Chapter 6 - THE DEAD MAN’S HOUSE
Patrick Kavanaugh had been buried in Holyhood Cemetery eight years earlier.
Renick ordered the grave opened before sunrise.
Belle did not attend.
She stayed with Micah.
At 6:14 a.m., Renick called.
The coffin was empty.
Patrick Kavanaugh had never been inside it.
Belle sat down.
An hour later, Declan contacted them again.
This time he provided coordinates.
An abandoned house near the Massachusetts coast.
Renick went alone.
At least he believed he did.
Belle followed with Sully.
Inside the house, Renick found his brother.
Declan looked older.
Scarred.
Thin.
But alive.
The brothers stared at each other across a dusty room.
“You took Brinley.”
Renick’s hand rested near his gun.
Declan shook his head.
“I took her before Father could.”
“Where is she?”
“Safe.”
“I want to see her.”
“You will.”
“Now.”
Declan stepped closer.
“Do you remember Mom?”
Renick’s face tightened.
Their mother had died when Renick was seventeen.
Car accident.
Declan shook his head.
“No accident.”
Renick said nothing.
“Father killed her.”
“Stop.”
“She discovered Harrow.”
“You’re lying.”
“She was leaving him.”
Declan produced an old cassette recording.
Their mother’s voice filled the room.
She was frightened.
She described Patrick’s crimes.
Names.
Payments.
Murders.
Renick slowly sat down.
Everything he believed about his father collapsed in minutes.
Declan explained.
Patrick had built Harrow.
When Daniel discovered it, Patrick ordered him killed.
When Declan discovered the truth, Patrick tried to kill him too.
The warehouse fire had been an execution attempt.
Declan survived.
He disappeared.
Then waited.
“Why not tell Renick?”
Belle asked.
Declan looked at her.
“Because Renick worshipped him.”
Renick did not deny it.
“Where’s Brinley?”
Declan finally nodded toward the next room.
The door opened.
Brinley ran out.
“Daddy!”
Renick dropped to his knees.
She hit him so hard they nearly fell over.
He held her.
His eyes closed.
Belle turned away to give them privacy.
Micah had been right.
Brinley leaned into hugs like she had been waiting years for them.
Renick finally understood that too.
“I’m sorry.”
He whispered it into his daughter’s hair.
“For what?”
“For not being there enough.”
Brinley shrugged.
“You’re here now.”
Children could forgive with terrifying ease.
Renick looked shattered by it.
Then a gunshot exploded outside.
Declan fell.
Blood spread across his shoulder.
“Down!”
Sully shouted.
Windows shattered.
Men surrounded the house.
Patrick’s men.
Renick lifted Brinley and ran.
Belle helped Declan.
They escaped through an old storm tunnel beneath the house.
But halfway through, Belle’s phone buzzed.
A video appeared.
Micah.
He was sitting in a chair.
His hands were tied.
Belle screamed.
They had left him with guards at the safe house.
The camera moved.
An elderly man stepped into view.
White hair.
Cold blue eyes.
Patrick Kavanaugh.
He rested one hand on Micah’s shoulder.
“Hello, Renick.”
Renick stared at the screen.
Patrick smiled.
“Bring me Daniel Ashford’s drive.”
May you like
His fingers tightened around Micah.
“Or this brave little boy finally learns what happens to heroes.”
