Chapter 3 Home Sweet Hell
Amelia POV
The Mercedes turned through imposing iron gates, rolling up a tree-lined drive toward the Coltman estate.
"I've already told Grace and Catherine you're here," Robert said as we pulled up to the front entrance. "Please... just try not to terrorize her this time."
"Terrorize her? Robert, you seem to have forgotten—despite my current surname, I'm still the rightful Coltman heir."
The front door opened before we reached it, revealing two figures I'd hoped never to see again.
Grace stood beside Catherine in the foyer, her golden hair perfectly styled, violet eyes bright with poorly concealed hatred and fear. She was still beautiful, still maintained that wholesome, all-American image that had made her so popular in high school. But I could see the tension in her posture.
Catherine Coltman regarded me with the same cool assessment she might give a hostile witness. Even in her forties, she was formidable.
"Amelia." Catherine's voice could have cut glass. "Robert said you'd be staying for a few days."
"Just two days," Robert added quickly, glancing nervously at Grace. "Right, Amelia?"
I let my gaze linger on Grace's face, noting the faint scar along her jawline that makeup couldn't quite hide. "Your face healed nicely," I observed with mock pleasantness. "I was worried I might have left permanent damage."
Grace's hands clenched into fists, but she didn't dare respond.
"Why are you really here?" Catherine stepped forward, positioning herself slightly in front of Grace like a shield. "If this is about money or inheritance claims, you'd better give up."
Inheritance? Did she really think I care about that?
The truth was more complex. Sean, their biological son, had renounced all claims to the family business when he'd chosen acting over law. Grace, as their presumed daughter, stood to inherit everything—but only if her true parentage remained secret.
Three years ago, Grace had seen my return as a threat to her inheritance and had tried every trick to discredit me. Robert and Catherine had taken her side, of course. I'd left rather than expose the truth then, writing off any claim to their wealth.
But if they wanted to play games now, I was more than willing to escalate.
"Actually," I said, my voice taking on a theatrical tone, "you caught me. I want my share of the family fortune. And you'd better play nice, or I might just reveal some interesting facts about Grace's true parentage. Wonder how that would affect your law firm's reputation?"
Catherine's face went rigid. "So you're not leaving in two days?"
"That depends on how accommodating you all are."
Catherine drew herself up to her full height. "Your attitude is just as completely unacceptable as it ever was. We did everything we could to support you, but you—"
"Support?" I scoffed. "Your 'support' was nothing but empty words. I earned every scholarship, every training opportunity in Russia through my own efforts." This was the story I'd fed them when I first returned, and they'd never questioned it for a second.
My phone buzzed with message notifications. I glanced at the screen and smiled.
"I need to settle in," I announced, "I'll be taking my old room. Try not to disturb me."
I turned toward the staircase, leaving three stunned faces in my wake.
My bedroom remained virtually unchanged from three years ago. Dust covered most surfaces, but I didn't mind. Surviving in war-torn hospitals had taught me to be comfortable anywhere.
I settled onto the bed and opened my encrypted chat. Auditor's message popped up immediately: [Dancer! What's with the body armor research? You shopping for new gear?]
Auditor, the Ninth District leader, had been like a big sister to me—she'd fought for my leader position at Nocturne when others questioned my qualifications. And now, when I'd embarked on this cross-continental chase for the stolen drive, she'd been the one I'd turned to for help managing the Second District's evaluation day in my absence.
I grinned and typed back: [Just need you to do some evaluation work for me. Since when do you have time for investigating things?]
Auditor: [Evaluation day isn't as important as helping my favorite sister-in-arms. Look what I found—Kevlar X-type isn't even in full production yet. Only FSOD got the first batch.]
Surgeon joined the chat: [Please tell me FSOD didn't steal the drive?]
Auditor: [You're in deep shit, Dancer. I just tested the waters with Professor. If you don't recover the drive, you might be looking at terminal consequences.]
Surgeon: [It can't be that serious, right?]
Auditor: [And you. You let the guy escape from your operating table. You can keep Dancer company on whatever punishment detail they assign.]
Surgeon: [Hey, I'm not Round Table anymore, so this isn't my mess to deal with.]
He sent a grinning emoji and immediately went offline.
I stared at the screen, processing the implications. The situation was serious, but I doubted it would come to execution. I was still a regional leader, after all. But there would definitely be consequences if I failed to get the drive back.
FSOD—Federal Special Operations Department—headquartered right here in Everdark City, filled with elite agents and operatives. According to underground intelligence, they'd been investigating the specifics of the Black Friday incident all along. Now I could be certain they were the ones who'd stolen our drive.
Auditor: [More intel coming in. Someone in Everdark City shows inquiries about purchasing N-99 nanobotic neutralizer from International Biotech Research Alliance.]
N-99 neutralizer was a collaborative project between Round Table and IBRA, designed to counter M-99 nanobullets. I'd been part of the development team. The drug was still in human trials—completely unavailable through normal channels.
Auditor: [Guy probably doesn't know we developed the neutralizer. That's why he's trying to buy it from IBRA. I'll set up a transaction time and location, then you can ambush him?]
I started typing a response when someone knocked on my door.
"Sister dear?" Grace's voice carried that sickeningly sweet tone. "I was hoping we could talk."
My lip curled in disgust. I'd specifically told them not to disturb me. Was she really that stupid?
I was about to tell her to go away when a thought struck me. Grace wouldn't risk coming up here unless she had some new scheme planned. After three years, she was probably ready to try again.
Fine. Let me see what you've learned.