Chapter 2: The Devil You Know
The safe house was Mark’s hunting cabin, hidden deep in the woods, hours away from the city. The rain lashed against the windows, but inside, a fire roared in the hearth. Leo was asleep on the sofa, finally clean after a warm bath, wearing one of Mark’s oversized flannels. Emily was curled up beside him, her hand holding his securely.
Claire sat at the kitchen island, staring at the laptop screen. Mark had used his military contacts to pull the sealed hospital records from five years ago.
“It’s worse than you think, Claire,” Mark said, placing a mug of black coffee in front of her. “I tracked the money. Two days after Leo supposedly died, half a million dollars was transferred from Richard’s offshore account to the attending doctor. A month later, the doctor retired to the Bahamas.”
Claire felt sick. She pressed her hands to her mouth, trying to stifle a scream. “Why? Why would Richard do this? He loved Leo.”
“Did he?” Mark asked gently. “Leo isn’t Richard’s biological son. He’s your first husband’s child. The trust fund your late husband left for Leo... it’s worth millions, Claire. But in the event of Leo’s death, the money defaults to you. And since you and Richard share joint finances...”
“Richard got the money,” Claire whispered, the horrifying puzzle pieces snapping together. “He sold my baby to the streets to steal his inheritance.”
Suddenly, Leo whimpered in his sleep, thrashing against the cushions. Claire rushed over, falling to her knees and stroking his hair until his breathing slowed. She noticed, for the first time, a series of small, faded scars on his wrists. The evidence of his captivity. The years of torment her husband had condemned him to.
Anger, pure and unadulterated, replaced her grief. The helpless, grieving mother died in that cabin, replaced by something dangerous.
“We go to the police,” Mark said, loading a magazine into his handgun. “With this financial trail, we can put him away forever.”
“No,” Claire said, standing up. Her eyes were hard, devoid of the warmth they usually held. “If we go to the police, Richard will hire the best lawyers. He’ll twist the truth. He’ll claim I kidnapped Leo, that I’m unstable. He could get custody of Emily.”
Before Mark could reply, a deafening crash echoed through the woods. The perimeter alarm Mark had set up outside shrieked into the night.
Claire spun around. The glow of headlights cut through the forest, illuminating the cabin. Three black SUVs were blocking the only road out.
Mark killed the cabin lights, plunging them into darkness. He handed Claire a heavy, cold revolver. “He tracked your phone,” Mark cursed himself.
May you like
The front door’s lock began to click, and a voice echoed through the rain—smooth, calm, and terrifyingly familiar.
“Claire, darling,” Richard called out from the dark. “It’s time to come home. Bring the children out, and let’s handle this like a family.”
