The room was silent.
No one took their eyes off Julian.
He was smiling.
Even in handcuffs.
Even with armed officers surrounding him.
“I’ve been taking orders for twenty-five years.”
The detective frowned.
“From who?”
Julian laughed.
“You think I’d tell you?”
He looked directly at me.
“No.”
“I’d rather let you meet him yourself.”
⸻
The lead detective motioned to his officers.
“Take him.”
As they dragged Julian toward the exit, he stopped one last time.
“Oh, Sienna…”
I refused to look away.
“When you finally meet The Benefactor…”
His smile widened.
“You’ll understand why your father died.”
My heart stopped.
“What?”
Lucien immediately stepped between us.
“Enough.”
Julian only laughed.
Then he disappeared into the darkness.
⸻
The hidden chamber suddenly felt colder
