Chapter 3 - The Price of Freedom
I felt the air completely leave my lungs.
I asked Maria to repeat what she had just said.
Maria pulled Lily into her lap, her hands shaking violently.
She explained that her late husband had been a brilliant forensic accountant.
He had worked for Victoria's family business, uncovering a massive offshore money laundering syndicate.
When he threatened to go to the authorities, he died in a mysterious car crash.
Maria confessed that she had changed her name and gone into hiding to protect her daughter.
She took the housekeeping job at my estate because my security walls were the highest in the city.
She thought she was safe until Victoria walked into the playroom today.
I realized my arrogant, isolated lifestyle had completely blinded me to the monsters in my own circle.
I swore to Maria that I would use all my resources to destroy Victoria's family.
I told her we were going to the police with everything her husband had found.
Maria grabbed my arm, her fingernails digging desperately into my skin.
She cried that going to the police would only sign our death warrants.
She explained that Victoria's family practically owned the local judges and the police commissioner.
I realized we were dealing with a syndicate far more dangerous than simple corporate greed.
I pulled out my encrypted phone to call Marcus, my trusted head of security.
I needed Marcus to assemble a private extraction team to get Maria and Lily to a safe house.
The phone rang twice before Marcus answered in his usual gruff voice.
I quickly explained the situation, ordering him to prepare the armored vehicles.
Marcus went completely silent for several long, agonizing seconds.
He finally spoke, his voice sounding chillingly cold and unfamiliar.
May you like
Marcus apologized and told me that my security clearance had just been permanently revoked.
Before I could ask what he meant, the heavy steel shutters on all the playroom windows slammed down, locking us inside.
