Chapter 15 - NAOMI’S PHONE GOES COMPLETELY DARK
Elena’s knees buckled. Daniel caught her instantly, his arms wrapping around her waist, pulling her cold, shaking frame against his chest.
“My father didn't drown in an accident,” Elena whispered, her voice hollow, echoing against the damp concrete walls of the warehouse. “Daniel… look at the date on that photo. It was taken three days before he disappeared at sea. Your mother didn't just push me into a fountain because she thought I was beneath you. She pushed me because she knew who I was the entire time!”
“Elena, listen to me,” Daniel said, gripping her shoulders, his eyes wild with desperate clarity. “I swear on my life, I didn't know. When we met at the architectural convention, when we fell in love… I had no idea about my grandfather’s maritime fraud, or your father’s blueprints. You have to believe me.”
“I believe you, Daniel,” Elena choked out, tears finally spilling over her lashes, hot against her frozen cheeks. “I know you didn't know. But Victoria knew. Julianne knew. They let you marry me so they could keep me under surveillance. They wanted to make sure I never found my father’s investigation files!”
Before Daniel could answer, his phone began to vibrate violently in his pocket. He pulled it out, seeing Naomi’s caller ID flashing across the screen.
He hit speaker. “Naomi! We found the warehouse. It’s worse than we thought—Victoria was involved in the death of Elena’s father—”
There was no voice on the other end.
Only the sound of heavy, ragged breathing, followed by the sickening crunch of breaking glass.
“Naomi? Naomi, answer me!” Daniel yelled into the receiver.
Through the speaker came the muffled sound of a struggle. Naomi’s voice shrieked, sharp and terrified: *“Get your hands off me! The files are already mirrored! You won't get away with this—!”*
A heavy, dull thud cut her off. The sound of something heavy striking the floor. Then, a low, mechanical click.
A calm, distorted male voice spoke into Naomi’s phone: “Mr. Sterling. Your friend was remarkably sloppy with her digital security. She thought an encrypted hard drive could protect her from people who own the cellular towers.”
“Who are you?” Daniel roared. “If you touch a single hair on her head, I will tear this city apart until I find you!”
“You won't find anyone, Daniel,” the voice replied with cold amusement. “Your sister Julianne sends her regards. If you want Miss Vance to see tomorrow morning’s sunrise, you will bring the original blueprints hidden in your wife’s family estate to the glass penthouse at the Sterling Tower. Exactly one hour. No police. No press.”
The line went completely dead.
Daniel frantically redialed, but the automated operator’s voice immediately chimed: *“The number you have reached has been disconnected or is no longer in service.”*
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Elena grabbed Daniel’s arm, her terror transforming into a white-hot fury that consumed every shred of hesitation in her body.
“They took Naomi,” Elena said, her eyes blazing through the darkness. “They ruined my wedding, they drowned my father, and now they have my best friend. Daniel… we are done playing defense.”
