Chapter 4 - The Blackwood Secret
“Mom, if you are watching this, it means my baby is safe,” Maya’s voice echoed through the quiet cabin, raspy and urgent.
“Four years ago, when I was working as a tutor for the Blackwood family, I discovered the truth about Victor Blackwood. He wasn't just a real estate tycoon. He was laundering billions for international cartels through his offshore holdings. I found the ledgers in his private study.”
Silas’s jaw clenched. Victor Blackwood was the patriarch of the family, a man who projected the image of a noble philanthropist while ruling his empire with absolute terror.
“Victor caught me,” Maya continued, tears welling in her eyes on the video. “But his youngest son, Julian... Julian loved me. We were secretly engaged. Julian tried to protect me. He threatened to expose his father’s crimes if Victor hurt me.”
Maya paused, a sob tearing from her throat.
“Victor killed him. He murdered his own son and made it look like a skiing accident. And because I was a witness, Victor locked me in the underground bunker beneath the east wing of the manor. He was going to kill me, too. But then I realized... I was pregnant with Julian’s child.”
Eleanor wept silently, clutching the baby to her chest.
“Victor’s father left an ironclad trust fund worth three billion dollars. It was legally bound to transfer to Julian’s firstborn child. Victor couldn't access the money without my baby. So, he kept me alive in this bunker for nine months, waiting for me to give birth so he could take my son and dispose of me.”
Maya leaned closer to the camera, her face hardened by a mother’s desperate courage.
“One of the maids took pity on me. She smuggled me this drive and promised to take my baby to Silas Vance at the bridge. Silas is a good man. He will protect you. Mom, please, take my son and run. Go to the FBI. Do not come back for me. I love you.”
The video ended, cutting to black.
The silence in the logging camp was absolute, save for the crackle of the woodstove.
“She’s in the east wing bunker,” Eleanor whispered, looking up at Silas with eyes full of desperate, terrifying hope. “Silas... we have to go to the police.”
“The local police are on Victor Blackwood’s payroll,” Silas said coldly, shutting the laptop. “If we call them, Marcus will be here in twenty minutes with a death squad.”
“Then what do we do?”
May you like
Silas stood up, grabbing his rifle and racking a round into the chamber.
“You stay here and keep that boy safe,” Silas said, his voice turning into pure steel. “I’m going back for Maya.”
