Chapter 2
Julian was moved inside.
Claire refused to leave the envelope unattended.
Victoria laughed when she saw that.
“Still clutching your dead brother like jewelry.”
Claire turned.
Victoria sat under guard now.
No elegance left in the pose.
Still arrogant.
Claire said:
“You watched Julian drown.”
Victoria shrugged.
“He would have survived longer than Andrew.”
Silence.
Julian closed his eyes.
Claire stared.
There it was again.
Not grief.
Not regret.
Contempt.
“You enjoy mentioning him.”
Victoria smiled.
“It works.”
“Meaning?”
“It makes you emotional.”
She leaned back.
“Andrew was the same.”
“Always reacting.”
“Always believing loyalty meant something.”
Then:
“Your mother raised sentimental children.”
Claire’s expression went cold.
Victoria saw.
Enjoyed it.
“There.”
“That face.”
“She died too, didn’t she?”
Julian snapped:
“Enough.”
Victoria turned toward him.
“What?”
She laughed.
“You spent years protecting Bennett trash and now you want manners?”
Claire moved.
Julian caught her wrist.
Not forcefully.
A warning.
Victoria wanted violence.
Something she could use.
Claire understood.
She stepped back.
Then looked at Julian.
“How long did you know Andrew?”
“Seven years.”
That hurt.
Claire had never heard Julian’s name from Andrew.
“Why hide it?”
Julian looked toward the envelope.
“Because he asked me to.”
“Why?”
“Because someone inside both families was feeding information outward.”
Claire’s expression changed.
“Both?”
Julian nodded.
“Bennett and Vescari.”
Gabriel laughed from the other side of the room.
Blood at his mouth.
Two guards behind him.
“Listen to him.”
Claire turned.
Gabriel smiled.
“Wheelchair prophet.”
Julian ignored him.
Gabriel continued.
“He loves making himself important.”
Then to Claire:
“You think your brother trusted him?”
He laughed.
“Andrew used him.”
Julian’s jaw tightened.
Gabriel saw.
Pressed harder.
“Everybody did.”
Claire watched.
Not the insult.
The reaction.
Gabriel knew exactly where to strike Julian.
That meant history.
Claire asked:
“What happened to Julian’s accident?”
The room changed.
Victoria stopped smiling.
Gabriel looked toward her.
Too fast.
Julian said:
“Claire.”
She looked at him.
“When?”
“Not now.”
“No.”
She held up the photograph.
“My brother stood beside you before you were in that chair.”
Julian’s expression darkened.
“That accident is connected.”
Silence.
Gabriel smiled.
Finally.
“Ask him who was driving.”
Claire turned.
Julian did not answer.
Gabriel continued:
“Ask him why Andrew Bennett walked away.”
Victoria snapped:
“Gabriel.”
Too late.
Claire stepped toward Julian.
“You were with Andrew?”
Julian looked at her.
Then nodded.
“The night of the accident.”
Silence.
Claire felt something inside her shift.
For eighteen months she had believed Andrew’s final secret began near his death.
It had begun years earlier.
Julian continued quietly.
“Your brother saved my life.”
Gabriel laughed.
“No.”
Everyone turned.
He smiled.
“Andrew caused the crash.”
Julian’s face hardened.
Claire stared.
Gabriel continued.
May you like
“And Julian spent seven years protecting him anyway.”
That was the first story Claire could not immediately fit into either side.
