Chapter 18 - THE CHILD HE COULDN'T HAVE
Sophia called Lily immediately.
No answer.
She ran upstairs.
The bedroom was empty.
Her heart stopped.
Then Isabella stepped out of the bathroom.
“Miss Sophia?”
“Where is Lily?”
“She went with Mr. Cruz.”
Sophia froze.
Daniel Cruz.
The trusted head of estate security.
The man who had protected them.
The man who knew every security procedure.
Sophia ran downstairs.
Lorenzo was already checking the cameras.
Footage showed Daniel leading Lily through the service entrance.
Lily appeared calm.
She trusted him.
A black sedan waited outside.
Sophia felt physically sick.
Daniel had been Gabriel’s deepest inside contact.
He had controlled which cameras worked.
He had known about every police plan.
He had allowed Valentina’s people into the estate.
Gabriel had never needed to enter Savannah’s ship.
That appearance was another distraction.
Lorenzo traced Daniel’s vehicle through the estate tracking system.
The car stopped near an abandoned freight yard north of the city.
Police surrounded the area.
Sophia insisted on going.
No one could stop her.
Inside the warehouse, Gabriel waited with Daniel and Lily.
Lily sat on a chair.
She was frightened but unharmed.
Sophia entered beside Lorenzo.
Gabriel smiled.
“You came.”
“Let my daughter go.”
Gabriel looked at Lily.
“She looks like Ethan.”
Sophia’s voice shook.
“You don’t get to say his name.”
Gabriel shrugged.
“Your husband cost me millions.”
“He should have accepted my offer.”
“What offer?”
Gabriel smiled.
“Ethan worked for me before he betrayed me.”
Sophia stared.
“He transported cargo.”
“At first.”
Gabriel leaned against a crate.
“Then he discovered what was really inside.”
“He wanted out.”
“I offered him money.”
“He refused.”
Sophia’s eyes filled with tears, but her voice stayed firm.
“So you killed him.”
“Yes.”
Lily began crying.
Sophia looked at her daughter.
“Don’t listen to him.”
Gabriel grabbed Lily’s shoulder.
Lorenzo stepped forward.
Daniel pointed a gun at him.
“Stop.”
Gabriel looked at Sophia.
“I need one thing.”
“What?”
“The copies Ethan made.”
“You already tried to destroy them.”
“Not all of them.”
Sophia realized he believed Ethan had hidden more evidence.
Maybe he had.
Maybe he had not.
She looked at Lily.
Then she understood something.
Gabriel did not know where the evidence was.
That meant she had leverage.
Sophia raised her chin.
“I know where it is.”
Gabriel smiled.
“I knew you would.”
She continued.
“But you let Lily walk to me first.”
Gabriel considered it.
Then he pushed Lily forward.
Lily ran.
Sophia caught her.
At the same second, Lorenzo moved.
Daniel turned.
A sniper’s shot shattered the warehouse window.
Daniel’s weapon fell from his hand.
Police stormed the building.
Gabriel ran toward the rear exit.
May you like
Sophia watched him disappear through the door.
But this time, there was nowhere left to go.
