Chapter 11 - LUCAS COMES HOME

Willow returned to her townhouse shortly before midnight.
The lights were already on.
Lucas was sitting in the living room.
She stopped.
âHow did you get in?â
âItâs my house too.â
âNot anymore.â
Lucas stood.
He looked exhausted.
His perfect hair was disordered.
His tie was gone.
For the first time, he looked like a man whose last name could no longer protect him.
âYou found the package.â
Willowâs chest tightened.
âSo you did steal it.â
âI was trying to protect us.â
âBy burning evidence?â
âYou donât understand what that box could do.â
âIt tells the truth.â
âIt destroys everything.â
Lucas approached her.
âThe company.â
âMy parents.â
âThousands of employees.â
âOur marriage.â
Willow almost laughed.
âOur marriage ended when you hit me.â
His expression changed.
Regret finally appeared.
Or something resembling it.
âI lost control.â
âNo.â
âYou showed me your control.â
âWillow.â
âYou hit me because I refused to obey.â
He looked down.
âIâm sorry.â
She had waited five years for Lucas to apologize for hundreds of smaller cruelties.
Now the words meant nothing.
She stepped toward the hallway.
Lucas grabbed her wrist.
Willow froze.
âLet go.â
âI need the box.â
âLet go of me.â
His grip tightened.
Then another voice came from the doorway.
âShe said let go.â
Michael stood there.
Lucas released Willow immediately.
âHow did you get in?â
Michael held up the spare key Willow had given him years earlier.
âMechanics understand doors too.â
Lucas stared at him.
âYou think you won.â
Michael shook his head.
âThis isnât a game.â
âMy father is dead.â
âMy wife is dead.â
âMy daughter has a bruise on her face.â
âNobody won.â
Lucasâs expression cracked.
âYou have no idea what my father will do.â
Michael looked at him.
âI know exactly what your father does when heâs cornered.â
Lucas looked toward Willow.
There was genuine fear in his eyes.
âYou need to leave Chicago.â
Willow stopped.
âWhy?â
Lucas swallowed.
âBecause the money in Harbor North isnât the only account.â
Michael narrowed his eyes.
âWhat other account?â
Lucas hesitated.
Then headlights swept across the living room windows.
A black SUV stopped outside.
Lucas turned pale.
May you like
âToo late.â
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