THE SECRETS WE BURIED

Trapped. The massive wrought-iron gates of the Stellan estate were magnetically sealed, and the flames from the hunting lodge were rapidly spreading to the surrounding pine trees.

Sebastian didn’t waste time screaming at the town car as it peeled away into the snowy night. He turned to Marcus. "Ram the gates."

"With the SUV? Boss, it's reinforced steel. We'll total the truck and we might not break through."

"I don't care if you have to push it through with your bare hands, Marcus. Ram it!" Sebastian roared. He scooped Lily up, holding her tightly against his chest, refusing to let her see the fear in his eyes.

As Marcus sprinted to the armored SUV, Sebastian looked down at the forged birth certificate in his hand. The implications were sickening. If Victoria had forged this, it was the ultimate blackmail material to destroy the family's reputation. But if Genevieve had forged it... she was completely unhinged.

Lily tugged at his collar. "Daddy, why did that lady look like the picture?"

"She's a very confused person, Lily," Sebastian said softly, kissing her forehead. "But nobody is going to take you from me. I promise."

CRASH.

The heavy SUV slammed into the gates. Metal groaned, snow flew into the air, but the lock held. Marcus reversed and floored it again. On the third deafening impact, the magnetic lock shattered, and the gates swung open.

"Get in!" Marcus yelled.

Sebastian buckled Lily into the back seat and climbed in beside her. "Track Victoria's phone," he ordered. "Genevieve wouldn't have shown her face just to lock a gate. She was creating a distraction."

Marcus typed frantically on a tablet. "I've got a ping. Victoria's phone is at the downtown Stellan corporate tower. Executive floor."

"Drive."

The massive SUV tore down the mountain roads toward the city. The city streets were empty, completely abandoned for Christmas Eve. When they reached the towering glass skyscraper, Sebastian ordered Marcus to stay with Lily in the locked, running car.

"If anyone but me approaches this vehicle, you shoot to kill," Sebastian ordered.

He stormed into the lobby, his gun drawn. He took the private executive elevator to the penthouse suite. The doors chimed open to complete silence. The floor was dark, lit only by the ambient glow of the city skyline through the floor-to-ceiling windows.

Sebastian moved tactically, clearing room by room, until he reached Victoria's private office.

He found her.

Victoria was slumped in her leather chair, breathing shallowly. An empty vial of pills lay on the mahogany desk. But she wasn't alone. Standing by the window, holding a glass of scotch, was a man Sebastian hadn't seen since the funeral.