THE SECRETS WE KEEP

he old Sinclair mansion was thi

ckering candlelight casting an e

, her eyes alight w

and tightening around Emma’s.

le widening. “Isn’t it obvious,

see the Sinclair and Harring

est. “This feud has caused eno

ot perpet

the empty mansion, cold and c

n you or me. It’s about powe

silently in the shadows, step

his. There’s

ssa, a flicker of something al

other way, Vanessa. The whe

e sound of footsteps echoed f

ral armed men emerged, their

ing a semicircle

tightened protectively. “Wh

d by a steely determination. “

eans taking you dow

outnumbered and surrounded.

who met her gaze with

dia, catching her off guard. Th

Emma and Vanessa took advant

large mar

way out,” Vanessa

here’s a servant’s entrance in t

we can make

t up with determi

low to avoid drawing attenti

n fought off their assailants. E

she knew their best chance

mma stopped abruptly, her eyes

their path. It was

voice was a mix of s

icted. “I’m here to help. Claud

p h

abella’s eyes for any sign o

n and a flic

ma said final

darkened corridors, the sounds

’s heart pounded in her chest,

e making

garden, Emma let out a si

ed. Claudia’s voice rang out,

on

ding in the doorway, a gun in h

you really think

nds raised. “Claudia, please

len

“You don’t get to decide

gure lunged at her from the shad

ggled for the gun, the sound of

i

ed to stand still. Emma’s hear

ound, the gun skittering a

silent. Then, Adrian pushed h

a lay still, her eye

o his side, her hands t

incing. “I’m fin

em, their expressions a mix of

softly. “It’s

und of sirens filled the air.

relief and dread. “We n

eyes never leavin

feet, moving quickly through t

tance, Emma felt a sense of cl

but their journey

he relative safety of a seclude

bella followed close behind,

e approaching police cars grew

against the

tightened. “We need to find

My apartment isn’t far from her

ut our n

line from their narrow escape

iliar creak of the old elevator

her apartment, unlocking t

oment to catch their breath. E

irt stained with blood. “You nee

un

d smile. “It’s just a

shed with conce

lied, sitting on the edge of he

beside him, carefully cleaning

ould feel his gaze on her

etly, his voice laced with g

meeting his ga

in me. For everything.” His eye

med to lift, leaving only

the moment, moved to the kitch

s arm, she felt a surge of emot

e pull be

ian,

leaned in, his lips capturing

world around them fading as th

filled with unspoken promises.

sted together, the

ng time,” Adrian whispered, his

reg

er heart soari

y Vanessa’s voice, tinged with

’s n

eparated, moving to join Vane

of Caldwell City, her finger tra

ere,” Vanessa said. “We need to

ht be. And we need

We can’t let them pin this on u

audia was behi

s only one place where we might

r famil

ened. “The vaul

ngerous. Yes. But

determination solidifying.

ps, the bond between them grew

d; they were a team, united by t

ging justice t

used in an old, seemingly abando

he air grew colder, and a sense

creeps,” Vanessa muttered

sion set in grim determination

en

sound of their footsteps echo

ne, but she pushed it aside,

hind a false wall in the basem

s familiarity with

g rows of filing cabinets and s

tle. “This is it. Everythin

ction of the vault to search. T

fingers brushed over countless

ng that could pro

called out. “I f

atching as she saw the stack o

i

at this.” Adrian handed her

with known criminals, along wit

d. “This is it. Th

he sound of footsteps echoed f

eath. “We ha

documents into a bag. “We n

y reached the exit, they were

ard, his expression

somew

his voice steady. “We’re leavin

s

kly. “I wouldn’t be

chest as the tension reach

she refused to let fear take

ith unwavering

peless, a loud crash echoed thr

, distracted for just a mom

g Emma’s hand and pulling her

e

, the sound of gunfire and sho

protest, but she pushed on,

nd into the night, the cold air

close behind, their fa

the nearby woods, they collaps

in ragg

sa said, her voice

und Emma. “But this isn’t

art swelling with a mixture o

e Claudia and end this

ed with love and determinati

ight sky above them, Emma knew

her side, she felt ready