Chapter 6 - The Life He Never Thought He Deserved
Declan evacuated the staff before sunset.
Mrs. Keane refused.
“I’ve worked here thirty-one years.”
Declan stared at her.
“That doesn’t make you bulletproof.”
“It makes me stubborn.”
Norah laughed despite herself.
Mrs. Keane pointed toward her.
“She understands.”
Declan looked at both women.
“This is why I used to employ only terrifying men.”
“You still employ terrifying men,” Norah said.
“Apparently they listen better.”
Mrs. Keane finally agreed to leave after Declan threatened to personally carry her to the car.
Norah stayed.
He did not waste time arguing.
That was progress.
The estate became a fortress.
Security teams secured the gates.
Lights were shut off across the west wing.
Cameras monitored every approach.
Declan stood in the library studying maps.
Norah entered carrying coffee.
“You’ve been awake twenty-eight hours.”
“I’ve survived longer.”
“That wasn’t praise.”
She placed the cup beside him.
Declan pulled her closer.
“If something happens tonight—”
“No.”
He frowned.
“You don’t know what I was going to say.”
“You were going to give me some dramatic speech about running if you die.”
“I was.”
“Rejected.”
“Norah.”
“If something happens, we handle it. Together.”
He stared at her.
“You’re difficult.”
“You like me.”
“That remains under investigation.”
At eleven thirty, the power died.
Not flickered.
Died.
Declan grabbed his radio.
“Report.”
Static.
Then gunfire erupted near the south gate.
“They’re here.”
The first explosion shattered windows in the ballroom.
Norah ducked.
Declan pulled her toward a reinforced hallway.
Security teams returned fire outside.
Smoke entered through broken glass.
“Victor knows the house,” Declan said.
“He knows the old layout.”
Norah stopped.
Declan looked back.
“What?”
“The restoration.”
“What about it?”
“When contractors repaired the third floor, they sealed two old servant corridors.”
“So?”
“They’re not on the original plans.”
Understanding appeared in his eyes.
“You know the new structure.”
“I cleaned every inch of it.”
Declan almost smiled.
“My maid may save my life twice.”
“Pay raise.”
“Done.”
They moved through the service halls.
Norah guided three guards toward a narrow staircase overlooking the south wing.
From there, they intercepted Victor’s men.
The attack slowed.
Then a voice came through the estate speaker system.
Victor.
“Declan.”
Norah froze.
“Still hiding behind employees?”
Declan’s expression turned dark.
Victor continued.
“You always loved fortresses.”
Declan grabbed a wall microphone.
“You always loved hearing yourself talk.”
Victor laughed.
“There he is.”
“Come inside.”
“I already am.”
Declan looked toward Norah.
A chill moved through her.
Victor’s voice echoed throughout the mansion.
“Ask your brave little maid where her mother is.”
Norah went pale.
She grabbed her phone.
Called.
No answer.
Again.
No answer.
Declan caught her arm.
“Don’t believe him.”
Victor laughed through the speakers.
“Would you like proof?”
A woman screamed.
Norah’s mother.
Norah’s knees weakened.
Declan held her upright.
“Where is she?”
“You know where.”
The forbidden room.
Norah looked upward.
Victor had brought everything back to where it began.
They climbed the third-floor stairs.
The corridor was dark.
The new medical room door stood open.
Inside, Norah’s mother sat tied to a chair.
Victor stood behind her.
Gun raised.
Declan entered.
Norah beside him.
Victor smiled.
“History repeats.”
Declan’s voice was cold.
“Let her go.”
“You said that last time.”
“Your fight is with me.”
“My fight was always with you.”
Victor’s eyes moved toward Norah.
“She changed you.”
“No.”
Declan looked at Norah.
“She reminded me I could change myself.”
Victor’s smile vanished.
“You were supposed to inherit everything.”
“I did.”
“And then you threw it away.”
“I’m ending it.”
“You think legitimate businessmen will invite you to dinner? You think police will forget what you were? You think she will?”
Victor pointed at Norah.
“One day she’ll wake up and realize she sleeps beside a killer.”
Norah stepped forward.
Victor shifted the gun.
“Careful.”
Norah stopped.
“You want to know what I realized?”
Victor looked at her.
“You’ve spent your entire life blaming Declan because he became what you wanted to be.”
Victor’s face tightened.
“You wanted his power. His respect. His name.”
“Be quiet.”
“But people followed him because they chose to.”
“Shut up.”
“They follow you because they’re afraid.”
Victor pointed the pistol toward her.
Declan moved.
The shot fired.
Norah screamed.
Declan staggered.
Blood appeared near his shoulder.
He fired back.
Victor ducked behind the medical bed.
Norah ran toward her mother.
Bullets struck cabinets.
Glass exploded.
Declan moved behind a steel cart.
Victor shouted.
“You always protect everyone!”
Declan answered, “Someone has to.”
Norah untied her mother.
“Run!”
Her mother fled toward the hall.
Victor rose.
Declan fired.
Victor’s gun fell.
He collapsed.
For a moment no one moved.
Then Victor laughed.
Blood darkened his shirt.
“You still won’t kill me.”
Declan approached.
Victor looked up.
“Do it.”
Declan pointed the pistol.
Norah watched him.
This was the old world asking for one final payment.
Victor smiled.
“You know you want to.”
Declan lowered the gun.
“No.”
Victor’s expression cracked.
Declan continued.
“You don’t get to turn me back into you.”
Police sirens approached outside.
Federal agents entered minutes later.
May you like
Victor Sloane was arrested alive.
And for the first time in decades, the Hayes estate became silent without anyone being afraid.
