending on him was never part of her plan.

Braun had always been distant from the family’s struggles, quiet, detached, and alone. When their mother complained about how unfairly the full-blood Schmidts treated them, Braun would only shrug and say, “How does that matter in the long run?”

He rarely talked with anyone. All he ever did was lock himself in his room, playing video games and avoiding the world.

Lately, though, he’d grown closer to Reinhardt, listening to him more than even their mother. Veronica couldn’t tell where his loyalty truly lay. Was he with Reinhardt… or with them?

He’d once told her he would avenge their father if he ever found a reason to.

Had he found one now? Or was he still the same cold, detached Braun?

She ran her hands through her hair, pacing. The only thing she could do now was ask for his help again and she hated that.

Because that’s exactly what Braun wanted. For her to depend on him. For him to control her.

****************************

Braun sank into the sofa in his office and pressed play on the old cassette. He waited for Reinhardt’s call, knowing it could come any minute.

“Hmm. So Reinhardt has a curse,” he said to himself as the tape played. “Yeah, I’ve seen the signs, Uncle Leif’s death, Reinhardt pulling back from public life, Uncle Julian’s fall.”

He let the pieces line up in his head. “Everything connects. Who else knows this? Maybe Bertolt, Siegfried, Konrad, the full-blood men. I’m left out, even though I’ve been loyal.” Braun’s mouth pulled into a smile as his yellow eyes reflected the ceiling light.

“Maybe Veronica is right,” he thought. “But I need her under me. That’s the only way I can take power and overthrow them. I’m ambitious.”

He laughed softly, cold and small. “I’ll use Lisa to my advantage, she calms the curse. She’s useful.”