Chapter 4

I didn't sign the divorce papers. Arthur didn't put pen to paper either.

The smile faded from Victor's face.

"Looks like you can't bear to part with the patents or your wife."

He jerked his chin at Luca.

"Knock some sense into him."

Luca grabbed a gun off the table and slammed the butt of it into Arthur's head, right above his eyebrow.

Blood ran down his face and soon soaked one side of his collar.

The lunch bag in my hand swung a little.

Arthur staggered from the blow, but he still put out an arm to stop me when I tried to go to him.

"Don't look."

The gun butt came down again, this time on his shoulder.

Arthur grunted as one knee hit the floor, but he gripped the edge of the table and held himself upright.

The moment Edward started forward, one of the Blackwood men put a gun to his temple. Vera went for her backup phone, but Natalie kicked her away.

Catherine spoke through gritted teeth. "There are cameras and witnesses in here. If you pull that trigger today, not even Abyss Capital can protect you."

"You still don't get it, Counselor."

Victor looked at her calmly.

"The cameras are down. Once we're done here, the Hawthornes won't have a dime left. Who the hell do you think is going to risk crossing all four families for you?"

He picked up the pen and forced it into Arthur's hand.

"Sign."

Arthur braced himself on the table and got to his feet. Blood dripped onto the agreement, staining the paper dark red.

He didn't look at the terms. He kept his eyes on Owen by the door.

"Get my wife out first."

Victor frowned. "You're in no position to make demands."

"She leaves, and I sign. Otherwise you can beat me to death today, and you still won't get the access keys to the chip's encrypted code library."

For a few seconds, nobody in the room moved.

Victor laughed. "All this for a woman. How touching."

He walked up to me and reached out to touch my face.

"Mrs. Hawthorne, your husband almost got himself killed just to get you out of here. If you ever need money, come find me."

Arthur seized his wrist.

Luca shoved the gun against Arthur's forehead, then slammed the butt into the corner of his mouth.

This time, Arthur didn't fight back. He just turned to look at me.

His face was covered in blood, but his voice was gentle. "Don't be scared. Close your eyes."

He'd been beaten this badly, and he still thought I was the one who'd be scared.

I stared at the blood on his face, and the rage I'd held back for five years finally broke loose.

All I'd wanted was to shop on Fifth Avenue, have afternoon tea, and live a quiet life as Mrs. Hawthorne, spoiled by my husband.

But these people just wouldn't leave me in peace.

Luca pointed his gun at me, looking thoroughly fed up.

"Are you deaf? Get out. You're nothing but a useless crybaby. You really think you're part of the Hawthorne family?"

I folded the divorce papers and tucked them back into Arthur's pocket. Then I calmly set the lunch bag on the conference table.

"Lunch can wait. Let me deal with this first."

Arthur froze. "Deal with what?"

Luca reached out to grab me.

I stepped aside, caught his wrist, and wrenched it outward.

The sharp crack of bone echoed through the conference room.

Luca screamed, and the gun fell from his hand. Before it hit the floor, I drove my knee into his stomach, grabbed him by the tie, and slammed him onto the conference table.

The entire walnut table shuddered under the impact.

The room went dead silent.

The easy confidence finally vanished from Victor's face.

Natalie and Derek swung their guns toward me at the same time, and Cole turned to block the door.

I planted a foot on Luca's chest, took my phone out of my clutch, and dialed the encrypted number I hadn't called in five years.

It rang only once before someone picked up.

Whoever was on the other end clearly recognized my encryption key. I heard his breath catch.

When the man spoke, his voice was shaking. "You're alive?"

I looked up at the four family crests I knew so well.

"Tell the four families.

"The Night Owl is back."