Chapter 336
Chapter 336:
The gravel crunched under their feet as they walked up the path to the Sterling Mausoleum. It was an imposing structure built of gray granite, covered in creeping ivy that looked like veins. Skye approached the massive iron doors. They were cold to the touch.
She felt a strange vibration in her fingertips—intuitive, perhaps, or just the resonance of her own history.
The keyhole was intricate, shaped like the Sterling Crest: a lion holding a rose.
Skye reached for the necklace she wore, a family heirloom she had reclaimed from Liam. She tried to fit the pendant into the lock. It didn’t fit.
She tried again, twisting it carefully. Nothing. The mechanism required a specific, physical key. A master key.
“Arthur has it,” Julian concluded, leaning heavily on his cane. “He took it from your father’s personal effects after the crash p>
Skye kicked the door in frustration. The sound was a dull thud that mocked her.
Julian groaned. His face went gray, and his knees buckled. He collapsed onto the wet grass.
“Julian!” Skye rushed to him, dropping to her knees.
She checked his pulse. It was erratic, thumping like a trapped bird.
“My time… is shorter than I thought,” he gasped, clutching his chest.
Skye waved at her security team. “Bring the car. Now p>
“Leave me,” Julian wheezed. “Get the key p>
“I’m not leaving you,” Skye said, her voice hard. “You’re the only one who told me the truth p>
The security team lifted Julian gently and carried him to the waiting SUV. Skye climbed in beside him.
Inside the car, Julian took a pill from a small silver case. His breathing stabilized, but he looked like a ghost.
“Arthur is in federal prison,” Julian whispered, his eyes closed. “He was picked up this morning. The SEC investigation you triggered… it led to an immediate indictment for wire fraud p>
“He keeps his personal effects in the warden’s property storage,” Julian continued. “He won’t let the key go. It’s his insurance p>
𝘍і𝗻𝗱 у𝗈𝘶𝗿 fa𝗏𝘰𝘳𝘪tе 𝗴e𝗇r𝘦 o𝗻 b𝗲l𝗇𝗈vеlѕ.𝗰𝗼𝘮
Skye’s mind raced. “I need to visit him p>
“He won’t see you. He hates you,” Julian warned.
“He loves money,” Skye said, her eyes narrowing. “I’ll offer him a deal p>
They dropped Julian off at the Vance medical facility. Skye watched the orderlies wheel him away. He looked small and fragile—a mastermind trapped in a failing body.
She returned to her apartment building alone. The weight of the secret sat heavy on her shoulders.
She walked through the lobby, ignoring the concierge’s nervous look. She took the elevator to the penthouse.
She unlocked the door and stepped inside.
The lights were on.
Alistair Thorne was sitting on her sofa. He had a bandage on his cheek where she had slapped him, and another beneath his shirt where he had taken a bullet years ago. He looked tired, dangerous, and completely at home.
Skye’s hand went instantly to the small taser she kept in her purse.
“Peace,” Alistair said, raising his hands slowly.