Chapter 3

As Hazel's soul drifted upward, an unseen force pulled her away from the snow-covered mountains, dragging her across miles of white landscape until she stopped inside the master bedroom of the Maxwell estate in the Hamptons.

Morning sunlight reflected off the snow outside, while expensive fruitwood crackled warmly in the fireplace. Floating beside the crystal chandelier, Hazel looked down at the lavish room.

Kaylee was curled up in Hugh's arms on a dark gray leather sofa, wearing the custom silk robe Hazel kept at the estate. In her hand, Kaylee swirled a glass of champagne. Hugh sat beside her, his fingers turning an eight-carat cushion-cut emerald ring—the Macdonald family heirloom meant for Hazel's engagement.

Kaylee tilted her face up, fake worry in her pale green eyes. "Hugh, Hazel still isn't answering her phone. It's freezing in the mountains. What if she..."

Hugh scoffed and slid the massive emerald ring onto Kaylee's ring finger. "She brought it on herself. Trying to use a cheap kidnapping stunt to force my hand? She's probably hiding in some five-star hotel right now waiting for me to apologize."

Staring at the sparkling gem on her finger, Kaylee hid a greedy smile and buried her face against Hugh's neck. "As long as you're with me, I'm not afraid of anything... You'll walk the Oscars red carpet with me tonight, right?"

Hugh stroked her blonde curls, his tone arrogant. "Of course. Once the Macdonald family trust is merged into the Maxwell Group through our offshore restructuring, you'll be the biggest star in America tonight."

Hovering near the ceiling, Hazel stared at the man she had given everything for, her chest tightening with pure revulsion.

Suddenly, the screech of tires echoed from the driveway below, shattering the quiet morning. A heavy, bulletproof black Cadillac Escalade rammed straight through the estate's wrought-iron gates with a deafening metallic crash.

Hugh jumped up from the sofa, frowning as he strode to the floor-to-ceiling window. "What the hell is going on? Who dares break into the Maxwell estate?"

Kaylee shrank back into the corner of the sofa, spilling champagne onto the rug.

Down on the snowy driveway, the Cadillac door opened. Banks stepped out, carrying a heavy black tactical briefcase. Dried pine needles and bloodstains from the Adirondacks still clung to his black coat. When the rear passenger door slid open, Hazel saw her own pale corpse lying quietly under a thick cashmere blanket on the backseat.

Banks locked the car door, gripped the briefcase, and walked up the marble steps. Four estate security guards rushed forward with tasers drawn. Without slowing down, Banks side-stepped the first guard, drove a brutal elbow into the man's nose with a sickening crack, snatched a baton, and slammed the second guard to the ground. Within ten seconds, all four guards lay groaning on the snow.

Watching from the second floor, Hugh's face turned livid. He hurried into the adjoining study to grab his handgun.

Boom!

The double oak doors of the master bedroom flew open under Banks's heavy kick, sending wood splinters flying. Banks stood in the doorway, his ice-blue eyes locked onto Hugh and the half-dressed Kaylee.

Kaylee screamed and hid behind the bedpost, pointing a shaking finger at him. "Banks Gordon! Are you crazy? This is private property! I'm calling the police!"

Banks didn't even look at her. He threw the heavy tactical briefcase onto the center of the floor. The latches popped open, revealing rows of high-compression incendiary canisters and a digital detonator.

Hugh rushed out of the study, aiming a pistol straight between Banks's eyes. "Banks, what the hell do you think you're doing? Where is Hazel?"

A cruel smile twisted Banks's lips as he slid open the cover of the remote trigger. "She's waiting for me in the car... and you two are staying here torot in hell with her."