Chapter 12 - VICTORIA’S LAST LIEVictoria’s hand did not shake.
She closed the steel door behind her.
Detective Brooks slowly raised both hands.
“You will not leave this room.”
Victoria smiled.
“I have been leaving rooms before anyone realizes I entered them for thirty years.”
Marcus remained near the computer.
“How much did you steal?”
“Enough to build the company you enjoy controlling.”
“You stole from employees.”
“Your father was weak.”
“He cared about rules more than survival.”
“You threatened to kill me.”
Victoria’s eyes softened.
“I would never have harmed you.”
“You tried to kill my daughter.”
“I tried to protect your future.”
“My future is Khloe and Grace.”
“No.”
Victoria’s voice sharpened.
“Your future is Thorne Global.”
“That woman made you sentimental.”
“She made me human.”
Marcus stepped forward.
Victoria raised the gun.
“Do not force me.”
“You already made your choice.”
Detective Brooks moved toward the wall.
Victoria turned the weapon for one second.
Marcus lunged.
The gun fired.
The sound echoed through the chamber.
Marcus struck the floor.
Blood spread across his sleeve.
Brooks tackled Victoria.
The pistol slid beneath a shelf.
Marcus pressed a hand against his arm.
The bullet had passed through the muscle.
Victoria screamed as Brooks handcuffed her.
“You do not understand.”
“Daniel will kill Edward.”
“He will destroy all of you.”
Marcus looked at the computer.
“Then tell us where he is.”
Victoria began laughing.
“He is already inside the hospital.”
Marcus’s blood turned cold.
She explained that Daniel had obtained Melissa Grant’s missing badge.
He had studied service corridors and emergency exits.
He did not need to steal Grace.
He only needed access to the incubator for a few seconds.
Marcus called Khloe.
No answer.
He called Adrian.
No answer.
Detective Brooks requested an immediate hospital lockdown.
Marcus ran from the basement despite the wound in his arm.
At St. Catherine’s, alarms began sounding.
Staff members sealed the neonatal unit.
Khloe woke to see a nurse adjusting Grace’s medication.
The woman wore a surgical mask.
Something about her movements felt wrong.
Khloe looked at the identification badge.
MELISSA GRANT.
Melissa was dead.
Khloe reached for the emergency button.
The disguised woman grabbed her wrist.
May you like
Then Daniel stepped out from behind the privacy curtain.
“Do not make a sound.”
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