Eighteen minutes.
That’s all we had to save Bella and David.
Tony was driving like a madman at full speed, weaving through Manhattan traffic, running lights, and not caring about the consequences.
I was in the passenger seat, preparing ntally.
"If this goes wrong-" I start.
"It won’t."
"But if it does, tell Elliot I love him. Tell him-" My voice breaks. "Tell him I tried to be a good sister."
"Katherine-"
"Promise ... promise you’ll live your life. Please do not let revenge destroy you, as it destroyed Charles’s students. Don’t let my death define you."
Tony’s jaw clenches. "You’re not dying tonight."
"Promise anyway."
He takes my hand and squeezes it. "I promise, but you’re coming back to , and we’re both walking out of this."
I wanted to believe him.
But Alexander Reece was Charles Sterling’s masterpiece. He had 20 years of training, was a perfect operative, and an invisible assassin.
And I was walking into his trap unard.
We reached the penthouse building in 15 minutes, which was record ti and definitely broke a dozen traffic laws.
Luca was already there, his tactical team assembling, but they needed ti to position.
"Thirty minutes minimum," Luca says. "To secure the building, position snipers and plan breach points."
I don’t have thirty minutes.
"I’m going in," I announced.
"Katherine, no-" Tony starts.
"He said alone. If you co, he kills Bella imdiately. You know he will."
"Then we wait for tactical-"
"Bella doesn’t have thirty minutes. None of us do!" I was shouting now, couldn’t help it. "I’m going in. Give fifteen minutes, then breach."
"Fifteen minutes is-" Luca starts.
"Long enough to keep Bella alive. That’s all that matters."
Tony grabs my arm. "Katherine, listen to . Alexander is trained; he’s a professional. You’re walking to your death."
"Maybe, but I’m walking anyway... and you know that’s what we do. We protect the people we love."
I pulled away and headed for the entrance.
Tony caught up with . "At least take a weapon."
"He said unard. If he finds a weapon, he would kill everyone imdiately."
"Then I’m coming with you."
"No. You’re breaching in fifteen minutes with Luca and with the FBI. Don’t be stubborn about this, please, you’d be here saving all of us."
I kissed him long and deep. Maybe for the last ti.
"I love you," I whispered.
"I love you too. Don’t you dare die in there."
"I’ll try not to."
Then I walked into the building alone, unard and terrified.
But moving forward anyway.
Because Bella’s in danger, and I won’t let another person die because of this ti around.
The elevator ride up felt endless.
I checked my watch and realised we had 14 minutes left until the breach.
I needed to keep Alexander talking, keep Bella alive and give Tony ti.
The doors open on the penthouse floor.
Our apartnt, the one we just moved into, had top security and a fresh start.
Now, all were violated by The Shadow.
I walked through the door with my hands visible and no sudden movents.
I saw that Bella and David were on the couch, frozen and terrified, with Bella crying silently.
A figure in black stood behind them, face covered by a mask, with the voice modulator active.
"Katherine Blaire, you ca. I’m quite impressed."
"Let them go. You wanted , now you have ."
"Not yet. First, we talk. I want you to understand why you’re dying tonight."
He was walking around them in circles with his gun trained on Bella’s head.
"Thirteen minutes," I say. "That’s all you have before the FBI breaches this building."
"I know, and I’m counting on it."
That stopped . "What?"
"You think I’m alone? That I’m stupid enough to corner myself?" He laughs. "Katherine, Charles trained better than that."
He gestures to the windows, and I saw movent, figures on adjacent rooftops who were ard.
"I have people positioned throughout this building. When the FBI breaches, they trigger explosives. This entire floor goes. You, Bella, David, Tony, Luca... everyone."
My mouth went dry. "You’re bluffing."
He pulled out a detonator and showed it to . "Am I?"
I began calculating my options - escape routes... anything to get out of here.
But if he’s telling the truth, breach ans death for everyone.
"So what do you want?" I ask.
"I want you to understand." He reached up and removed the mask, and I saw his face for the first ti.
He appeared to be in his late forties or maybe more, I couldn’t tell. He was handso in a cold and dangerous way. His eyes were equally cold as ice.
"I am Alexander Reece, Diane’s older brother."
"Well, nice to et you then," I said dryly.
He grimaced but continued. "Charles Sterling’s first student. His favourite, until Diane ca along. Charles trained for twenty years. He made invisible, untraceable and perfect. I was his son in everything but blood. And then he t Diane. She was young, brilliant, female: different from , and he loved her more."
I edged closer and slowly, trying to buy ti.
"Jealousy?" I ask. "This is about sibling rivalry?"
"This is about being replaced!" His voice rose, a first crack in the perfect composure. "About being made obsolete. Watching my father figure choose soone else and give her everything that should have been mine! The legacy, the empire, the love... all of it went to Diane, and I got nothing."
Alexander’s circling again, his gun never wavering.
"Charles was my surrogate father. He rescued from foster care at age ten when I was a scared kid, broken and alone. He trained , loved , and made feel important and special. For twenty years, I was his. His very own perfect creation.
Then Diane entered the picture at seventeen. Brilliant and beautiful - everything I wasn’t."
His face showed real pain now. "Charles sidelined , forgot about and chose her for his legacy. To help guide his daughter, Victoria, if she ever faltered and left with nothing."
"So I waited and watched. When he died, I let Diane have her revenge. Studied how you defeated her and learned from her mistakes."
"And now you’re what?" I ask. "Getting revenge for being replaced?"
"Now I’m finishing what we both started, but smarter, better, and invisible."
He was closer now, and I was already within striking distance.
But Bella’s still in danger, I can’t risk it yet.
"Diane died for Charles," Alexander continues. "A quick one by shooting herself. It was almost noble in its stupidity."
"But you? You will die slowly. Watching everyone you love die first."
He points the gun at Bella. "Starting with her. Tony’s half-sister, who’s now your friend."
Reviews
All reviews (0)