Chapter 6 - The Fall of the House of WhitlockClaire let out a blood-curdling shriek as her father’s lifeless body hit the floor.
"You old fool!" she screamed, lunging toward Julian's fallen gun on the floor.
Before her fingers could touch the cold steel, the heavy bedroom doors were kicked open with violent force.
Daniel Carver burst into the room, covered in drywall dust and blood, his weapon raised. In one fluid motion, he kicked the fallen gun away from Claire's reach and grabbed her by the collar of her dress, throwing her roughly against the wall.
"It's over, Claire," Daniel growled, his voice deep and dark as thunder.
Outside, the gunfire had completely stopped. The sound of police sirens and federal federal vehicle sirens echoed up the long driveway as dozens of law enforcement units swarmed the estate grounds.
Stepping through the shattered bedroom doorway behind Daniel came a tall man wearing a dark tactical jacket, his face bruised and bearded, holding a thick military-grade external hard drive in his hand.
My breath caught in my throat.
"Caleb..." I whimpered.
My brother Caleb looked at me, tears welling in his eyes as he dropped to his knees beside my bed, throwing his arms around my shoulders. "Hannah! Oh God, Hannah... I'm so sorry... I'm so sorry I was gone so long!"
"Caleb... you're alive..." I sobbed, burying my face into his neck, holding him with everything I had left.
"I brought the evidence, Hannah," Caleb whispered, turning to look at Daniel. "Every off-shore account, every illegal weapons manifest, every recorded phone call where Julian Whitlock and Claire ordered Aaron's murder on the docks."
Claire backed into the corner of the room, her face pale as paper, her body shaking hysterically as two federal agents stepped into the room, slapping heavy steel handcuffs over her wrists.
"Claire Whitlock," a federal prosecutor announced coldly. "You are under arrest for conspiracy to commit murder, high treason, and racketeering. You have the right to remain silent."
Claire looked at Daniel, her eyes filled with desperate, pitiful tears. "Daniel... please! I loved you! I did all of this so we could rule Providence together!"
Daniel didn't even look at her as the agents dragged her screaming down the hallway. He simply walked over to my bed, kneeling down beside Caleb and me.
He reached out, placing his large, warm hand gently over my belly.
Beneath his palm, a strong, distinct kick pushed against my skin.
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Daniel looked up at me, a rare, breathtaking smile breaking across his harsh features.
"He's strong, Hannah," Daniel whispered softly. "Just like his father. And just like his mother."
