Chapter 209
Chapter 209:
Skye’s phone buzzed in her pocket. She pulled it out.
A message from an unknown number.
She opened it. The color drained from her face, so fast Alistair thought she might faint again.
It was a photo.
Uncle Arthur Sterling was tied to a copper pipe in a dark, wet basement. His face was gray, his eyes closed. A newspaper lay on his chest with today’s date.
The caption read: Come to the Manor alone. Or Daddy dies. No cops.
Skye didn’t gasp. She didn’t scream. She simply stared at the image, cold, grim acceptance settling over her features.
“I knew it,” she whispered, showing the phone to Alistair. “I knew he wasn’t just ‘gone.’ They took him from the hotel to the Manor p>
“They’re cornered animals,” Alistair said, his eyes scanning the photo for details. “Dangerous p>
“I have to go,” Skye said, pulling away. “They said alone p>
Alistair didn’t let go of her wrist. “Absolutely not p>
“He’s my father!” Skye hissed. “I hate him, Alistair. He was weak. He let them walk all over me. But he’s the only blood I have left who hasn’t tried to sell me p>
“We go together,” Alistair said. His tone brooked no argument. “Or you don’t go at all. I can have a tactical team at Sterling Manor in ten minutes p>
“If they see police, they kill him,” Skye said.
“They won’t see police,” Alistair said darkly. “They’ll see me p>
He turned to the door. “Let’s go p>
They exited the precinct through a private back door, avoiding the media circus still raging at the front. Alistair’s driver was waiting.
As they climbed in, Skye saw Liam being led out of the interrogation room. He wasn’t heading to a cell. He was flanked by his high-priced lawyer, Silas Vane, who was shouting at the officers.
“My client has a severe concussion and internal injuries from the assault by Mr. Thorne!” Vane yelled, waving a medical form. “We have an emergency judicial order for immediate hospitalization! You cannot hold him in this condition p>
𝖠𝗱dіс𝘁𝘪𝘃𝖾 𝗻о𝘷е𝘭ѕ 𝗈ո 𝖻𝘦.𝖼𝘰𝘮
The officers looked frustrated but stepped back. Liam was being loaded into a private ambulance, not a police van. He looked up and locked eyes with Skye through the Maybach window.
He didn’t look defeated. He looked manic. A terrifying, broken smile spread across his bloody face.
“He’s getting out,” Skye whispered, clutching Alistair’s arm. “They’re releasing him to a hospital p>
“He won’t stay there,” Alistair predicted grimly. “Silas Vane is a magician with loopholes. Liam will be on the street within the hour p>
In the back of the Maybach, Alistair opened a hidden compartment under the armrest. He pulled out a matte black handgun and checked the magazine with practiced efficiency.
Skye stared at it. “You carry a gun p>
“I have enemies, Skye,” Alistair said, holstering the weapon at the small of his back. “And now, so do you p>