Chapter 24 - A Voice in the Dark
"State your terms, Sterling," Sylvester said, his tone entirely devoid of emotion, though I could see the white knuckles on the hand gripping his pistol. "Every second you waste talking is another second shaved off what remains of your pathetic life."
*"Arrogant bastard to the very end,"* Sterling spat back, coughing violently before catching his breath. *"Here are the terms. Come to the Whispering Pines estate. Just you and that lowborn whore. No strike teams. No helicopters. No police. If I see a single light on the perimeter road before you cross the gate, I will snap the boy's neck and throw his body down the old well."*
"Let me hear him," I begged, stepping closer to the phone, tears threatening to spill down my cheeks. "Let me hear my son's voice!"
There was a muffled scuffle on the other end, followed by the clanking of metal. Then, a small, trembling voice cried out, fighting through what sounded like a gag:
*"Mommy! Mommy, don't come! It's a trap—"*
A harsh slap echoed through the receiver, followed by Lucas's sharp intake of breath.
*"Shut up, you filthy stray!"* Victoria shrieked in the background.
*"You have one hour, Sylvester,"* Sterling warned, his voice dead and hollow. *"One hour to sign the deed of transfer returning all seized Caldwell holdings, followed by a public confession that you framed us. And then... Elena takes Victoria's place on her knees, begging for mercy. If you refuse, Lucas dies. If you're late, Lucas dies. The clock is ticking."*
The line went dead.
A heavy silence descended over the gravel yard, broken only by the deafening roar of the rain and the rhythmic thrum of the helicopter blades overhead.
"He's going to kill him anyway," I whispered, the cold reality hitting me like a physical blow. "Sterling doesn't care about the money anymore. He’s a ruined man. He wants to drag us down into the grave with him."
May you like
Sylvester turned to me, his dark eyes locking onto mine with an intensity that burned away my terror, replacing it with an unbreakable iron resolve.
"He thinks he's luring sheep to a slaughterhouse, Elena," Sylvester said softly, resting his hand against my cheek, wiping away the raindrops that mixed with my tears. "He forgot that he invited the devil into his home."
