Chapter 2 - THE HOUSE OF DEAD MEN
The first gunshot came from the lake house before Gabriel's convoy reached the front gate.
Harper heard it through Leo's phone.
She was sitting in the back of a black SUV, wrapped in a borrowed coat while a paramedic monitored her condition. Gabriel had insisted she receive medical attention, but Harper refused to remain behind until she knew Noah was safe.
They had compromised.
The paramedic would accompany her, and she would stay inside the protected vehicle.
Another gunshot cracked through the darkness.
Harper flinched.
"That's my brother in there."
Gabriel leaned toward the radio.
"Everyone holds position until we know where the kid is."
His men spread out along the property while Leo contacted the police liaison already waiting for Gabriel's instructions.
Harper stared at the enormous mansion beyond the trees.
"Mitchell told me you owned this place."
"I do."
"He brought me here once."
Gabriel turned.
"When?"
"Three months ago. He said you wanted me to sign employment paperwork."
"What paperwork?"
Harper hesitated.
"I never saw it. He locked me in a bedroom for six hours."
Gabriel's jaw tightened.
Before he could answer, the radio hissed.
"We found the boy."
Harper surged forward.
"Where?"
"East entrance. He's alive."
Minutes later, Noah emerged between two security officers, shaking but walking on his own.
Harper scrambled out despite the paramedic's warning.
"Noah!"
Her brother caught her carefully, avoiding her injured ribs.
"I'm sorry," he whispered.
She held his face.
"What happened?"
"Mitchell said you stole something."
Harper shook her head.
"I didn't steal anything."
Noah's eyes widened.
"He said you'd say that."
Gabriel approached.
"Where is Mitchell?"
Noah glanced toward the mansion.
"He left before we got here."
Gabriel stopped.
"Before you got here?"
Noah nodded.
"The man who brought me wasn't Mitchell."
"Describe him."
"Gray hair. Black gloves. He had a scar above his eyebrow."
Gabriel went completely still.
"Did he give you a name?"
Noah nodded.
"He said to tell you he was sorry about your mother."
Harper watched Gabriel's face lose its color.
"Gabriel?"
But he was already pulling out his phone.
He opened an old family photograph and showed it to Noah.
"Was this the man?"
Noah nodded immediately.
"That's him."
Harper looked at the photograph.
Standing beside a much younger Gabriel was an older man with silver hair and a scar above his eyebrow.
"Who is he?" she whispered.
Gabriel stared at the image.
"His name is Thomas Vale."
"Is he dangerous?"
Gabriel lowered the phone.
"He was my father's most trusted bodyguard."
Harper waited.
May you like
Gabriel's next words were barely audible.
"And I buried him eleven years ago."
