Chapter 17
A heavy, suffocating silence descended over the dusty attic as Julian’s threat hung in the air like poison.
William’s jaw clenched tightly, his eyes flashing with lethal rage as he stared at his twisted younger brother.
“You really are a monster, Julian,” William whispered, his hand tightening around his silver weapon.
“I learned from the best, big brother,” Julian sneered, holding his phone higher in the air.
I looked at the brick chimney behind Julian, my mind frantically recalling my mother’s final words to me.
“If Julian ever threatens us, Lily, remember that the red wire behind the third brick cuts the remote signal.”
My mother hadn’t just hidden the estate deeds inside the chimney wall two years ago.
She had installed a signal jammer wired directly into the house’s primary electrical junction box.
My mother had anticipated that Julian would try to use a remote terminal code to silence her.
I slowly slid my foot along the dusty floorboards, moving toward the old wooden furnace lever on the left wall.
“You want the blue box, Julian?” I asked, keeping my voice surprisingly calm and steady.
“It’s sitting right behind the third brick from the bottom.”
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Julian looked down at the base of the chimney, his greed instantly overpowering his cautious instinct.
“Get it for me, kid!” Julian ordered, pointing his crowbar at the base of the red bricks.
