Chapter 11
Julian didn't hesitate. The moment Ethan spoke those words, the gun lowered just an inch before Julian holstered it with blinding speed, turning on his heel and sprinting back toward the service elevator. The betrayal of his brother, the sheer audacity of David’s deception, and the terrifying threat to Maya eclipsed every other thought in his mind. His boots pounded against the wet concrete, splashing dirty water as he vaulted over the metal threshold of the lift and slammed his fist against the override button.
The elevator sluggishly groaned to life, crawling upward through the dark shaft while Julian’s chest heaved with ragged, furious breaths. Every second felt like an eternity. He thought of Maya in her yellow floral dress, of Elena weeping in her light blue gown, and of the dark, twisted web of lies that David had spun around their entire lives.
When the elevator doors finally parted with a sharp ding, Julian burst out into the east study like a hurricane. The room was empty, the heavy mahogany bookshelves pushed slightly aside to reveal a hidden staircase leading directly to the master suites on the upper floor. He didn't take the stairs; instead, he vaulted over the antique writing desk, shattering a porcelain lamp as he charged up the grand staircase toward the nursery.
The mansion was deathly quiet, stripped of the celebratory music and laughter that had filled it earlier that afternoon. As Julian reached the double doors of the nursery, he found them unlocked, swinging open just a few inches. He pushed them wide with a violent shove, his eyes scanning the opulent room.
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Elena was already there, kneeling frozen on the imported Persian rug, her hands covering her mouth in silent horror. Standing near the tall arched window overlooking the rain-slicked gardens was a tall man in a tailored charcoal suit, holding a silver blade pressed dangerously close to Maya’s small neck.
The man slowly turned around, his features strikingly similar to Julian’s own, wearing a calm, infuriating smile. It was David. Alive, well, and holding his niece hostage.
