Chapter 4 - The Brother's Betrayal
Julian Vale was the golden boy of the family, the one untouched by the dark side of the business.
I couldn't believe he was the one who had destroyed my life.
Sebastian didn't say a word as he reloaded his weapon.
"I'm coming with you," I said, grabbing my coat.
"Absolutely not," Sebastian snapped.
"He's your brother, Sebastian, and he might know where your grandfather is planning to strike next," I argued.
I called my trusted neighbor, Maria, paying her handsomely to watch the triplets behind three deadbolts.
We drove to Julian's extravagant art gallery in SoHo.
Sebastian kicked the heavy glass door completely off its hinges.
Julian was standing in the center of the gallery, admiring a painting.
Sebastian crossed the room in three massive strides and slammed Julian against the wall.
"Why did you intercept her letters?" Sebastian roared, pressing his forearm against Julian's throat.
Julian gasped for air, his eyes wide with genuine terror.
"I did it to keep her alive!" Julian choked out.
Sebastian eased his grip slightly, allowing his brother to speak.
"Grandfather was going to have Maya assassinated if you didn't marry Chloe," Julian confessed.
"I intercepted the letters to make it look like Maya had moved on, so Grandfather would call off the hit."
I stared at Julian, realizing he had ruined my life to save it.
"He knew anyway," Sebastian said coldly.
"He sent a hit squad to Central Park today."
Julian's face drained of all color.
"That's impossible," Julian whispered.
"Grandfather has been in a coma for three days."
The gallery fell into a dead, terrifying silence.
"If Grandfather is incapacitated," Sebastian said slowly, "who gave the order in the park?"
Suddenly, my cell phone began to ring.
I answered it, and Maria's terrified, sobbing voice filled my ear.
May you like
"Maya, I'm so sorry," she cried.
"Chloe came with armed men, and they took the children."
