Chapter 8: The Name on the List
For one terrible second, I couldn't hear anything.
Not my mother's breathing.
Not Vanessa crying.
Not the clock.
Not even my own heartbeat.
All I could see was the seventh name on the photograph.
*SEBASTIAN BELLAMY.*
I looked at the man standing beside me.
The man who had crossed an ocean for me.
The man who had knelt on my parents' marble floor and asked me to marry him.
The man whose hand was still wrapped around mine.
His face gave nothing away.
That frightened me more than anger would have.
My father spoke first.
“I told you.””
Sebastian turned slowly.
“You told me what?””
“That he couldn't be trusted.””
I looked at Richard.
“You hate him.””
“I know him.””
“No,” I said.
“You know his business.””
My father stepped toward me.
“I know what happens when men like Sebastian Bellamy want something.””
Sebastian gave a humorless smile.
“Careful, Richard.””
“What?””
“You're very close to telling the truth.””
My chest tightened.
I pulled my hand from Sebastian's.
He looked at me immediately.
“Claire.””
“Don't.””
I held up the photograph.
“Tell me why your name is on this.””
His jaw tightened.
“I don't know.””
“That's not good enough.””
“I agree.””
The answer stopped me.
Sebastian looked directly into my eyes.
“If my name is on that list, I need to know why too.””
My father laughed.
“You expect her to believe that?””
Sebastian ignored him.
“Daniel.””
Daniel was staring at the photograph.
“What?””
“Look at the formatting.””
Daniel stepped closer.
He studied the image.
“It's a threat file.””
“What does that mean?””
“It means the names aren't necessarily targets.””
He pointed to the first name.
“This man is an executive at a bank.””
Then the second.
“Lawyer.””
Third.
“Energy investor.””
He moved down the list.
“Accountant.””
“Corporate investigator.””
“Board member.””
Then he touched the final name.
“Sebastian.””
My pulse jumped.
“Why is he different?””
Daniel looked at him.
“Because he's not connected to Whitmore Holdings.””
“Exactly,” Sebastian said.
My father shook his head.
“He's connected to the money.””
Sebastian turned.
“What money?””
Richard said nothing.
My mother suddenly whispered, “Richard…”
He looked at her.
She shook her head.
“You can't keep doing this.””
My father stared at her.
“Doing what?””
“Choosing silence.””
Something inside her finally snapped.
She walked toward the table and picked up the ownership agreement.
“You have spent twenty years telling me that every lie was necessary.””
Her voice trembled.
“You said Thomas was protecting us.””
Then she looked at me.
“You said Claire needed to be removed from the company.””
Her eyes moved to Sebastian.
“You said he was dangerous.””
She turned back to my father.
“What aren't you telling us?””
Richard's shoulders dropped.
He looked exhausted.
“Sebastian was involved.””
The room went still.
My stomach tightened.
“In what?””
Richard looked at me.
“The original trust.””
Sebastian's expression changed.
“I was twenty-six.””
My father nodded.
“Exactly.””
I looked at Sebastian.
“What does that mean?””
He took a breath.
“My first company was backed by Thomas.””
My eyes widened.
“You knew my grandfather before I did?””
“Yes.””
“How?””
“He invested in me.””
I stared at him.
“Why didn't you tell me?””
“Because I didn't know how to tell you.””
“That doesn't answer the question.””
Sebastian looked away.
“Your grandfather contacted me six months before he disappeared.””
Richard interrupted.
“He asked Sebastian to manage part of his international assets.””
“Why?””
“Because he didn't trust me.””
My father's words were barely audible.
Sebastian nodded.
“Thomas believed your father's control over Whitmore Holdings had become dangerous.””
I looked at Richard.
“And he trusted you?””
“For one portion of the estate.””
“Not me.””
Sebastian's eyes softened.
“He wanted you protected.””
“That sounds convenient.””
He flinched.
I had never seen him flinch.
“Claire.””
“You knew.””
“Yes.””
“You knew about the trust?””
“Not that you were the beneficiary.””
My voice sharpened.
“You just said my grandfather trusted you with his assets.””
“Yes.””
“So you knew there was a trust.””
“Yes.””
“But you didn't know it belonged to me?””
“Not until tonight.””
I stepped away from him.
“Then why propose tonight?””
The question hit him hard.
“Because I love you.””
My eyes burned.
“That's not an answer.””
“It is for me.””
“Maybe.””
I looked down at the ring.
“But I need more.””
Sebastian took one step toward me.
“I didn't come here for the trust.””
“How do I know?””
“You don't.””
His honesty disarmed me.
Then he said, “And I don't expect you to trust me because I put a ring on your finger.””
My father gave a bitter laugh.
“At least he's admitting it.””
Sebastian turned on him.
“You don't get to speak.””
“You're exactly what Thomas feared.””
“Enough.””
The word came from Patricia.
Everyone looked at her.
She was crying.
“Both of you.””
She looked at me.
“Claire, there is something else.””
My father's face changed.
“Patricia.””
She ignored him.
“You need to know why Sebastian's name is on the list.””
I waited.
“Thomas put him there.””
My stomach dropped.
“What?””
Patricia nodded.
“Not as an enemy.””
“As what?””
“A safeguard.””
Sebastian closed his eyes.
He already knew.
My mother continued.
“Thomas created the list of people who could access the trust if something happened to him.””
I looked at the photograph.
“So these aren't people threatening Grandpa?””
“No.””
Daniel picked up the image.
He stared at it.
“These aren't targets.””
“What are they?””
“Guardians.””
I looked at Sebastian.
His face had gone pale.
My father whispered, “No.””
Patricia continued.
“Thomas divided the responsibility.””
“Between seven people?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
“Because no single person could control everything.””
I looked at Sebastian.
“Then why are they sending me this photograph?””
Daniel answered.
“Because someone stole the guardian list.””
A cold feeling spread through me.
“So the people holding Grandpa…”
“Know how the trust is structured,” Sebastian said.
I looked at him.
“And they know you're one of the guardians.””
“Yes.””
“That means they know everything.””
“No.””
Sebastian's voice hardened.
“They know enough.””
Daniel flipped the photograph over again.
“There's something strange.””
“What?””
He pointed to the bottom edge.
A string of numbers.
I recognized them instantly.
They were not financial figures.
They were coordinates.
Sebastian saw them too.
“That's a location.””
My father stepped forward.
“Where?””
Daniel entered the numbers into his phone.
He stared at the screen.
Then went completely still.
“What?””
He looked at me.
“It’s not London.””
“Where is it?””
He swallowed.
“Connecticut.””
My heart stopped.
“Where in Connecticut?””
Daniel zoomed in.
His face changed.
“This is close.””
“How close?””
He looked toward the windows.
“Twenty miles.””
The entire room went silent.
Sebastian reached for his phone.
“Send me the coordinates.””
Daniel did.
Seconds later, Sebastian's phone displayed a map.
He stared at it.
Then at me.
“Claire.””
“What?””
“I know this place.””
My father rushed toward him.
“Where?””
Sebastian turned the screen.
The location was marked on an isolated stretch of wooded property.
My blood ran cold.
I knew it too.
Not from business.
From childhood.
It was the old Whitmore hunting lodge.
A place my grandfather had taken me every autumn.
A place my father had told me never to visit after Thomas disappeared.
“The lodge,” I whispered.
My mother covered her mouth.
“They wouldn't.””
Sebastian was already reaching for his coat.
“We're going.””
My father grabbed his arm.
“No.””
Sebastian looked down at his hand.
“Let go.””
“You don't understand.””
“Then explain.””
Richard's voice cracked.
“That lodge has a basement.””
Daniel frowned.
“So?””
My father looked at me.
“Thomas built a private vault under it.””
I stared at him.
“A vault?””
“It contains the original trust documents.””
My heart hammered.
“Then why didn't you ever get them?””
“Because the vault needs two keys.””
I waited.
“What keys?””
Richard looked at Sebastian.
Then at me.
“One belongs to me.””
He reached into his jacket.
Pulled out a small brass key.
The second key was in Sebastian's hand before I realized he'd taken it from his own pocket.
I stared.
“You had it?””
He nodded.
“Your grandfather gave it to me years ago.””
My father's face twisted.
“You were supposed to protect it.””
“I was.””
“From me.””
“Yes.””
My father looked at me.
“Claire, don't go.””
I stared at him.
“You're asking me not to see my own grandfather.””
“He's being held there.””
“You know that?””
Richard froze.
I stepped closer.
“You said you had a key.””
He didn't answer.
“You've been to the lodge.””
Silence.
“When?””
He looked at the floor.
“Last week.””
My stomach dropped.
“What did you find?””
His voice broke.
“Nothing.””
Daniel shook his head.
“That makes no sense.””
My father looked at him.
“I found blood.””
My mother's face went white.
“What?””
Richard swallowed.
“On the floor.””
Nobody breathed.
“Whose?””
“I don't know.””
Sebastian grabbed his coat.
“We leave now.””
My father caught his arm again.
“You can't.””
Sebastian turned.
“Why?””
Richard looked at me.
“Because if they have Thomas, they're expecting us.””
I stared at him.
“Then we'll surprise them.””
“No.””
My father's voice was almost pleading.
“They expect Sebastian.””
I looked at him.
“What?””
He nodded toward the list.
“That's why his name is there.””
Sebastian went still.
Richard continued.
“The people holding Thomas know Sebastian was one of his guardians.””
His eyes met mine.
“They know he has the second key.””
My mouth went dry.
Sebastian understood at the same moment.
“They're not waiting for Claire.””
“No,” Richard said.
“They're waiting for you.””
A car horn sounded outside.
Once.
Twice.
Everyone froze.
Daniel looked toward the window.
“There shouldn't be anyone out there.””
Sebastian moved toward the curtain.
I followed.
A black SUV sat at the end of the driveway.
Engine running.
Lights off.
Nobody got out.
Then the driver's window lowered.
A figure raised a hand.
Something metallic flashed beneath the porch light.
My father's voice came from behind us.
“Everyone get down.””
The first gunshot shattered the dining-room window.
Glass exploded across the table.
Patricia screamed.
Vanessa dropped to the floor.
Sebastian grabbed me and pulled me behind the stone fireplace as another shot tore through the wall.
Daniel crawled toward the hallway.
“Call the police!””
My father shouted, “No!””
I stared at him.
“Why not?””
He looked at me with terror in his eyes.
“Because the police are already compromised.””
Another shot cracked through the house.
And then my father's phone rang.
He looked at the screen.
His face collapsed.
“It's them.””
He answered.
A distorted voice spoke.
“Bring the girl to the lodge.””
Richard froze.
The voice continued.
“And bring Bellamy.””
A pause.
May you like
Then:
“Come alone, or Thomas Whitmore dies before midnight.””
