Chapter 625
Chapter 625:
“The… the service entrance,” Parker stammered, his bravado crumbling. “The code cycles every hour. But there’s a hard override. 7-7-1-9 p>
Liam stared at him for a second longer, ensuring it was the truth. Then he shoved Parker back.
“If you’re lying,” Liam said, turning to the door, “I’ll be back p>
He walked out. Alistair was waiting in the hallway, leaning against the wall.
“You got it?” Alistair asked.
“7-7-1-9,” Liam said, wiping a speck of Parker’s blood off his knuckles with a wet wipe. “Let’s move p>
High in the mountains, the morning sun struggled to penetrate the thick canopy of trees surrounding the Graves Estate.
A battered sedan, its engine sputtering, crawled up the service road. It was covered in mud and dust, a far cry from the luxury vehicles that usually graced this driveway.
Victoria Hayes stepped out. She was wearing a coat that had once cost a fortune but was now stained and torn. Her hair was a mess, and she wore cheap sunglasses to hide her swollen eyes. She had been running for days, her accounts frozen, her allies gone. With Parker captured and Arthur having disowned her, she was a rat looking for a new ship.
Lucian met her at the door. He was wearing a silk dressing gown, looking annoyingly refreshed.
“Victoria,” Lucian drawled. “To what do I owe the pleasure? I thought you were busy running from the feds p>
“I need sanctuary,” Victoria said, pushing past him into the foyer. “I have nothing left, Lucian. They seized everything. Even the car is stolen p>
Lucian raised an eyebrow. “Is that so p>
“But I have information,” Victoria said, taking off her glasses. Her eyes were red-rimmed. “Liam isn’t just coming blindly. He memorized the old blueprints. He knows about the drainage tunnels p>
“He memorized the blueprints,” Victoria repeated, her voice shaking. “He’s coming, Lucian. You need me p>
𝖱𝘦𝗮𝘥 𝘧𝗋𝗼𝗆 𝘆𝘰u𝘳 𝗉𝘩𝗈𝗇𝗲 on 𝖻𝖾.𝖼𝘰𝗺
“I rarely need anyone,” Lucian corrected. “But you might be useful as a distraction p>
He gestured to the stairs. “Come. I have something to show you. A housewarming gift p>
They descended into the basement.
Skye was curled up in the corner of the golden cage. She heard the click of heels—too sharp to be Bianca’s.
She lifted her head.
Victoria Hayes stood there, staring through the bars.
For a moment, there was silence. Then a slow, malicious grin spread across Victoria’s face.
“Well, well,” Victoria laughed. It was a brittle, jagged sound. “The Queen of Oakhaven. Reduced to a hamster in a cage p>
Skye narrowed her eyes. She hadn’t expected Victoria here.
This complicated things.
“Victoria,” Skye rasped, keeping up her act. “You… you’re friends with him p>