Chapter 9: The Enemy At The Door
The door opened slowly.
No one spoke.
The darkness outside spilled into the dining room.
Marcus stood ready to move.
James stood beside him.
For the first time, father and son looked like they were fighting the same battle.
But Nia noticed something.
James wasn’t afraid for himself.
He was afraid for her.
A man stepped inside.
He wore a dark coat.
His hair was gray at the temples.
His expression was calm.
Too calm.
He looked around the room.
At Evelyn.
At James.
At Marcus.
Then finally at Nia.
And smiled.
“So.””
His voice was smooth.
“Amara’s daughter.””
Nia felt her stomach twist.
Nobody had to introduce him.
She already knew.
Victor Hale.
The man who had haunted her family for decades.
Evelyn stepped forward.
“You don’t belong here.””
Victor looked at her.
“Neither did Amara.””
The sentence cut through the room.
James moved.
“Leave.””
Victor laughed softly.
“Still protecting everyone except yourself.””
Marcus stared.
“You know him.””
James didn’t answer.
Victor looked at Marcus.
“You must be disappointed.””
Marcus’s face hardened.
“Get out.””
Victor tilted his head.
“You look exactly like your father.””
“Don’t compare me to him.””
Victor smiled.
“That anger.””
He looked amused.
“That’s exactly why I always knew you would be difficult.””
Nia stepped forward.
“You know my mother.””
Victor looked at her.
“I knew her better than anyone.””
Evelyn’s voice was sharp.
“You destroyed her life.””
Victor’s expression changed slightly.
Not guilt.
Annoyance.
“Amara made choices.””
“She was trying to expose you.””
Victor looked at James.
“And James helped her.””
The room went silent.
Nia looked at James.
Victor smiled.
“Yes.””
He enjoyed the confusion.
“Your father wasn’t just a friend of mine.””
He looked at Marcus.
“He was my partner.””
Marcus turned toward James.
“What?””
James didn’t deny it.
Victor continued.
“Until he decided he wanted to become a hero.””
James stepped forward.
“You’re done.””
Victor laughed.
“No.””
His eyes moved to Nia’s necklace.
“I’m finally close.””
Nia instinctively covered the crescent.
Victor noticed.
“There it is.””
Evelyn moved between them.
“You will never touch it.””
Victor looked at her.
“You still think you understand what Amara did.””
“What does that mean?””
Victor smiled.
“She never told you everything.””
Nia felt anger rising.
“Stop talking about my mother like she’s a puzzle.””
Victor looked at her.
“That’s exactly what she was.””
He stepped closer.
“A woman who thought she could beat people more powerful than her.””
Nia held his gaze.
“And did she?””
Victor’s smile faded.
For the first time, something like respect appeared.
“She almost did.””
The answer shocked everyone.
Almost.
James looked at Victor.
“You’re afraid.””
Victor laughed.
“Of Amara?””
“No.””
James pointed toward Nia.
“You’re afraid of what she knows.””
The room went silent.
Victor’s expression hardened.
Then he reached into his coat.
Marcus immediately moved.
But Victor only pulled out a photograph.
He placed it on the table.
Nia looked down.
Her heart stopped.
It was another picture of Amara.
But this one was recent.
Not decades old.
Not faded.
Recent.
Impossible.
Nia picked it up.
Her hands shook.
“My mother…”
Victor watched her reaction.
“She’s alive.””
Nia looked up.
“Where is she?””
Victor smiled.
And for the first time, his calm expression broke.
A hint of fear appeared.
“Before you find her…”
He looked at the necklace.
“You need to know what she did.””
Nia stared.
“What did she do?””
Victor leaned closer.
“She didn’t just hide evidence from me.””
A pause.
“She hid something from you.””
The lights suddenly returned.
Victor was gone.
The front door was open.
Only the photograph remained.
Nia turned it over.
On the back was a message written in Amara’s handwriting.
Five words.
May you like
The words that made Evelyn collapse into her chair.
*Do not trust my daughter.*
