Chapter 10 - THE CROSS ESTATE
The old Cross estate had been empty since Julian’s father died.
Its windows faced Lake Michigan like dark eyes.
Detective Ortiz wanted a tactical team.
Julian refused to wait.
“My mother asked for Serena because she believes Serena has something.”
Serena looked down at the ring on her right hand.
It was a heavy emerald surrounded by diamonds.
“My brother gave me this last month.”
She twisted the stone.
The top opened.
Inside was a memory card.
Julian stared at her.
“You never checked?”
“I thought it was sentimental.”
“From Graham?” Rachel asked from her hospital bed. “That should have been your first warning.”
Ortiz copied the card before Julian and Serena left.
At the estate, the front door opened by itself.
Evelyn Cross waited in the library.
She looked older than Julian remembered, thinner, with silver streaks in her dark hair.
But her eyes were unchanged.
Cold, intelligent, and always measuring the weakness in a room.
She smiled.
“My beautiful boy.”
Julian stayed near the door.
“You let us bury you.”
“I survived what your father did to me.”
“You sold him out.”
“I tried to save what he was wasting.”
Serena stepped forward.
“Where is Graham?”
Evelyn’s smile faded.
“Your brother became ambitious without becoming careful.”
She held out her hand.
“The ring.”
Serena removed it but did not move closer.
“What’s on the card?”
“Proof that Vale Capital bribed lenders, regulators, and two Cross board members. Graham collected it as insurance against me.”
Julian understood.
Graham had planned to steal Cross & Ember, then use the evidence to remove Evelyn.
“You financed the attack on my company,” he said.
Evelyn poured herself tea.
“I created a crisis. Strong leaders survive crises.”
“You tried to kill us in a vault.”
“That was Graham’s improvisation.”
A gun clicked behind them.
Graham stepped from the shadows, bruised and smiling.
“Always blame the disappointing child,” he said.
He aimed at Evelyn.
May you like
Then he looked at Serena.
“Give me the ring, or I’ll make you watch another family fall apart.”
