The dim light of the safe house flickered as Camille and her husbands sat around the table, tension thick in the air. Spread before them were maps, documents, and the ledger that had caused so much turmoil. Evelyn and Conrad were closing in, and Camille knew the next move had to be theirs—or they’d lose everything.
“We have the upper hand for now,” Noah said, his tone steady but grim. “But it won’t last. Evelyn’s men are relentless, and Conrad knows us too well. If we wait for them to strike, we’re finished.”
Matthew ran a hand through his hair, leaning over the table. “We need to draw them out, somewhere on our terms. Somewhere we have the advantage.”
Leo tapped the map in front of them, pointing to an abandoned industrial complex on the outskirts of town. “Here. It’s isolated, easy to defend, and we can rig it to funnel them into a trap. If they want the ledger, we’ll make them work for it.”
Camille’s stomach churned as she looked at the location. The thought of another confrontation terrified her, but she pushed the fear aside. “And what happens after we draw them in? Evelyn won’t stop until she has the ledger—or me. We can’t just keep running.”
Matthew’s eyes softened as he looked at her. “We’re not running, Camille. We’re finishing this. For good.”
The plan took shape quickly. They would plant false information about the ledger’s location, luring Evelyn and Conrad to the industrial site. Once there, they’d confront them directly and dismantle their operation. It was dangerous, but it was the only way to ensure Camille’s safety—and the safety of their unborn child.
The next day, Camille sat alone in the safe house, staring at the ledger. Its leather cover felt heavy in her hands, its contents an unending source of chaos. Her father had sacrificed so much to keep this out of the wrong hands, and now she was carrying that burden.
Noah entered the room, his footsteps soft. “Hey,” he said, sitting beside her. “You’ve been quiet.”
She glanced at him, tears threatening to spill. “I can’t stop thinking about my father. About he did to protect this—and me. And now it’s all falling apart.”
Noah reached out, taking her hand in his. “Your father believed in you, Camille. He trusted you to make the right choices. And we trust you too.”
She leaned into him, finding solace in his presence. “I just hope I don’t let him down.”