Chapter 72 - THE COASTAL HOUSE
We arrived just before sunset.
The town was quiet.
The ocean stretched endlessly beyond the cliffs.
The address led to a small white house overlooking the water.
No security.
No guards.
No cars.
Just an old wooden door.
I knocked.
Nothing.
I knocked again.
“Mom?”
The door opened.
I froze.
A woman stood there.
Gray hair.
Tired eyes.
The scar beneath her left eye.
She looked at me.
And whispered:
“Emily.”
My knees almost gave way.
I stepped inside.
She reached toward me.
I hesitated.
Then I let her hold me.
For a few seconds, neither of us spoke.
Then she cried.
“I knew you'd come.”
I pulled away.
“You're alive.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
She looked at my father.
“Because he asked me to stay away.”
My father looked down.
“You were supposed to be dead.”
“I know.”
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because every time I tried, they found me.”
“Who?”
She looked toward the window.
“The people who built everything around your family.”
I frowned.
“Eleanor?”
“No.”
My heart stopped.
“Then who?”
Elena closed the curtains.
“Come inside.”
She locked the door.
Then she turned toward me.
“Your grandfather wasn't the beginning.”
I stared.
“What do you mean?”
“He was only one piece.”
“Of what?”
“A much larger organization.”
Julian stepped forward.
“How large?”
Elena looked at him.
“Large enough to survive three generations.”
May you like
Then she said something that made my blood run cold.
“And one of them is still inside your family.”
