Chapter 5 - Oliver’s Second Word
Preston kicked the door open.
A man lunged.
Nathan tackled him.
The fight lasted seconds.
The intruder carried a photograph of Emma and instructions from Dominic.
But Oliver was not with him.
Preston’s phone rang again.
This time, Oliver’s face appeared on video.
He sat inside a car.
Dominic held the camera.
“Midnight,” Dominic said. “Old Saint Vincent’s Church. Emma and the archive.”
Emma stepped toward the phone.
“I’ll go.”
“No.”
“He has Oliver.”
“No.”
“Stop deciding what I’m allowed to risk.”
Preston looked at her.
“I’m not giving him another person I care about.”
Silence.
Emma’s expression softened.
“You care about me?”
Preston cursed himself.
Nathan looked away.
There was no time for feelings.
They built a plan.
At midnight Emma entered the church carrying a fake drive.
Preston and Nathan positioned themselves nearby.
Dominic appeared with Oliver.
Victor Lang followed.
That surprised everyone.
Victor looked older than Preston remembered.
“Your father should have killed me when he had the chance,” Victor said.
Preston emerged.
“And I shouldn’t repeat his mistake?”
Victor smiled.
“That’s the Preston I raised.”
Emma moved toward Oliver.
Dominic blocked her.
Victor wanted the original archive.
Preston stalled.
Nathan moved through the shadows.
Then Oliver looked at Emma.
She hummed.
Only three notes.
Oliver understood.
He dropped to the floor.
Preston fired.
Chaos erupted.
Nathan struck Dominic.
Emma crawled toward Oliver.
Victor ran.
Preston chased him through the church.
Outside, police sirens approached.
Victor had connections everywhere, but Preston had sent copies of Serena’s evidence to federal investigators hours earlier.
Victor realized it.
“You destroyed your own empire,” he told Preston.
“Maybe.”
“For what?”
Preston looked through the church doors.
Emma was holding Oliver.
“For him.”
Victor laughed.
“You think becoming a father makes you clean?”
“No.”
That answer surprised Victor.
Preston lowered his gun.
“But it gives me a reason to become better.”
Federal agents arrived.
Victor was arrested.
Dominic survived and was taken into custody.
For the first time, Preston chose evidence over execution.
It felt strange.
Harder, somehow.
Back at the mansion, Oliver sat between Emma and Preston.
He had not spoken since the church.
Preston feared the trauma had closed him again.
Then Oliver looked at him.
“Dad.”
One word.
Preston’s face broke.
He turned away.
Emma touched his arm.
“Don’t hide.”
He looked at her.
“From him,” she whispered.
Preston knelt.
Oliver wrapped his arms around his neck.
Preston held his son and cried without caring who saw.
Later, after Oliver slept, Preston found Emma packing.
“What are you doing?”
“Leaving.”
His chest tightened.
“Why?”
“Victor is arrested. Oliver is safe.”
“He needs you.”
“That isn’t enough.”
Preston understood what she meant.
“You think I’m asking you to stay because of him.”
“Aren’t you?”
He approached.
“No.”
Emma looked up.
The space between them changed.
Then Preston remembered his ridiculous ballroom promise.
“I promised to marry you.”
“I released you from that promise.”
“I know.”
“Then what are you saying?”
Preston had negotiated deals worth hundreds of millions without hesitation.
Now words failed him.
“I’m saying I don’t want you to leave.”
Emma’s eyes searched his.
Before she could answer, a scream came from Oliver’s room.
They ran.
Oliver stood beside his window pointing outside.
A woman stood beyond the garden gates.
Thin.
Motionless.
Watching the house.
Preston stared.
His heart stopped.
May you like
Because even after four years, he recognized the way she tilted her head.
Serena.
