Chapter 3 - The Hidden Truth
The air inside the narrow servant's passage was stale and smelled heavily of dust.
Julian carefully closed the hidden panel, plunging them into near absolute darkness.
He could hear the muffled shouts of Bennett's men tearing the kitchen apart on the other side of the wall.
He turned on the small tactical flashlight attached to his keychain.
The pale beam of light illuminated the long, narrow corridor that ran between the walls of the mansion.
Julian crouched down and looked at the little girl shivering in his arms.
"You are being incredibly brave, Elsie," Julian whispered softly.
She simply nodded and tightened her tiny grip on the green crayon.
Suddenly, a low whine echoed from the darkness ahead of them.
Julian raised his gun instantly, his finger resting perfectly on the trigger.
Rex limped out of the shadows, his muzzle covered in blood that did not belong to him.
The loyal dog pushed his wet nose against Elsie's cheek to make sure she was safe.
Julian let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding.
"Good boy, Rex," Julian murmured, signaling the dog to follow them quietly.
They moved slowly through the hidden passage toward Julian's secure office.
Julian needed to access the surveillance monitors to figure out exactly how many men were inside his home.
As they reached the hidden grate behind the office bookshelf, Julian peered through the wooden slats.
His breath caught sharply in his throat.
Camille was tied to a heavy leather chair in the center of his office.
A deep bruise was forming on her cheek, but her dark eyes were blazing with pure, unrestrained fury.
Bennett stood in front of her, wrapping a bloody bandage around his severely bitten forearm.
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"I will ask you one last time, Camille," Bennett snarled, pressing his gun against her temple.
"Where did your dead husband hide the cartel's financial ledger?" Bennett demanded.
