Chapter 8 - The Woman Arthur Wanted Silenced
Toby’s confession fractured the room.
He was Victor’s illegitimate son.
His mother, Claire Bennett, had hidden him for nineteen years.
Victor had recently discovered him.
Arthur had been sent to watch.
That was why Toby worked at the Gilded Oak.
That was why Arthur had reacted so violently when Freya confronted Gabriel.
The restaurant had never been random.
It was a surveillance point.
Freya had accidentally stepped into a six-year operation by covering Toby’s table.
Gabriel stared at the teenager.
“My brother.”
Toby looked sick.
“Half brother.”
“Not helping,” Freya said.
For the first time, Gabriel laughed.
One exhausted breath.
Then Claire Bennett disappeared.
Arthur took her.
Victor wanted Toby in exchange for the evidence.
Toby blamed himself.
Freya refused to let him.
“Victor chose this. Arthur chose this. You didn’t.”
They traced Claire to a private estate outside the city.
Gabriel prepared men.
Freya stopped him.
“No army.”
“He has my father.”
“He has Toby’s mother.”
Gabriel corrected himself.
“Claire.”
That mattered.
They entered quietly.
Freya used Arabic radio chatter intercepted from Victor’s guards to redirect them.
Gabriel noticed.
“You’re good.”
“I was better before somebody put metal in my knee.”
They found Claire in an upstairs bedroom.
Alive.
Arthur stood beside her.
Gun lowered.
“I wasn’t going to hurt her.”
Freya stared.
“You threatened her son.”
“I needed Victor to believe me.”
Gabriel stepped inside.
“So everyone is secretly infiltrating everyone?”
Arthur looked ashamed.
“I made mistakes.”
“You spent six years lying to me.”
“I spent six years keeping Victor from killing you.”
Gabriel’s face hardened.
Arthur revealed the truth.
Victor had ordered Gabriel’s death twice.
Arthur redirected both attempts.
He had participated in the overseas network, yes.
But when Victor began trafficking civilians and selling military intelligence, Arthur tried to get out.
Victor threatened his family.
Arthur obeyed.
Freya understood coercion.
She did not confuse it with innocence.
“You still made choices.”
Arthur nodded.
“I know.”
He handed Gabriel a key.
“Victor’s real ledger is beneath the old Mercer house.”
Then a shot broke the window.
Arthur fell.
Claire screamed.
Freya dragged her down.
Gabriel fired toward the tree line.
Arthur clutched his shoulder.
“Go.”
Gabriel crouched beside him.
Arthur grabbed his sleeve.
“He knows you’re coming.”
“Who?”
“Victor.”
Arthur coughed.
“And there’s something else.”
“What?”
“The ledger isn’t about money.”
Gabriel leaned closer.
Arthur whispered, “It’s about your mother.”
May you like
Then every light in the house went out.
Footsteps started coming up the stairs.
