Chapter 6 - The Sister Sullivan Could Reach
Damian pushed Hazel behind him.
Marco entered through the rear.
No intruder remained.
Only a phone.
It rang.
Catherine.
Damian answered.
“You're becoming irritating.”
Catherine laughed.
“You sound like your father.”
“Mention him again and—”
“And what? You'll kill me?”
“Yes.”
No drama.
No raised voice.
Hazel believed him.
So did Catherine.
“Send Hazel.”
“No.”
“Then Emily dies.”
“No.”
Hazel grabbed his arm.
“Damian.”
He muted the call.
“You cannot make that decision.”
“I can prevent you from walking into a trap.”
“She is my sister.”
“And Sullivan knows that makes you predictable.”
“Then let me be predictable.”
Damian stared at her.
Hazel’s eyes filled.
“Please.”
He hated that word.
Especially from her.
They built a plan.
Hazel would go.
Damian’s team would follow invisibly.
The location was an abandoned hotel.
Hazel entered carrying the bracelet.
Catherine waited alone.
“Where's Emily?”
“Safe.”
“Show me.”
Catherine displayed a live feed.
Emily was alive.
Hazel exhaled.
“What do you want?”
“The archive.”
“I don't know where it is.”
“But you know how to find it.”
Catherine stepped closer.
“Your mother stole from my father.”
“My mother collected evidence.”
“Same thing, depending on who writes the history.”
Hazel held up the bracelet.
“You want this?”
“No.”
Catherine smiled.
“I want what’s inside it.”
Hazel frowned.
Catherine took the bracelet and twisted the clasp.
A tiny strip of paper emerged.
Coordinates.
Hazel stared.
She had worn them for years.
Catherine laughed.
“Sarah always loved hiding things in plain sight.”
Gunfire erupted outside.
Damian.
Catherine grabbed Hazel.
A pistol pressed against her ribs.
“Tell Romano to back off.”
Hazel's voice shook.
“No.”
Catherine blinked.
Hazel was frightened.
But something had changed.
Three months inside Damian Romano’s house had taught her that quiet did not mean weak.
“No,” she repeated.
Catherine dragged her toward the rear exit.
Damian appeared.
His weapon raised.
Catherine positioned Hazel between them.
“You haven't touched a woman in four years, Damian.”
His face remained blank.
“Apparently you picked a troublesome one.”
Hazel almost laughed despite the gun.
Damian’s eyes met hers.
Trust me.
She understood without words.
Hazel dropped suddenly.
Damian fired.
Catherine screamed.
The weapon fell.
Marco’s men rushed forward.
Emily was rescued twenty minutes later.
Hazel ran to her.
The sisters held each other.
Damian remained several feet away.
Hazel looked over Emily’s shoulder.
“Come here.”
Damian hesitated.
“Damian.”
He approached.
Hazel reached for his hand.
He let her take it.
Emily looked between them.
“So this is your terrifying boss?”
Hazel laughed through tears.
“He’s less terrifying when injured.”
“I’m standing here,” Damian said.
“I know.”
For a few hours, everything seemed survivable.
Then Marco examined Catherine’s phone.
There were messages to someone inside the Romano estate.
Hundreds.
Damian read them.
The traitor had provided schedules.
Security codes.
Hazel’s employment records.
Even the night Damian had been shot.
“Name?” Damian asked.
Marco's expression was grim.
“The account is encrypted.”
“Break it.”
“We’re trying.”
Hazel noticed Catherine watching from the chair where she had been restrained.
She was smiling.
“What's funny?”
Catherine looked at Hazel.
“You still think Damian rescued you.”
Hazel stiffened.
“What does that mean?”
“Ask him why you were hired.”
Damian turned.
Catherine laughed.
“She didn't apply randomly, did she, Damian?”
Hazel looked at him.
He said nothing.
Her stomach dropped.
“Damian?”
Catherine leaned forward.
“Tell her.”
Hazel’s hand slipped from his.
“Tell me what?”
Damian finally answered.
“I approved your application personally.”
“Why?”
He looked at her bracelet.
Hazel understood.
“You knew who I was.”
“Not everything.”
“How long?”
“Before you started.”
Hazel backed away.
Three months.
Every quiet conversation.
Every glance.
Every moment she had believed he was slowly seeing her.
Maybe he had been watching her from the beginning.
“You used me.”
“No.”
“Don't.”
She turned.
“Hazel.”
“Don't follow me.”
She walked away.
Damian remained where he was.
Then Marco’s tablet beeped.
The encrypted account had opened.
A name appeared.
Damian looked down.
His face drained of color.
The traitor wasn't one of his guards.
May you like
It was the person who had signed Hazel’s employment approval beneath Damian’s name.
ELENA ROMANO.
