Chapter 7 - The Betrayal Inside Hail House
They escaped through the warehouse’s service tunnel.
Owen took a bullet through his shoulder.
Michael carried Samuel.
Nathaniel supported Vanessa.
For once, Vanessa did not care about blood ruining her dress.
By sunrise, everyone was back at the secure property.
Everyone except Richard Cross.
He had vanished.
Federal authorities raided three Cross Meridian offices that afternoon.
The evidence Michael and Vanessa had gathered was enough to open investigations.
But Richard remained ahead of them.
Someone was warning him.
Nathaniel began examining his own organization.
The answer hurt more than he expected.
Arthur Bell.
President of the Michael Hail Foundation.
Nathaniel’s mentor.
His late father’s closest friend.
Arthur had been approving grants to shell organizations controlled by Cross Meridian for nine years.
Nathaniel confronted him privately.
Arthur did not deny it.
“I protected you.”
Nathaniel stared at him across the same office where Arthur had once taught him how to read balance sheets.
“You used my dead brother’s name to move stolen money.”
“I kept Richard from destroying your family.”
“My family was already destroyed.”
Arthur looked old suddenly.
“You don't understand the men you're dealing with.”
Nathaniel leaned forward.
“No, Arthur. You don't understand the man you're dealing with now.”
He turned over Arthur’s records to federal investigators.
But Arthur gave them one useful warning.
Richard had one final piece of leverage.
Elias Cross.
Alive.
A prisoner for nearly four years.
Richard had kept his own son hidden because Elias knew where the original financial ledger was stored.
And Richard now knew Ivy was alive.
That evening, Nathaniel found Simone packing.
“What are you doing?”
“Leaving.”
“No.”
Her eyes flashed.
“You don't get to decide that.”
“You'll be safer here.”
“Everyone around you is a target.”
“Which is exactly why—”
“Ivy almost lost everyone once already.”
Nathaniel stopped.
Simone’s hands trembled.
“I can't do this to her.”
Nathaniel moved closer.
“And what do you think happens if you leave without protection?”
“I'll disappear.”
“So did Michael.”
She looked at him.
“He lost ten years.”
The words landed between them.
Nathaniel’s voice softened.
“I don't want you to lose anything.”
“Why?”
He had no business answering honestly.
He did anyway.
“Because somewhere between your daughter humiliating me in front of three hundred people and you accusing my fiancée’s family of conspiracy, I started caring whether you came home.”
Simone stared.
Nathaniel almost smiled.
“Terrible timing.”
“The worst.”
She laughed despite herself.
It was the first time he had heard her laugh.
He kissed her.
Slowly.
Not because he was certain.
Because he wasn't.
Simone kissed him back for three seconds before pulling away.
“Nathaniel.”
“I know.”
“No, you don't.”
She touched his chest.
“Your brother just came back from the dead. You discovered a missing nephew. Your engagement ended. You don't need another complicated thing.”
“You think you're the complicated thing?”
A small voice interrupted them.
“Are you kissing?”
They separated.
Ivy stood in the doorway.
Nathaniel cleared his throat.
“No.”
Simone said simultaneously, “Yes.”
Ivy giggled.
For several minutes, the world almost felt normal.
Then every light went out.
Owen shouted from downstairs.
Nathaniel grabbed Ivy.
Michael ran for Samuel.
A window shattered.
Backup power activated.
Simone screamed.
A man stood behind her.
Gun against her ribs.
Richard Cross.
He smiled at Nathaniel.
“You Hail boys were always sentimental.”
Nathaniel's blood turned to ice.
Richard looked at Ivy.
“Hello, sweetheart.”
Ivy buried her face against Nathaniel.
Richard’s smile vanished.
“Give me my granddaughter.”
“No.”
“She's a Cross.”
“She’s a child.”
Richard pushed the gun harder against Simone.
“Give her to me.”
Nathaniel looked at Simone.
Her eyes said one thing.
Don't.
Then another voice came from the hallway.
“Dad.”
Richard froze.
Vanessa stood there.
She held a phone.
Recording.
“You're finished.”
Richard laughed.
“You always were weak.”
“No.”
Vanessa’s voice trembled.
“I was afraid.”
She took another step.
“There's a difference.”
Richard swung his weapon toward her.
A gunshot exploded.
Simone screamed.
Richard fell.
Owen stood behind him, pale from blood loss, his weapon raised.
Police sirens approached.
Richard was alive.
Wounded.
And finally in custody.
May you like
But as paramedics carried him away, he looked directly at Ivy and smiled.
“You still don't know who she really is.”
