Chapter 3 - Blood Ties
The revelation hit me with the force of a freight train.
I stared at Grace, desperately searching her face for any resemblance to the woman I had buried three years ago.
Now that I was truly looking, I saw the familiar shape of her eyes and the stubborn set of her jaw.
"Elena never mentioned having a sister," I said, my voice thick with disbelief and suspicion.
"We were estranged long before she met you, but she left me a letter to open in the event of her death," Grace explained.
She smoothly checked the magazine of the pistol before sliding it back into her apron.
"She knew the Romeros would eventually try to infiltrate your home, and she knew they would use a woman like Vanessa to do it."
Before I could ask another question, the heavy oak doors of the library burst open.
Marco, my trusted underboss, rushed into the room with his gun drawn and absolute panic in his eyes.
"Boss, we have a massive problem at the front gates," Marco shouted, out of breath.
"Vanessa's car exploded halfway down the driveway, and three unmarked black vans just smashed through the security perimeter."
My blood ran cold as I realized the Romeros hadn't just sent a courier; they had sent an army.
"Get the children to the underground safe room immediately," I ordered Grace, handing her a spare magazine from my desk drawer.
I turned to Marco, expecting him to flank me as we prepared to defend the main hallway.
Instead, I felt the cold, unforgiving steel of a gun barrel press directly against the back of my skull.
"I'm sorry, Evan, but the Chicago syndicate offered me a retirement plan I couldn't refuse," Marco whispered.
May you like
He reached into his jacket and pulled out the black ledger, proving that Vanessa had never given it to a courier at all.
"Tell the housekeeper to drop the gun, or I blow your brains all over these beautiful books."
