Victoria sat alone in the darkened room, her mind racing with the choices that had led her here. Everything she’d done, every decision, had been calculated. She knew what she was doing. She had to. If she didn’t, everything would fall apart, and she couldn’t let that happen. Not now.
She couldn’t ignore the fact that Rachel was a loose end someone who knew too much. But, as much as Victoria wanted to see her suffer, she wasn’t prepared to see her dead. Not yet. Rachel’s existence had its purpose, even if that purpose was tied to a much darker plan. Victoria knew the power of secrets all too well, and she had her own to protect.
The door creaked open, and Victoria’s mind snapped back to the present. Mr. Blackwood, a figure from her past, stepped into the room. His presence was unsettling, like a shadow that threatened to swallow everything around it. He had been hiding for a long time, but Victoria had always known where he was. She had a way of keeping tabs on everyone, especially those who had their own secrets to keep.
“You’ve done well, Victoria,” Mr. Blackwood’s voice was low, almost like a growl. “Now, you can keep your part of the deal.”
Victoria looked at him with cold eyes. “Of course,” she said softly, her voice dripping with calculated indifference. She had played the game long enough to know when to show strength and when to appear weak. “You’ll get Rachel. But you owe me. You know that, right?”
Mr. Blackwood didn’t seem fazed by her words. He simply nodded, his expression unreadable. “I’ll keep my end of the bargain. But remember, you’re the one who brought this on yourself.”
Victoria didn’t react. She was used to threats. She had survived much worse.
She led him to the small, dimly lit room where Rachel was tied up. Her sister lay there, her eyes wide with fear, her hands bound tightly to the chair. Rachel’s face was a picture of defiance, but it was clear she was scared.
Victoria couldn’t help but feel a flicker of something she didn’t want to acknowledge. For a brief moment, she considered letting Rachel go, wondering if that would be the end of it. But she quickly shook the thought away. It was too late to go back now. She couldn’t afford to feel sympathy.
“You think you’ve won, don’t you?” Rachel spat, her voice raw from the silence and fear. “You think this will finally make you happy, don’t you?”
Victoria stood still, watching her, silent. She didn’t need to say anything. Rachel had no idea what was really going on-what was at stake for her sister, for both of them.
“Time to go, Rachel,” Victoria said flatly, turning her back to her sister. “You’ve served your purpose.”
Rachel struggled against her restraints. “You think I’m just going to walk out of here, just like that? You’re wrong, Victoria. You’re wrong about everything.”
Victoria didn’t respond. She motioned for Mr. Blackwood to step forward. He did so, his movements precise, like a predator closing in on its prey.
Rachel’s eyes widened in terror as she realized what was happening. “No!” she cried. “No, please! You can’t do this!”
Victoria’s heart didn’t skip a beat. She had been planning this for so long, but now that it was actually happening, she couldn’t help but feel the tension build. She was about to hand Rachel over to someone she barely knew. And if she was being honest with herself, she wasn’t sure how far Mr. Blackwood would go.
As Mr. Blackwood drew a gun from his jacket, the cold metal gleamed in the low light. “This ends here,” he said, his voice almost too calm.
Rachel’s eyes locked onto the gun. She trembled, her breath coming in ragged gasps. “No, please! Don’t do this. You don’t have to kill me!”
Victoria stood there, watching as Mr. Blackwood pointed the gun at Rachel, his finger already on the trigger. It would be easy. One shot, and it would be over. Rachel would be gone, and Victoria’s problems would be solved.
But something in Victoria’s chest tightened. She wasn’t sure if it was guilt or something else.
It wasn’t like she cared about Rachel, not in the way a sister should. But there was something in Victoria that prevented her from watching Rachel die. The idea of ending her life didn’t sit right with her.
“Stop,” Victoria finally said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Mr. Blackwood didn’t move. He didn’t even look at her. His gaze was still fixed on Rachel, his finger tightening around the trigger.
“I said stop!” Victoria’s voice rang out, louder this time, tinged with something raw. She stepped forward, placing herself between Rachel and Mr. Blackwood, her body blocking the path of the gun.
Mr. Blackwood looked up at her, his face hard, his eyes calculating. “This is none of your business, Victoria. You know what has to be done.”
Victoria’s pulse quickened. “I don’t want her dead,” she said, her voice firm. “I won’t watch you do it.”
There was a long, heavy silence. Mr. Blackwood’s gaze flickered between Victoria and Rachel. He seemed to be weighing his options, trying to decide whether to push her aside and go through with it anyway. But something in Victoria’s stance, something in her eyes, stopped him.
“You’re making a mistake,” Mr. Blackwood said coldly. “You can’t protect her forever. You should have known that.”
Victoria didn’t flinch. “I’m not trying to protect her, Blackwood. I just don’t want you to kill her. I won’t let you.”
Mr. Blackwood’s expression darkened. He was used to getting his way. He didn’t take kindly to being defied, especially not by someone like Victoria. But there was a pause a moment where he seemed to reconsider. His grip on the gun loosened, just a fraction, but it was enough.
Victoria took a deep breath. This wasn’t over. Not by a long shot. But for now, she had won.
“Let her go,” Victoria said, her voice steady, but with an edge of finality. “I’ll deal with her. But you won’t kill her.”
Mr. Blackwood stared at her for another moment, then lowered the gun. He didn’t speak, but the look he gave her was one of pure disdain. With one last glance at Rachel, he turned on his heel and left the room without another word.
Victoria watched him go, her heart still racing.