Chapter 5 - Mave Walked Into the Trap They Built for Her
The ransom location was an abandoned textile mill.
Adrian insisted Mave stay in the car.
She refused.
"No."
"You are not going in."
"My brother is inside."
"Mave."
"Do not ask me to sit outside while Owen is in there."
Adrian stared.
Then he nodded.
"Fine."
The plan was simple.
Too simple.
That should have frightened her.
Adrian entered first.
Mave followed ten seconds later.
The mill was dark.
Water dripped from broken pipes.
A single light hung over a chair.
Owen sat there.
Alive.
Mave's heart exploded with relief.
"Owen."
He looked up.
"Mave?"
She ran toward him.
Adrian grabbed her arm.
"Wait."
A voice echoed from above.
"Family reunion."
Preston.
He stood on the second-floor walkway.
Mave's blood turned cold.
"You."
Preston smiled.
"You always did underestimate me."
"You took my brother."
"I borrowed him."
"You're sick."
"I'm practical."
Adrian stepped forward.
"Let him go."
Preston laughed.
"You still think you're in control."
He snapped his fingers.
Men appeared on both sides.
Weapons.
A dozen.
Adrian's security team was nowhere to be seen.
Mave realized the truth.
They had been separated.
It was a trap.
Preston looked at her.
"You cost my family millions."
"I reported stolen medication."
"You destroyed contracts."
"You were stealing from sick people."
He shrugged.
"Business."
Mave looked at Owen.
"Is he hurt?"
"No."
"Then let him go."
"Not yet."
Preston walked down the stairs.
He held a folder.
"Sign this."
Mave opened it.
A statement admitting she had fabricated the medication report.
"No."
"Then your brother stays."
"No."
Preston smiled.
"You don't understand."
"I understand perfectly."
She tore the paper in half.
Preston slapped her.
Adrian moved.
Three guns immediately pointed at his head.
Preston smiled.
"Do that again and he dies."
Mave's cheek burned.
She looked at Adrian.
He was furious.
Not because she had been hit.
Because she was being used against him.
Preston leaned closer.
"You know what the funny part is?"
Mave said nothing.
"He really loves you."
Adrian's expression changed.
Preston noticed.
"You should see yourself."
"Get away from her."
Preston laughed.
"You were always cold, Adrian."
He pointed toward the upper floor.
"Your mother wasn't."
Adrian froze.
"What did you say?"
"Ask Mave what she found in Julian's files."
Mave looked at him.
Preston continued.
"Your mother didn't disappear."
Adrian's face went blank.
"She was murdered."
Silence.
"By Julian."
Adrian took one step forward.
Preston smiled.
"And your father knew."
Adrian's eyes became murderous.
"I'll kill you."
"Not before she signs."
He held up another document.
This one was different.
Power of attorney.
Mave's signature line.
"If she signs, her silence becomes legally enforceable."
Mave laughed.
"You're afraid of me."
Preston's smile faded.
"Excuse me?"
"You don't need a confession."
He stared.
"You need me to shut up."
She stepped toward him.
"Because if I speak, everything falls apart."
"You're bluffing."
"I know exactly what you did."
"Do you?"
Mave looked at him.
"The patient in Room 417."
Preston's face changed.
She knew.
The hidden shipment logs.
The payment records.
The names.
"I know about St. Bridget's."
Preston's breathing changed.
"I know about your father."
"Stop."
"I know about Julian."
His face went white.
Adrian looked at her.
"Mave."
She continued.
"And I know your mother is alive."
Preston froze.
Adrian turned.
"What?"
Mave hadn't known that last part.
She had guessed.
But the reaction told her she was right.
Preston stepped backward.
"How do you know?"
Mave smiled.
"Because you just told me."
A gunshot sounded.
Glass shattered.
Adrian's security team stormed the mill.
Chaos erupted.
Mave ducked.
Adrian tackled Preston.
Owen rolled behind a pillar.
Within seconds, most of the armed men were down.
Preston ran.
Mave followed.
He escaped through a side door.
Adrian caught up.
"You okay?"
"I'm fine."
He looked at her cheek.
"He hit you."
"I'm still alive."
His jaw tightened.
"You shouldn't have followed him."
"And you shouldn't have come alone."
He almost smiled.
"Fair."
Then Owen limped toward them.
Mave hugged him.
"Are you hurt?"
"Only my pride."
She laughed through tears.
Adrian looked at Owen.
"I'm sorry."
Owen looked at him.
"You're the terrifying guy from the news?"
"Apparently."
Owen nodded.
"Cool."
Mave laughed.
Later that night, Owen slept safely at home.
Mave sat on the porch.
Adrian joined her.
"You lied to me," she said.
"When?"
"About knowing more than you told me."
He sat.
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because I was afraid."
"Of what?"
"Of losing you."
She looked at him.
"We've known each other for days."
"It's been eleven months for me."
She went quiet.
He looked at the street.
"I noticed you before you noticed me."
Mave smiled faintly.
"At the hospital."
"Yes."
"Why didn't you talk to me?"
"Because I knew who I was."
"And?"
"I didn't want you to know."
She touched his hand.
"You don't scare me as much as you think."
"I should."
"No."
She looked at him.
"You scare other people."
A smile touched his mouth.
"That's enough."
Before he could say more, his phone rang.
A message.
One photograph.
Preston with Julian.
And another man.
Mave stared.
"Who is that?"
May you like
Adrian whispered:
"My father."
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