Chapter 494 - 90 Racing to Lila
Beckett’s POV
"Beckett! Beckett!" Katarina’s frantic voice echoed through the corridors of our Brooklyn Heights mansion before she’d even cleared the marble foyer.
"In the study!" I called back, focused on reviewing the monthly reports from our legitimate art gallery operations. No family emergency was worth abandoning business, especially when those numbers directly affected our money laundering pipeline.
Katarina burst through the mahogany doors, her face flushed with urgency. "We’ve got a problem. A serious one."
"Whatever Claire’s scheming now can wait a bit." I didn’t look up from the financial ledgers spread across my desk. "Besides, these gallery receipts need my attention."
"Your stepmother took a little road trip with Justin," she announced, watching me closely for a reaction.
I laughed and continued scanning the numbers. "Excellent. The farther that manipulative woman stays from our operations, the better." The quarterly profits from our high-end art auctions looked promising. "These auction house figures are impressive."
"They went to Port Harbor, Beckett." Katarina’s tone turned deadly serious. "Where Lila is hiding."
My blood turned to ice. Suddenly, the financial reports meant nothing. "Fuck."
I reached for my encrypted phone just as it started buzzing. Daniel’s name flashed across the secured screen.
"Martinez? I was just about to call Lila." From the corner of my eye, I caught Katarina snatching the expensive brandy from my desk.
"Sullivan, we need to meet immediately." Daniel’s voice carried the kind of strain I’d only heard during the most dangerous family operations. "This can’t wait."
"Is Lila safe? My wife just informed me Claire traveled to Port Harbor with that bastard Justin." My heart rate spiked as I waited for his response.
"That woman showed up at the safe house." Daniel’s voice hardened with barely controlled rage. "She tried to drag Lila back to Brooklyn. If I hadn’t returned from the precinct when I did..." He trailed off ominously.
Cold fury swept through me like a tidal wave. "How did she locate the address? What’s Lila’s condition?"
"That’s exactly what I intend to discover," Daniel said grimly. "I’m transmitting a photograph of Lila’s current state."
When the encrypted image appeared on my screen, murderous rage consumed me. My baby sister’s delicate face was marked with an angry bruise, her eyes swollen and red from crying.
"I’m coming to Port Harbor. Tonight." My voice carried the lethal edge that had earned me respect throughout the five families.
After ending the call, I turned to Katarina, who was now nursing my brandy. "Pack our things. We’re going to collect Lila."
Her playful expression vanished when I showed her the photograph. "Madonna mia. That innocent girl doesn’t deserve this brutality. I’ll prepare immediately." Tears welled in her eyes. "Should we inform your father?"
"Yeah, the old man needs to see this face-to-face."
Soon, we were driving to my father’s private office in his legitimate construction company. He looked pleased when we walked into his soundproofed conference room.
"I was just considering a visit to you two," he said with a smile that quickly died when he read our expressions.
"Pop, Claire has completely lost her mind." I showed him the photograph of Lila. "She tracked down Lila’s safe house location and physically assaulted her. Martinez intercepted her before she could successfully kidnap Lila back to Brooklyn."
"That woman has crossed every line!" Dad slammed his fist on the solid oak table, his face turning purple with rage. "I never should have brought her into this family."
"We’re heading to Port Harbor tonight," I interrupted. "Are you coming with us?"
Dad hesitated, then shook his head slowly. "No. You go secure your sister. I’m calling my attorney and moving my assets before Claire returns. Then that woman and I are going to have a very final conversation."
"Stay at my compound," I offered. Even as the current family head, I feared what Claire might attempt in desperation. She’d brought nothing but poison since manipulating her way into our organization.
"I’ll retreat to the old estate," Dad said, referring to our ancestral family compound upstate where we’d lived before Claire’s arrival.
"Absolutely not, Pop. That’s the first place she’ll search for you. Stay at my place until I return." I knew Claire would be absolutely furious after failing to recapture Lila. A cornered snake was the most dangerous kind.
Dad finally relented. "You’re right. That woman is capable of anything."
I handed him my spare security codes and headed out with Katarina. On the highway, my knuckles turned white from gripping the steering wheel.
"That psychopath can’t possibly be Lila’s biological mother," I muttered through gritted teeth. "No real mother would brutalize her own child like that."
Katarina placed her manicured hand over mine. "Claire is simply a sadistic creature, Beckett. Some people have poison in their souls."
"Kat, you knew my real mother. You remember her before she died."
Katarina nodded solemnly. We’d grown up together in the neighborhood, playing in the same parks until my mother’s mysterious death when we were children.
"Your mother was gentle and gracious," she said softly. "Exactly like Lila has always been."
The suspicion that had been eating at me for months grew stronger. When Lila had returned to visit us after escaping Claire’s control, I’d been struck by how much she resembled my deceased mother. Not just the newly lightened hair, but everything—her mannerisms, her infectious laugh, her compassionate nature. The resemblance was uncanny, as if they were truly mother and daughter.
"It’s deeper than physical appearance," I said. "Lila possesses such a pure heart despite being raised by that monster. She shares nothing with that woman."
Katarina squeezed my hand gently. "Your mother was an angel. Lila inherited that spirit."
I thought about all the times I’d discovered Lila with mysterious bruises, courtesy of Justin’s cowardly attacks. Her supposed half-brother was barely younger but significantly larger, always striking when she was defenseless. I’d taught her basic self-defense techniques, but Justin was a gutless predator who specialized in ambush attacks.
When Lila finally escaped that toxic household, I felt profound relief. Distance from Claire had allowed her true personality to flourish brilliantly. But Claire refused to release her grip, continuously finding new methods to inflict pain.
The miles disappeared as fury fueled my driving. By the time we reached Port Harbor, darkness had settled over the coastal town. I drove straight to Lila’s address without bothering to secure accommodations first.
Daniel opened the door immediately, looking relieved to see us arrive. In the modest living room, Lila sat on the couch in quiet conversation with him. When she spotted me, her bruised face lit up despite the angry mark on her cheek.
"My little princess!" I enveloped her in a protective embrace. "Didn’t I teach you the proper technique for kicking Justin in his weak spots?"
She managed a fragile smile. "He caught me completely off guard."
I examined her face carefully, recognizing the distinctive mark that could only come from Claire’s signature ring—the one she deliberately turned inward when striking Lila, designed to inflict maximum damage. My heart clenched at the familiar, sickening sight.
"Pop didn’t come because he’s securing his assets while that woman is away," I explained, not wanting Lila to think our father didn’t care about her welfare.
"It’s long overdue," she said, her smile becoming more genuine despite her injuries.
I exchanged meaningful glances with Daniel, recognizing the protective fury burning in his dark eyes. My sister had found a man who would shield her from harm. But we had serious discussions ahead of us—conversations I hoped would finally illuminate the questions that had been haunting me about Lila’s true parentage and rightful place in our family.