Chapter 7 - The Interrogation
The news of the doctor's murder hung in the air like toxic smoke.
Whoever was orchestrating the hit on Liam Mercer was cleaning up their loose ends with terrifying speed.
Liam struggled to sit up, his face twisted in pain as the newly sutured wound pulled tight.
"Leo, get me the security logs for the estate," Liam demanded, his voice returning to a vicious growl.
Leo quickly typed on the bunker's computer console, pulling up the digital access records.
"Only four people had the bypass codes for the perimeter alarm tonight," Leo reported.
"Me, you, the head of security, and..." Leo hesitated, staring at the screen.
"And who?" Liam snapped.
"And your brother, Silas," Leo finished quietly.
Liam froze, his pale blue eyes going completely dark.
Silas Mercer was the charismatic, public face of the family's legitimate businesses.
He had always stayed out of the violent, bloody side of the syndicate.
"Silas is in Europe closing a shipping deal," Liam said, but doubt crept into his voice.
Clara watched the realization hit him.
The only way a rival family could execute a coordinated strike on the estate was with inside help from the very top.
"I need to make a call," Liam said, reaching for the phone.
Before his fingers could touch it, the bunker's heavy steel door suddenly groaned loudly.
Someone was overriding the security lock from the outside.
Leo drew both of his suppressed pistols, aiming them directly at the doorway.
Clara instinctively stepped in front of Liam's bed, her heart hammering against her ribs.
The heavy door slid open with a metallic hiss.
Standing in the doorway was a tall, elegant man wearing a pristine white suit.
He looked exactly like Liam, but his face was unscarred, and his smile was chillingly smooth.
It was Silas Mercer.
He wasn't in Europe. He was right here in Ashport.
Silas stepped into the bunker, followed by four heavily armed mercenaries wearing unmarked tactical gear.
"Hello, brother," Silas said, looking down at Liam's bloody, broken body.
"I heard you had a little accident upstairs."
Leo stepped forward, keeping his guns trained on Silas's head.
"Call them off, Silas, or I put a bullet between your eyes right now," Leo warned.
Silas chuckled softly, a sound completely devoid of warmth.
"If you shoot me, Leo, my men will burn this bunker to the ground with all of you inside."
Silas looked past Leo and locked his dark eyes on Clara.
"Ah, the miraculous nurse," Silas purred, taking a step closer to her.
"I paid Dr. Evans a fortune to send a coward who would run at the first sign of trouble."
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Silas smiled, reaching out to touch the bruise on Clara's cheek.
"You really threw a wrench in my plans tonight, Miss Bennett."
