Chapter 6
Detective Ortiz signaled for Khloe to keep Richard talking.
Khloe held the phone with both hands.
“You drugged me.”
“You were supposed to be weak during the hearing,” Richard said. “Vanessa lost control.”
Behind him, Natalie struggled against the ropes.
Richard turned and slapped her.
“Stop moving.”
Khloe forced herself not to react.
“Why are you hurting her? She helped you.”
“She helped Vanessa. There’s a difference.”
Vanessa had believed she and Richard were partners.
Now Richard was using her sister as a shield.
“What do you want?” Khloe asked.
“You’ll sign the company shares over to me.”
“They belonged to my father.”
“And I spent seven years waiting for you to understand that marriage means sharing.”
“You mean stealing.”
His smile vanished.
“You have three hours.”
The call ended.
Ortiz looked toward a technician.
“Did we get a location?”
“The signal bounced through several towers. We have a general area in Brooklyn.”
Harrison grabbed his jacket.
“I’m going.”
“You’re staying here,” Ortiz said.
“That man threatened my sister and tried to kill my niece.”
“If you interfere, Natalie could die.”
Harrison faced Khloe.
She saw the battle in his eyes.
“Stay with Hope,” she told him.
He hated the request, but he nodded.
Police searched warehouses and abandoned buildings across Brooklyn.
Meanwhile, Rachel prepared false transfer documents.
The plan was to convince Richard that Khloe had surrendered.
Khloe recorded a video holding the papers.
“You win,” she said into the camera. “Release Natalie.”
Richard responded with an address.
He ordered Khloe to arrive alone.
Ortiz refused.
“You were nearly killed yesterday.”
“If I don’t go, he’ll know it’s a trap.”
“You just had major surgery.”
“Then put a vest over the bandages.”
Harrison slammed his fist against the wall.
“No.”
Khloe looked at him.
“He came after Hope. I will never spend another night waiting for him to attack.”
“You could die.”
“So could Natalie.”
Diane stepped between them.
“Your sister has spent years being told she is weak. Stop making decisions for her.”
Harrison’s anger faded.
He lowered his head.
“I can’t lose you.”
“You won’t.”
Two hours later, Khloe entered an abandoned printing warehouse with the documents beneath her coat.
A hidden microphone was taped below her collar.
Officers surrounded the building.
Richard stood in the center of the warehouse.
Natalie was tied to a metal chair beside him.
“You came,” he said.
“I brought the transfer.”
“Put it on the table.”
“Release her first.”
Richard laughed.
“You still think you can negotiate.”
Khloe placed the papers down.
Richard read the first page.
Then he looked at her.
“These aren’t notarized.”
“You didn’t give me time.”
“You’re lying.”
He pulled a gun from his waistband.
Outside, Ortiz ordered the tactical team to move.
Richard grabbed Khloe and pressed the gun against her neck.
Natalie screamed.
A side door burst open.
Officers entered.
Richard fired toward them.
The shot struck a steel beam.
Khloe drove her elbow into his stomach and dropped to the floor.
Natalie threw herself sideways in the chair, knocking Richard off balance.
Another shot exploded.
Then Harrison appeared from behind a printing press.
He had followed the police convoy.
Richard aimed at him.
Khloe screamed.
Harrison charged before Richard could fire.
The two men crashed through a weakened railing and landed on the floor below.
Officers surrounded Richard.
Blood covered his face, but he was alive.
Harrison lay several feet away without moving.
Khloe stumbled toward him.
“Harrison!”
His eyes opened slowly.
“I told you,” he whispered. “They’ll never touch you again.”
Paramedics lifted him onto a stretcher.
Ortiz handcuffed Richard.
As he was led away, he looked at Khloe.
“You think this is over?”
“It is for you.”
May you like
Richard smiled.
“Ask your mother what happened the night your father died.”
