Page 3 of Silent Oaths
Thescreen showsIsabelstanding by the window, her arms crossed asMontclairleans in closer, speaking to her in a low voice.Shedoesn’t look frightened, just wary, her gaze flicking toward the door, as if debating her escape.Hecorners her onto the bed, and that’s when her expression changes to fear.
Then, suddenly, the door bursts open.Anotherwoman storms in, her blonde hair a wild halo around her furious face.It’sthe friendIsaw her with earlier in the evening—ValeriaEstrada.
Thefootage is grainy, but even without sound,Valeria’sanger is palpable.Shesteps betweenIsabelandMontclair, shoving him back with enough force to make him stumble.Montclair’shands shoot up in mock surrender, but she doesn’t back down.She’spointing toward the door, her protective stance unmistakable.
Isabellooks stunned but relieved asValeriagrabs her arm and pulls her out of the room.
Julianlets out a low whistle as the footage ends. “Didn’texpect that.”
“NeitherdidI,”Maxwelladmits, a smirk tugging at his lips. “LookslikeMontclairbit off more than he could chew.”
Julian’seyes narrow as he studies me. “Youthink they’re going to be a problem?”
“Notyet,”Isay, leaning back in my chair. “Butthe mermaid might be.”
Maxwellraises a brow. “Shelooks harmless.”
“Sheworks as an investigative reporter forTheBlackQuill,”Ireply.
TheBlackQuillisEbonridge’sone and only media outlet.
Juliansnorts. “So?We’vedealt with reporters before.”
“She’salready digging,”Iadd, leaning forward. “Shealso started poking around places she has no business being.Ifshe uncovers something—anything—it won’t just be a personal issue.Itcould blow up in our faces.”
Thepeople ofEbonridgeare blind to the truth of what happens at these parties.Tothem, theWhitmoresare just a powerful family, a name that carries weight and influence.Theysee the glitz, the glamour, the social gatherings, never suspecting the bloodshed, the manipulation, the rituals that lie beneath.Tothe town, we are nothing but a legacy built on wealth and charm.
“Bothof them have been digging where they shouldn’t.Isabelmight look like she stumbled into this, but no one like her just stumbles into anything,”Iadd.
Maxwellruns a hand through his hair. “Sowhat are we dealing with here?”
“We’redealing with two women who have more curiosity than self-preservation.Andthe longer they’re here, the more likely they’ll find something we don’t want them to.”
Ifsomeone were to uncover even the slightest hint of what really goes on in this house, it wouldn’t just be a scandal—it would be a frenzy, the kind that would rip through the town like wildfire.Peoplewould want answers, the town would want blood, and the last thing we need right now is the population turned against us, especially not when we’re already walking a thin line trying to break free from our father’s hold.
“Weneed keep a closer eye on them, then,”Juliansays matter-of-factly.
“Exactly.Especiallyour little siren.”Thecorners of my mouth pull into a small, knowing smile.
Isabelis a threat, but she’s also a potential asset, depending on how we play this.
Weall know the goal is to dethrone our adoptive father from the empire he built, end the legacy of fear and control that he’ll leave behind.
However, that’s the tricky part.
Wewant him gone, but we can’t afford to lose everything in the process.Ourreputation is all we’ve ever had.Ifwe want to take control, we can’t be painted as the villains in this story.Wemust play it carefully.Isabelmight be our ticket, but if she digs too deep, she could become the spark that burns it all down.
Juliansuddenly stiffens; his eyes fixed on his screen. “Iknew it.”Afrown spreads across his face as he turns it toward us. “You’regonna want to see this.”
Itake the phone from him, my eyes narrowing at the image.It’sIsabel, wearing a fitted uniform and balancing a tray of drinks, her brown hair tied back.Thebackdrop is unmistakable:Vanguard.
Myhead snaps toward him. “Sheworks at the club?”Iask in disbelief.
Juliannods, leaning back in his chair. “Waitress.She’sbeen there almost a year.Quiet, professional, keeps her head down.Butsomething about her…”Hisvoice trails off, andIknow exactly what he means.
“Thatdidn’t show up in the background check,”Ihuff.
“That’sbecauseIsabelLuciaSotoisn’t the name she’s been going by.”Julianrests his elbows on the table. “Shehas been working under the pseudonymMargotVale.”
