Chapter 7 - The Mastermind Revealed
“Where is my granddaughter?” I screamed, losing my composure for the very first time.
Claire sat handcuffed in the leather seat of the private jet, looking entirely too pleased with herself.
“I handed her over to a specialized broker two hours ago,” Claire confessed with a sickening smirk.
“The video feed you traced was just a decoy server to keep your annoying security team busy.”
Ethan grabbed Claire by the shoulders and shook her violently, completely consumed by absolute rage.
“Tell me where my daughter is right now, or I swear I will end you!” Ethan roared.
I pulled Ethan away, knowing that physical violence would only make this wicked woman more stubborn.
“Claire, your parents’ company is officially bankrupt, and you are facing federal kidnapping charges,” I stated coldly.
I leaned in close, letting her see the terrifying, ruthless woman who built a billion-dollar empire from nothing.
“If you do not give me an address, I will personally ensure your parents spend the rest of their lives in a federal penitentiary for your crimes.”
The threat against her wealthy, arrogant parents finally cracked her smug facade.
Her lip trembled, and the false bravery completely washed away from her pale face.
“The broker took her to the abandoned textile mill by the old river docks,” she whispered brokenly.
I ordered two agents to stay and guard Claire while Ethan and I rushed back to the armored SUV.
We drove like absolute maniacs through the dark city streets, the tires screaming as we took every corner.
We arrived at the rotting, massive textile mill just as a violent thunderstorm began to break overhead.
My tactical team breached the rusted metal doors, sweeping the dark, cavernous warehouse with flashlights and drawn weapons.
In the center of the massive room, illuminated by a single hanging bulb, sat a man in a tailored suit.
He was casually sipping from a silver flask, completely unfazed by the heavily armed men surrounding him.
Lily was sitting safely on a blanket a few feet away, happily coloring in a book, completely unaware of the danger.
Ethan rushed forward to grab his daughter, weeping tears of pure joy as he held her tightly.
I stepped into the light to face the mysterious broker who had orchestrated this entire nightmare.
The man slowly lowered his silver flask and looked at me with a deeply familiar, arrogant smile.
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“Hello, Eleanor, it has been a very long time,” the man said smoothly.
It was Richard, Ethan’s father, the man who had completely abandoned us thirty long years ago.
