Chapter 6
Chapter 6:
The sales office for the Billionaires’ Row luxury condominiums smelled of expensive espresso and quiet arrogance.
The real estate agent — a man with too much hair gel and a perfectly pressed suit — looked June up and down, taking in her plain black coat and the conspicuous absence of any designer logo. His smile was tight and dismissive.
“Ladies,” he said slowly, as though addressing children. “The entry-level units in this building start at twenty million dollars. Perhaps you’re looking for something in a different neighborhood p>
Vera bristled and stepped forward, but June simply reached into her purse.
She pulled out the titanium Centurion card and set it on the glass desk. It landed with a quiet, heavy clink.
T𝘳en𝗱i𝘯𝗴 𝗇𝗈𝗏еl𝘴 о𝘯
The agent’s eyes dropped to the card. The color drained from his face, then rushed back in a flushed, eager red.
“I want to see the penthouse,” June said, her voice flat. “Right now p>
“Of course! Right this way, ma’am!” The agent nearly tripped over his own feet in his rush toward the private elevator.
The elevator shot up to the ninetieth floor. When the doors opened, the view struck them like a physical force. Floor-to-ceiling glass wrapped around the entire apartment, offering an unobstructed, almost godlike panorama of Central Park and the Manhattan skyline.
June walked slowly toward the glass. Far in the distance, she could make out the faint outline of the neighborhood where the Compton estate sat. From up here, it looked like a tiny, insignificant speck.
“This unit is listed at forty-five million,” the agent said, trailing nervously behind her. “It includes a private infinity pool, a dedicated elevator p>
“I’ll take it,” June said, without turning around. “The purchase will be made through a private LLC. I need the transaction kept discreet p>
Vera choked beside her. The agent gripped the back of a chair to steady himself.
“I have one condition,” June added, finally turning to face him. “I move in today. Have the paperwork completed within the hour p>
“I will have my legal team draft everything immediately!” the agent breathed, retreating to the elevator at speed.
As they waited in the vast, echoing penthouse, June’s phone vibrated in her pocket. Unknown number.
She answered. “Hello p>
“Miss June?” A raspy, trembling voice came through the speaker. “It’s Arthur. Your father’s old driver p>
June’s grip on the phone tightened until her knuckles went white. “Arthur? You’ve been missing for ten years p>
“I’ve been hiding,” Arthur wheezed. “I saw the news about your divorce. You’re no longer under the Compton roof. I think it’s time I told you the truth p>
June stepped out onto the wide terrace, the wind howling around her. “What truth p>
“The car crash that killed your parents — it wasn’t an accident,” Arthur said, his voice dropping to a frightened whisper. “I checked the car the day before. The brake lines had been cut p>
A wave of dizziness crashed over her. June grabbed the glass railing to steady herself. “Who did it p>
“I saw your uncle, Richard Erickson, in the garage that night,” Arthur said. “And he was meeting with someone. I couldn’t see his face, but the car he drove bore the Compton emblem p>
The blood froze in June’s veins. A Compton car.
“I have proof,” Arthur continued, his voice frantic. “But they’ve found me. I need money to disappear p>
“How much?” June demanded without hesitation. “I’ll give you whatever you need p>
“One hundred thousand. Cash. Meet me at the abandoned Brooklyn Navy Yard docks at midnight tonight p>
The line went dead.
June stood on the balcony, the cold pressing into her bones. Her marriage had not merely been a lie — it may have been a cage built by the people who had murdered her parents.
Vera appeared in the doorway, studying her face. “Everything okay? You look like you’ve seen a ghost p>
June lowered the phone slowly. Her gaze was fixed on the city below, and her eyes were darker than the approaching night.
“This isn’t just a divorce anymore, Vera,” she said, her voice carrying a quiet, dangerous weight. “This is a war p>
The agent hurried back onto the terrace, clutching a thick leather folder. “Congratulations, Miss Erickson. Welcome to your new home p>
June took the heavy metal keys. They felt like weapons in her hand.