Chapter 5 - Mason Walked Into Victor's Trap for the Woman He LovedMason found the warehouse at 2:07 a.m.
He entered with twelve men.
Weapons drawn.
The building was empty.
Too empty.
“Claire!”
His voice echoed.
Nothing.
Then a light came on.
Victor stood above him on the metal platform.
“You came.”
Mason raised his gun.
“Where is she?”
Victor smiled.
“Still the same.”
“You have ten seconds.”
“She always was your weakness.”
“Where is Claire?”
Victor's smile disappeared.
“Put the gun down.”
“No.”
Victor looked toward the darkness.
Claire was brought forward.
Her wrists tied.
Mason's entire body went rigid.
She looked at him.
“Don't.”
Victor smiled.
“Choose.”
Mason looked at Claire.
Then Victor.
“You want the ledger.”
“Yes.”
“I don't have it.”
Victor laughed.
“You came without it.”
“I came for her.”
Claire shook her head.
“Mason, leave.”
He stared.
“No.”
“Please.”
“I'm not leaving.”
Victor stepped forward.
“You understand what she's done?”
“She didn't betray me.”
Victor smiled.
“She discovered the truth.”
“What truth?”
“That your father wasn't the villain.”
Mason's face changed.
“Your father and my father were partners.”
“What?”
“They built the financial network together.”
Claire shouted:
“Don't listen to him!”
Victor continued.
“Your father kept the books.”
“Daniel Hayes kept the evidence.”
“Then they planned to expose us.”
Mason looked at Claire.
“Your father?”
She nodded.
“He protected me.”
Victor's expression turned cruel.
“He protected you by disappearing.”
Mason raised his gun.
“You killed him.”
“No.”
“Who did?”
“Your father.”
Mason froze.
Victor smiled.
“Your father ordered Daniel's death.”
Claire shook her head.
“He's lying.”
Mason looked between them.
Victor continued.
“Tobias found out.”
Mason's blood ran cold.
“Tobias.”
“Exactly.”
“That's why he died.”
Mason's hand trembled.
Victor had finally found the one place inside him he could still reach.
His brother.
The grief he'd carried for years.
The truth he'd never been able to uncover.
Claire watched his face.
“Mason.”
He looked at her.
“You have to trust me.”
He did.
He lowered his gun.
Victor smiled.
Then the lights went out.
Gunfire erupted.
Mason moved toward Claire.
Men rushed from both sides.
Vince fired.
Chaos exploded.
Mason reached Claire.
He cut her restraints.
“Run.”
“What about you?”
“Go.”
“No.”
“Claire!”
She grabbed his face.
“You threw me out once.”
He froze.
“I'm not leaving you this time.”
He looked at her.
Then nodded.
They ran together.
Behind them, Victor disappeared.
The warehouse caught fire.
They made it outside.
Claire collapsed.
Mason caught her.
She buried her face against his chest.
He held her so tightly she could barely breathe.
“I thought you were dead.”
“I thought you hated me.”
“I was angry.”
“I know.”
“I was wrong.”
She pulled away.
“You were.”
He nodded.
“I know.”
She stared at him.
“You believed a photograph over me.”
“I know.”
“You put me outside in that storm.”
“I know.”
“You didn't come back.”
His eyes filled.
“I was coming back.”
“You should have come back before I had to disappear.”
He swallowed.
“I don't expect you to forgive me.”
She touched his cheek.
“I already did.”
He stared at her.
“Why?”
“Because I love you.”
They kissed.
For one moment, the war disappeared.
Then a distant explosion rocked the street.
Vince ran toward them.
“Move!”
Mason looked back.
The warehouse burned.
Victor was gone.
And in the distance, sirens approached.
May you like
The war wasn't over.
It had only changed.
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