Chapter 10: The Trap at Bennett Estate

Nurse Ramirez had gone to the farmhouse to retrieve Emily’s belongings.

Julian had anticipated it.

Firefighters raced toward the property, but the video showed Julian’s men holding gasoline cans near the exits.

Laura wanted to send a tactical team.

Sarah stopped her.

“He has cameras everywhere. If he sees police, he’ll kill her.”

Michael looked at Sarah.

“What does he actually want?”

“Control of the company. The board meets at sunrise to decide whether Emily inherits my shares.”

Julian needed Sarah and Emily to sign away their rights.

Michael refused to bring Emily.

Sarah agreed.

They created a plan.

Thomas would remain at the hospital with Emily under federal protection.

Michael and Sarah would go to the estate wearing transmitters.

But when Michael entered Emily’s room to say goodbye, the bed was empty.

A folded note lay on the pillow.

I’m sorry, Dad. Mr. Julian said he will let the nurse go if I come.

Michael’s blood turned cold.

A security guard had been found unconscious near the service elevator.

Emily had already been taken.

At Bennett Estate, Julian waited in the grand ballroom.

Victoria stood beside him.

Alive.

Elegant.

Unrepentant.

Emily sat between two armed men.

Nurse Ramirez appeared on a video monitor, smoke gathering around her.

Sarah stepped forward.

“Let them go.”

Victoria smiled.

“My disappointing daughter returns.”

Michael stared at her.

“You tried to kill your own granddaughter.”

Victoria looked at Emily without emotion.

“Family means nothing without power.”

Sarah’s face hardened.

“That is why you never understood us.”

Julian placed documents on a table.

“Sign over the Bennett shares. Then everyone walks away.”

“You murdered people for those shares,” Michael said.

Julian shrugged.

“History remembers winners, not methods.”

Sarah picked up the pen.

Michael grabbed her wrist.

“No.”

She looked at him.

“Nurse Ramirez will die.”

“And he will kill all of us after you sign.”

Julian smiled.

“He knows me well.”

Michael’s transmitter suddenly went silent.

Victoria held up a signal jammer.

“You really thought we wouldn’t check?”

Armed men surrounded them.

Julian pushed Emily toward the fireplace.

“Sign.”

Sarah’s hand trembled.

Then Thomas’s voice came from the ballroom entrance.

“She doesn’t have to.”

Everyone turned.

Thomas stood there, weak, leaning on a cane.

In his hand was a shotgun.

Julian laughed.

“You can barely stand.”

Thomas aimed at the chandelier above the gunmen.

“I only need one shot.”

He fired.

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The chandelier crashed.

The ballroom exploded into chaos.