Chapter 20 - A Mother's War|
The sinister sound of Daniel’s smug voice brought a sudden rush of nauseating, traumatic memories, but I fiercely refused to let him hear even a fraction of fear in my tone. I gripped the heavy wooden edge of Marcus's desk to physically steady myself.
"What do you want, Daniel?" I asked coldly, my voice devoid of any emotion.
"I want what’s rightfully mine, Rachel," he chuckled, the dark sound echoing hollowly off the concrete prison walls. "My father and I tragically took the fall for the fraud, but we didn't take the missing money. We know for a fact that Caroline hid Thorne’s fifty million. And we know Thorne is getting incredibly impatient. I just thought I'd call and generously offer you a deal."
"I don't make deals with convicted felons," I replied sharply. "And I certainly don't have the dirty money you and your father stole."
"Thorne absolutely doesn't believe that," Daniel sneered, his tone dripping with malice. "He paid my father a very unpleasant visit here last week. He’s very highly motivated, Rachel. He specifically mentioned how lovely Sophie looks these days. She’s driving herself to school now, isn't she? A silver Volvo?"
My blood ran entirely and completely cold. Sophie proudly drove a silver Volvo.
"If you or your disgusting cartel associates touch one single hair on my daughter's head, Daniel, I will personally ensure you never breathe free air again for the rest of your miserable life," I promised, my voice shaking with a raw, primal fury I didn't know I possessed.
"Then find the damn money, Rachel," Daniel snapped viciously, his entire facade of amusement dropping instantly. "Find what Caroline hid and give it directly to Thorne. If you do exactly that, he leaves you and the brats alone forever. If you don't... well, terrible accidents happen on icy roads. You have exactly one week."
The line clicked loudly and went entirely dead. I stared blankly at the phone, my heart pounding violently against my ribs like a trapped, panicked bird.
"He’s tracking her," I whispered to Marcus, terror washing over me.
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"Not anymore," Marcus said, his face hardening into a mask of pure determination. He was already dialing his secure phone. "I'm pulling a full tactical team together right now. Sophie will have a discreet shadow twenty-four-seven. No one gets anywhere near her."
I nodded, feeling a fierce, blindingly protective fire ignite deep in my chest. Daniel arrogant thought he could use my children as leverage to save himself. He was about to learn the hard way that the woman he tried to destroy was no longer a helpless victim. She was a mother preparing for absolute war.
