Love In His Arrogance

★The Harrow Estate

The road to Westchester stretched out under a gray afternoon sky. Christiana sat in the back seat of the SUV next to Gem, watching Manhattan fade away behind them. For the first time since this whole nightmare started, she wasn't scared of what might happen next. She was scared of what they might find out.

Her mom's face stayed stuck in her mind. The photo had been taken years before Christiana was even born, but the woman smiling in it looked super young. Alive. Happy. Standing next to Mavin's dad like they shared some secret the world wasn't supposed to know.

Christiana looked toward the front. Mavin sat beside Seven, talking quietly. She couldn't hear what they were saying. But she noticed how Mavin kept checking the mirrors. He had been doing it for almost an hour.

Finally, she spoke. Are we being followed?

Mavin looked at her through the rearview mirror. Why?

Because you've checked that same black sedan six times.

Seven glanced at the mirror. She's right.

Mavin's eyes narrowed. The sedan stayed several cars behind them. Seven.

I'm watching it.

Christiana sat forward. Who is it?

We don't know yet.

Could it be The Crown?

Possibly.

Gem shifted uncomfortably. Could we maybe talk about something less scary?

Christiana gave her a sympathetic look. I'd love to.

Mavin suddenly said, Seven, take the next exit.

Seven did. The SUV left the main highway and turned onto a narrow road surrounded by thick woods. The black sedan kept going straight. Seven watched it disappear. Lost them.

Mavin nodded. Christiana leaned back. That was suspicious.

It was.

So you admit I was right.

Mavin looked at her. Don't get used to it.

She smiled. Too late.

Seven glanced at them through the mirror. Are you two always like this?

Yes, Mavin said.

No, Christiana answered at the same time.

Gem laughed. Mavin's mouth twitched. Christiana noticed. Again. She hated how easily his rare smiles changed the whole vibe.

She looked out the window. The road got narrower. Eventually, a huge iron gate appeared between the trees. Seven slowed the SUV. Two stone pillars stood on each side. The Harrow family crest was carved into one.

Christiana stared at it. This place is enormous.

Mavin looked ahead. It used to be.

The gate opened automatically. Christiana frowned. How did it open?

Seven looked at the controls. Someone opened it remotely.

Mavin's face got hard. Keep driving.

The SUV went in. The estate stretched for hundreds of yards. A huge mansion stood at the end of a long driveway. Its windows were dark. The gardens were overgrown. Several statues were half-covered by vines. It looked abandoned. Yet the gate had opened.

Christiana swallowed. Someone's here.

Yes, Mavin said.

Then why are we going in?

Because that's why we're here.

They stopped in front of the mansion. Seven got out first. Mavin followed. He looked at Christiana. Stay beside me.

She stepped out. I know.

He looked at her. You say that like you're planning to ignore me.

I haven't decided yet.

He shook his head. Gem joined them. Can I ask something?

Mavin looked at her. What?

Do you have a less dangerous friend group? Gem pointed at Christiana. Because I feel like her life choices are gonna get me killed.

Christiana laughed. You're free to leave.

Gem shook her head. Absolutely not.

Seven opened the front door. It creaked loudly. Inside, dust covered almost everything. Christiana stepped into the entrance hall. The chandelier above them was huge. Portraits covered the walls.

She moved closer to one. A family. An older man. A woman. Two kids. The Harrows?

Mavin nodded. Christiana looked at the faces. Where did they go?

Most were killed.

By The Crown?

Some.

She looked at him. And the rest?

They disappeared.

A sudden sound came from upstairs. Everyone froze. Seven reached for his weapon. Mavin immediately moved in front of Christiana. Stay behind me.

I can defend myself.

I didn't say you couldn't. He looked up the staircase. I said stay behind me.

They climbed slowly. The second floor was silent. Seven checked one room after another. Nothing. Then Christiana saw something. A door at the end of the hallway stood slightly open.

She walked toward it. Mavin caught her wrist. Wait.

She looked down at his hand. He let go immediately. Sorry.

It was the first time she'd heard him apologize. Christiana looked at him. That was unexpected.

What?

An apology.

Don't get excited.

She smiled. They entered the room together. It looked like a study. Bookshelves covered the walls. An old desk stood near the window. Christiana's eyes landed on a photograph right away.

She walked toward it. Her mom. Again. This time, she wasn't alone. There were three women in the photo. One was her mom. Another was a woman Christiana didn't recognize. The third—

Christiana stopped. I know her.

Mavin looked at the photo. Who?

Brooks' mom.

He turned fast. You're sure?

Yes. Christiana remembered seeing the woman in old photos at Brooks' office. Why would she be here?

Seven examined the photo. Because the Harrows weren't just connected to The Crown.

Mavin looked at him. What are you saying?

Seven pointed to the back of the photo. There's writing.

Christiana turned it over. Three names had been written under the date. Evelyn Vale. Margaret Brooks. Helena Harrow.

Christiana's breath caught. Evelyn was my mom.

Mavin stared at the names. Margaret was Brooks' mom.

And Helena was a Harrow.

Seven nodded. The three of them were connected.

Christiana looked around the room. My mom knew Brooks' mom.

And probably the Harrows, Mavin said.

But why?

Nobody answered. Then Christiana noticed something else. A small wooden box sat on the desk. She opened it. Inside was a key. Attached to it was a note. For Evelyn.

Christiana's hands shook. My mom's name.

Mavin stepped closer. Don't touch the key.

Why?

It could be a trap.

She looked at him. Everything is a trap to you.

Because usually it is.

Seven took the key. There was a small number engraved on it. 317.

Christiana frowned. Room 317?

Could be a locker, Seven said. Mavin examined it. There's a storage facility in Manhattan with numbered vaults.

Christiana's heart raced. Could this open one?

Possibly.

She looked at him. Then we need to find it.

We will.

A noise came from downstairs. Footsteps. Mavin immediately raised a hand. Everyone went quiet. Someone was inside the mansion. Seven moved toward the hallway. Mavin whispered, Stay here.

This time, Christiana didn't argue. Seven disappeared down the stairs. A minute passed. Then another. Suddenly—a loud crash.

Gem grabbed Christiana's arm. Mavin.

I'm here. He looked toward the doorway. Seven appeared. Nobody.

What happened?

Window downstairs was broken.

Mavin frowned. From inside or outside?

Outside.

Christiana walked toward the window. Something had been thrown through it. A small black envelope lay on the floor. She stared at it. Mavin moved first. Don't.

But Christiana recognized the handwriting. Her mom's. She knew it right away. She had seen it all her childhood—in birthday cards, notes, shopping lists.

Her heart pounded. Mavin.

He looked at her. That's my mom's handwriting.

He went still. Seven carefully picked up the envelope. Inside was a single sheet of paper. Seven read it. His face changed. What?

He handed it to Mavin. Mavin read silently. Christiana couldn't stand the waiting. What does it say?

Mavin looked at her. Your mom knew you would come here.

Christiana's blood ran cold. What?

He handed her the paper. There were only a few lines.

Christiana, If you are reading this, then your father is gone and the Crown has found you. There is something I need you to know. I did not die the night they told you I did.

Christiana's hands started shaking. Gem moved closer. Christiana...

She kept reading. I disappeared because staying would have put you in greater danger. Trust no one completely. Not Brooks. Not the Crown. And especially not the son of the man who promised to protect us.

Christiana's eyes lifted slowly. Mavin was standing across from her. The final line stared back at her. Mavin knows more about me than he has told you.

Silence. Christiana lowered the letter. Is this true?

Mavin didn't answer. Her voice got hard. Mavin.

He looked at her. Yes.

The word hit harder than she expected. You knew my mom was alive?

No.

But you knew something.

Yes.

What?

Mavin looked away. My dad told me that your mom survived.

Christiana stared at him. And you didn't tell me?

I wasn't certain.

You should have told me!

I didn't want to give you false hope.

That wasn't your decision!

Mavin's jaw tightened. I know.

Christiana stepped closer. How much do you know?

Not enough.

Then tell me what you know.

Mavin stayed quiet. She shook her head. You're exactly like everyone else.

Christiana—

No. She stepped back. You keep saying you're protecting me, but you're hiding the truth from me.

I've been trying to keep you alive.

And I've been trying to understand why everyone around me keeps lying!

Mavin's face changed. I never lied to you.

You withheld the truth.

There's a difference.

Not when I'm the person whose life is being destroyed by it.

The words hung between them. Mavin didn't respond. Seven looked away. Gem stood quietly beside Christiana.

Then something happened. A sound came from the hallway. A woman's voice. Soft. Familiar. Christiana.

She froze. Her heart seemed to stop. Gem's eyes widened. Mavin turned toward the doorway. The voice came again. Christiana.

Her mom's voice. Exactly as she remembered it. Christiana slowly walked toward the hall. Mavin grabbed her hand. Don't.

She stared at him. That's my mom.

We don't know that.

The voice came once more. Christiana...

Tears filled her eyes. She pulled against Mavin's grip. I need to see her.

Mavin tightened his hold. No.

She looked at him angrily. Let me go.

Christiana, listen to me.

Let me go!

A loud metallic click came from the hallway. Seven immediately shouted, Down!

Mavin pulled Christiana to the floor. A sharp sound echoed through the mansion. Then silence.

Christiana's heart pounded. Mavin looked at her. Are you hurt?

She shook her head. No.

He slowly let go. Seven moved toward the hallway. Nobody was there. Only a small speaker had been hidden under a table. The voice had come from it.

Christiana stared at the device. Someone had recorded her mom's voice. Someone had known exactly how to trick her.

Mavin picked up the speaker. His face was furious. Christiana looked at him. Someone knew we'd come.

Seven nodded. And they wanted us to find the letter.

Mavin's eyes narrowed. Which means the letter may be real.

Christiana looked down. Her mom's words echoed in her mind. Mavin knows more about me than he has told you.

She looked at him. Tell me the truth.

Mavin held her gaze. Then he said quietly, There is one thing my dad told me before he died.

What?

Mavin's face got distant. He said your mom wasn't running from The Crown.

Christiana waited. She was running from someone inside my family.

The room went silent. And suddenly, the mystery around her mom's disappearance became way more dangerous than Christiana had ever imagined.