Chapter 12 - THE SEVEN FAMILIES
We spent the night surrounded by security.
Zara refused to let Prince sleep alone.
Amelia stayed in the guest room with us.
Mina reviewed every security camera in the house.
At 4:12 a.m., she found something.
“Justin.”
I walked into the security room.
She pointed at the screen.
A man stood outside our gate.
He wore a dark coat.
His face was hidden beneath an umbrella.
“He was there for exactly ninety seconds,” Mina said.
“Can you identify him?”
“No.”
“Plate?”
“Covered.”
I stared at the footage.
Then the man slowly looked directly into the camera.
As if he knew we were watching.
He raised one hand.
And held up seven fingers.
The screen went black.
Mina swallowed.
“What does that mean?”
I didn't answer.
Because I already knew.
The seven families.
---
My mother finally told us everything.
Decades ago, seven wealthy families had created an unofficial alliance.
They controlled shipping.
Banking.
Real estate.
Politics.
Media.
Their children married into one another.
Their companies bought one another.
Their secrets protected one another.
And anyone who threatened the system disappeared.
My father had tried to leave.
That's why he died.
My sister had been hidden because she was the original heir.
Prince was targeted because the second trust could expose everything.
“And you?” I asked my mother.
She lowered her eyes.
“I was their prisoner.”
“You helped them.”
“Yes.”
“You lied to me.”
“Yes.”
“You destroyed Zara's life.”
She began crying.
“Yes.”
I walked away.
I wanted to forgive her.
But forgiveness couldn't erase consequences.
Zara followed me into the hallway.
“You don't have to forgive her today.”
“I know.”
“You don't even have to forgive her tomorrow.”
I looked at her.
“But?”
“But don't let them turn you into someone who only knows how to hate.”
I kissed her forehead.
“I love you.”
“I love you too.”
Then Prince appeared.
“Dad?”
“Yes?”
“I had a bad dream.”
I knelt.
“What happened?”
“There were seven men.”
My heart stopped.
“What did they look like?”
“I don't know.”
He hesitated.
“They were standing around Mommy.”
My blood turned cold.
“Then what?”
“They said she knew where the treasure was.”
Zara and I looked at each other.
My mother suddenly appeared behind us.
“Treasure?”
I turned.
“What treasure?”
She stared at Prince.
Then whispered:
“The second trust.”
---
The following morning, someone sent us a package.
Inside was a key.
And an address.
A warehouse in Brooklyn.
Beneath the key was a message.
COME ALONE, JUSTIN.
I smiled bitterly.
“They really don't know me.”
Zara looked at me.
“You're going?”
“Yes.”
“Alone?”
“No.”
Mina stepped forward.
“I'm coming.”
Amelia picked up her coat.
“So am I.”
Zara sighed.
“And apparently I'm coming too.”
I looked at her.
“This could be dangerous.”
She smiled.
“So is being married to you.”
I laughed.
For the first time in days, the tension broke.
We drove to Brooklyn together.
The warehouse doors opened automatically.
Inside was darkness.
Then the lights came on.
Seven people stood in a line.
Three men.
Four women.
All dressed elegantly.
At the center stood an elderly woman with silver hair.
She smiled.
“Justin Lane.”
I stepped forward.
“Who are you?”
She smiled.
“Your grandmother.”
I froze.
May you like
My grandmother had supposedly died twenty-six years ago.
---
