Chapter 4
Red Hollow looked abandoned from the road.
That was deliberate.
No exterior lights.
No staff vehicles.
No smoke from the main chimney.
But fresh tire marks cut through the red clay.
Three sets.
One green truck.
Two black SUVs.
The German Shepherd came with us.
Archie did not.
Absolutely not.
Tessa stayed with him at the main estate.
The dog became restless the moment we passed the old quarry.
Then pulled hard toward the rear service road.
Rafe looked at me.
“Knows the place.”
“Yes.”
We followed.
There was an old equipment cottage behind the lodge.
Stone walls.
One window.
Locked door.
The dog started barking.
Not aggressive.
Urgent.
My heart stopped.
“Nolan?”
Nothing.
Then one impact from inside.
Pause.
Another.
I opened the door.
My brother was sitting against the far wall.
Alive.
Wrists free.
Ankle chained to an old radiator pipe.
Not injured badly.
Bruised.
Exhausted.
Furious.
“Nolan.”
He looked at me.
For one second, relief.
Then:
“Took you long enough.”
I laughed once because otherwise I might have broken.
Rafe removed the chain.
The dog ran directly to Nolan.
My brother wrapped both arms around its neck.
“Bishop.”
So not a stray.
Nolan looked at the collar.
“You found him.”
“Archie did.”
His face changed.
“What?”
I told him.
The kennel.
The sandwich.
The watch.
Dahlia.
Ellis.
Nolan stood too quickly and nearly fell.
I caught him.
“They touched Archie?”
“He’s safe.”
My brother closed his eyes.
Then something inside him hardened.
“I should’ve killed Ellis when I had the chance.”
“No.”
He looked at me.
“Not because Ellis deserves mercy.”
I kept one hand on his shoulder.
“Because Archie doesn’t need another adult teaching him rage is the only proof of love.”
Nolan stared.
Then nodded.
Later.
Not now.
We got him water.
Food.
Then I asked the question.
“Why were you here?”
He leaned back against the wall.
“Because I found what Vincent Vane left his children.”
I frowned.
“Vincent is dead.”
“Exactly.”
Nolan looked toward the main lodge.
“He left Dahlia and Ellis a story.”
“What story?”
May you like
My brother laughed bitterly.
“That the Flynn family stole everything from theirs.”
