They were heading downtown.
Not toward her penthouse.
Not toward any FBI safe location.
Toward the river.
Julian reached beneath the rear seat and pulled a small emergency release.
Nothing happened.
“Sterling armored vehicles,” he muttered. “Designed specifically so nobody can open them from the inside during an attack.”
“That’s comforting.”
“Usually.”
The SUV suddenly swerved.
A horn screamed.
Leo buried his face against Avery.
Then another vehicle appeared from a side street.
A silver sedan.
It rammed directly into the rear quarter panel of their SUV.
Metal shrieked.
The driver lost control.
The armored vehicle jumped the curb and smashed into a row of concrete barriers.
Airbags exploded in the front compartment.
Julian kicked the damaged rear door.
Once.
Twice.
The lock broke.
“Out!”
Avery grabbed Leo.
They stumbled into the rain.
The silver sedan stopped twenty feet away.
Avery expected gunmen.
Instead, Liam Sterling stepped out.
No jacket.
No bodyguards.
Blood running from a cut above his eyebrow.
“You followed us?” Avery shouted.
“I saw Conrad’s security team leave the estate three minutes after you did.”
“Stay away from my son.”
“I know.”
There was something different in Liam’s voice.
He didn’t move toward Leo.
Didn’t say my son.
Didn’t ask for forgiveness.
He simply pointed toward a waiting taxi.
“Go.”
Julian studied him.
“You caused that crash.”
“You’re welcome.”
Avery wanted to hate him.
Part of her always would.
But another pair of black SUVs turned onto the street.
Julian grabbed Avery’s arm.
“We move now.”
They disappeared into the taxi.
Liam remained standing in the rain.
For the first time since discovering Leo existed, he did not follow.
Three hours later, Avery sat inside a federal safe apartment overlooking Queens.
Leo slept in the next room.
Two agents stood outside.
Julian was examining Arthur’s files when Avery’s secure phone rang.
Unknown number.
She answered.
“Avery Vance.”
A familiar voice responded.
“I suppose you’re proud of yourself.”
Victoria.
Avery went still.
“Federal detention has terrible room service, I hear.”
Victoria laughed bitterly.
“You still think this is revenge.”
“What would you call it?”
“Survival.”
Avery almost disconnected.
Then Victoria said two words.
“Conrad Vale.”
Avery looked toward Julian.
“I’m listening.”
“Conrad knows about Arthur’s trust.”
“You knew too.”
“Of course I knew.”
“That’s why you tried to erase Leo.”
Silence.
For once, Victoria didn’t deny it.
“I wanted the child removed from the Sterling family.”
“Removed?”
“I ordered the hospital administrator to tell Liam the baby died.”
Avery’s nails dug into her palm.
“And the forged death certificate?”
“Conrad.”
“The men who came after us?”
Victoria hesitated.
“Conrad.”
Avery closed her eyes.
“You expect me to believe you suddenly developed a conscience?”
“No.”
Victoria’s voice became softer.
“I expect you to understand greed.”
She explained.