Chapter 7
My father named six people.
Three were dead.
One had left the country years ago.
Two still worked for me.
Neither was Mara.
Neither was Marco.
That made them relax.
Too soon.
My father's recording continued.
“The Vale family prefers marriage to war.”
Mara stopped breathing.
I looked at her.
My father had recorded this seven years ago.
Before Grace disappeared.
Before I married Mara.
“They enter houses through relationships.”
A pause.
“They make betrayal look like peace.”
My hands tightened.
Marco stared at the floor.
The recording continued.
“I have no proof Mara Vale is involved.”
She exhaled slightly.
Then:
“But her brother Marco has been meeting men tied to the west corridor.”
His face changed.
There.
Proof.
My father:
“If Marco is still near Ryan when this plays, watch the sister too.”
Silence.
Mara laughed bitterly.
“A dead man's suspicion.”
I stared.
“Grace found the proof.”
Her jaw tightened.
The recorder continued.
Then another voice.
Not Dad.
Grace.
Years later.
She had used the same machine.
“Ryan…”
My chest stopped.
“I found your father's box.”
I stared.
Grace continued.
“Mara is meeting Marco inside the service passage.”
Silence.
“I don't know whether she's using you or planning to.”
Mara rolled her eyes.
“She always hated me.”
Grace's recording:
“I hope I'm wrong.”
That shut Mara up.
No hatred.
No certainty.
Just warning.
Grace continued.
“If something happens to me, don't punish Mara because I disliked her.”
Silence.
“Punish nobody until you know.”
My throat tightened.
Even afraid, Grace wanted truth before revenge.
Mara looked almost offended.
Grace continued.
“Marco keeps asking about the red key.”
A pause.
“He thinks your father listed every Vale loyalist.”
Marco stared.
Grace:
“He's right.”
Silence.
Then six more names.
Two of those men were still inside my security rotation.
I looked at Emily.
Her face went pale.
“Boss…”
“What?”
“One is on Lily's floor tonight.”
My blood went cold.
I was moving before the recorder stopped.
Mara laughed behind me.
“There.”
I turned.
She smiled.
“Run.”
Her voice dripped contempt.
“Your little girl needs Daddy.”
I stared.
“Yes.”
Her smile weakened.
I continued.
“That is what fathers do.”
Then I ran upstairs.
The guard outside Lily's room was gone.
The bedroom door stood open.
Empty bed.
My entire body turned cold.
A sound came from the service stairwell.
Lily crying.
I reached it.
One of the names from the recorder had Lily in his arms.
He froze when he saw me.
“Boss.”
“Put her down.”
He hesitated.
Wrong.
Lily reached for me.
“Daddy!”
The man tightened his grip.
Then said:
“Mara told me to move her.”
Silence.
I stared.
“What?”
He looked terrified now.
“She said if Ava was discovered…”
His voice shook.
May you like
“…Lily becomes the exchange.”
And in one sentence, Mara proved she had planned for both of my daughters.
