“Well, he did leave with that little, black holdall.” She shrugs, this time not looking like she’s enjoying being right. “Gracie, if that list got into the wrong hands, or if Jack has handed it over to the wrong person…” She clamps her hand over her mouth and shakes her head.
“How long has Jack had the list?” I grab her arm with my free hand to try to get her focused.
“I hid it somewhere I was sure he’d find it, in Bernard's office, the night of that ball he threw.”
I think back to that night I saw her sneak in there; she’s been planning this the entire time I’ve been here.
“I would never have asked Jack to kill his own father, not even I’m that cruel. I made sure Bernard got what he deserved.”
My mouth falls open as she makes her confession. “And in doing so I….I. Thomas wasn’t supposed to be in the car,” she blurts out, dropping her head into her hands and sobbing loudly.
“Cecelia.” I wrap my arm around her, unable to imagine how she must feel. The woman is callous and beyond rude, but she clearly loved her son; she must be devastated that his death was her fault.
“I knew the risk that list would bring, and I tried pushing you away so you wouldn’t be involved. The last thing I wanted was more innocent people getting hurt. But you're a very persistent, young woman.”
“You could have spoken to Jack about this, but you’ve used him as a pawn,” I point out, knowing that her well-thought-out plan is sure to have worked, and Jack will want the men on that list dead.
“I’d just lost my son. I was angry at myself; angry at the men on that list. I was hell-bent on vengeance and, well,I’mpersistent, too,” she admits.
“So you think whoever's out there knows about the list?” I point at the huge, heavy door that's keeping us safe.
“I figured Jack had found it when he started employing all those men as guards. I’ve been waiting for him to start taking action, but all the men on the list are still alive. Jack even stood down his guards and pulled back security.” She looks as confused as she is frustrated.
“The guards were here because of me,” I explain, taking a deep breath and focusing on keeping Benjamin asleep. “There was someone from my past, who I thought would hurt me. Jack didn’t want me worrying during the pregnancy. Are you sure we’re safe in here?” I check, as mad as I am about how she’s involved Jack in her games, I’m starting to believe I can trust this woman. There's a sincere sadness in her eyes; this was her trying to put things right.
“We’re safe; like I said, this room is bomb proof. Barely anyone knows about it, not even the staff…I don’t think Jack even knows about it,” she assures me, taking my hand tightly in hers. I don’t remember seeing any panic rooms on the blueprints of the house that Selena got for us, so they really must be secret.
Suddenly, I hear a loud crash, and quickly back myself up against the wall.
“Come out, come out, wherever you are.” A muffled, male voice comes from the other side of the door, and I hold my son tight to my chest, hoping he remains silent.
Cecelia places her fingers against her lips as if I need reminding to do the same.
“I know you're there.” The male chuckles, and when the door pops open, my heart drops, and I gasp when I see who's standing in its frame.
“Kaleb?” Celiela whispers, seeming every bit as shocked as I am.
“Mrs. Ravenshaw.” He nods his head and smiles at her charmingly, all the while pointing the gun in his hand directly at us.
“Thomas and I used to have so much fun playing in here.” He glances around the room, which he has us trapped in.
“Let them go; they have nothing to do with this.” Cecelia stands in front of me, blocking me and Benjamin from his aim.
“Move out the way, Cecelia.” He laughs at her heroics, sarcastically.
“I’d like to take a look at the next Duke of Fairfax.” His eyes lower to my son, and I snarl at the prick like a mother wolf.
“Who are you protecting, Kaleb? No one from your family is on that list,” Cecelia questions him.
“What list?” The frown he makes suggests he’s not here for that reason at all, but before Cecelia can answer, his mind is back on his task. “Look at him, sleeping soundly. Set up to live the perfect life.” Kaleb’s attention returns to my son, and it makes my skin prickle.
“Whatever this is about, you should have it out with Jack; this doesn’t concern him,” I speak out, hoping I can talk some sense into him. He’s obviously lost his mind.
“I think it does concern him; just like his daddy, he’s going to die.” He smiles, while my whole world collapses.
“Jack's dead?” I start to cry, clutching my son and wondering how the hell I'm going to get us out of this. I can’t let this man kill my child. I won't. “Why? Why would you do this?” I know how much Jack and Kaleb hate each other, but this is all too extreme.
“Life has been much kinder to Jack than it was to Bernard's other bastard,” Kaleb explains, and when Cecelia turns her head to look at me, I can see she’s as clueless as I am.
