Chapter 6 - The Night the Mansion Became a Battlefield
The estate erupted.
Guards dragged Elena behind reinforced doors.
Isabella grabbed Sophie.
"Move!"
They ran through the service corridor.
Bullets struck the walls behind them.
Sophie stumbled.
Isabella pulled her up.
"Keep going!"
"Where?"
"The old wine cellar."
"Why?"
"It's the safest room."
They reached the cellar.
Gabriel was already there.
His shirt was torn.
Blood stained his sleeve.
Sophie rushed toward him.
"Are you hurt?"
"Not mine."
He looked at Isabella.
"Mom?"
"Safe."
Gabriel exhaled.
Then the lights failed again.
A voice came through the security system.
"Gabriel."
Everyone froze.
Thomas Reed.
"You've spent four years looking for me."
Gabriel looked toward the ceiling.
"Come out."
"I've been standing beside you the entire time."
The speakers crackled.
"Your father was weak."
Gabriel's jaw tightened.
"You murdered him."
"Your father was going to destroy everything."
"Everything you stole."
"No."
Thomas laughed.
"Everything he built."
Gabriel stepped toward the speaker.
"You used my family."
"I used people who wanted what your father had."
"Vincent."
"Of course."
"Margaret."
"Useful."
"Adrian."
"Afraid."
Gabriel's voice became colder.
"And my wife?"
Silence.
Then Thomas answered.
"She was clever."
Gabriel closed his eyes.
"What did you do to her?"
"Nothing."
"She died."
"She died because she knew too much."
Sophie saw Gabriel's hands tremble.
Thomas continued.
"Your father wasn't the only one who kept recordings."
A monitor suddenly switched on.
A video appeared.
Gabriel's late wife stood in a hotel room.
She looked frightened.
Then another man entered.
Thomas.
He placed a folder on the table.
"Sign it."
She refused.
Then the video ended.
Gabriel whispered, "Where is the rest?"
Thomas answered:
"You'll find it where your father died."
The screen went black.
Gabriel turned toward Sophie.
"We're going to the old study."
They moved through hidden passages.
The old study had been sealed for four years.
Gabriel broke the lock.
Inside, everything remained untouched.
The desk.
The books.
The fireplace.
The old chair.
Sophie noticed a scratch beneath the desk.
"Here."
Gabriel crouched.
There was a hidden compartment.
Inside was a letter.
Gabriel opened it.
It was addressed to him.
Gabriel,
If you're reading this, Thomas has won enough time to become dangerous.
Do not trust the evidence against you.
Do not trust the person who claims to have seen my death.
Gabriel looked at Adrian.
Then continued.
Most importantly, do not let my death turn you into the man they want you to become.
Gabriel's eyes filled with tears.
At the bottom was one final sentence.
Your mother knows where the truth ends.
Sophie whispered, "There's something behind the fireplace."
Gabriel moved the stones.
A metal box appeared.
Inside were passports.
Bank records.
And a wedding ring.
Gabriel recognized it instantly.
His wife's ring.
He stared.
"How did Dad have this?"
Sophie picked up a photograph.
It showed Carlo meeting Gabriel's wife.
The date was two weeks before Carlo died.
Gabriel looked at the back.
There was handwriting.
She came to me for help.
Then another line:
Thomas found out.
Gabriel's breathing became uneven.
A noise came from the hallway.
They turned.
Vincent stood in the doorway.
His gun was raised.
"Drop yours."
Gabriel did not move.
"Where is Thomas?"
Vincent laughed bitterly.
"You still think I work for him."
"You do."
"I did."
Gabriel frowned.
Vincent lowered his gun.
"He betrayed me too."
Sophie stepped closer.
"Why should we trust you?"
Vincent looked at her.
"You shouldn't."
Then he threw a phone onto the floor.
"The final file is on there."
Gabriel picked it up.
There was a video.
Thomas speaking.
But this time, Vincent was beside him.
Thomas said:
"If Gabriel discovers the truth, kill Elena."
Vincent looked sick.
"I couldn't."
Thomas answered:
"Then your brother dies instead."
Vincent had been trapped.
But Gabriel still didn't forgive him.
"Why did you drug Mom?"
Vincent looked down.
"Because I was afraid."
"You almost killed her."
"I know."
Gabriel stepped toward him.
Vincent didn't resist.
"Do whatever you want."
Gabriel stared at his brother.
Then lowered his weapon.
"You're going to help me."
Vincent looked surprised.
"Why?"
"Because you're the only person who knows where Thomas is."
Vincent hesitated.
Then whispered:
"The old shipping terminal."
Gabriel nodded.
Before they could leave, Sophie's phone rang.
It was Lucy.
Sophie answered.
"Lucy?"
A man's voice replied.
"Your sister is with us."
Sophie froze.
Gabriel's expression changed.
The voice continued.
"Bring Elena's memory card."
Sophie tightened her grip.
"You have the wrong person."
"No."
A pause.
"We have your sister."
The call ended.
Sophie looked at Gabriel.
Her face had gone white.
"I have to go."
Gabriel immediately shook his head.
"No."
"They'll kill her."
"I'll get her."
"What if they kill her before you arrive?"
Gabriel stared at her.
Then he took her hand.
"Nobody touches your sister."
Sophie looked at him.
For the first time, she believed him.
But the memory card was no longer in her pocket.
May you like
Someone had taken it.
And the only person who had been close enough was Vincent.
