Sophia emerged from the smoke like a ghost—blonde hair perfectly styled, designer dress completely inappropriate for home invasion, gun steady in her manicured hand. She looked nothing like someone who'd orchestrated months of terror. She looked like she was attending a charity luncheon.
'Put down your weapon, Ryder.' Sophia's smile was pleasant, conversational. 'I have three men positioned outside with rifles. You twitch wrong, they'll turn this loft into Swiss cheese. And while I'm sure you're very good, you can't protect Isla from bullets coming from three directions simultaneously.'
Ryder didn't lower his gun. 'What do you want?'
'I want what Adrian wanted. What our family has always wanted.' Sophia's eyes fixed on Isla with disturbing intensity. 'To remove the cancer that's been poisoning the Thornton name for twenty-six years. You.'
'I'm family.' Isla's voice was steadier than she felt. 'Your cousin. We grew up together.'
'You're a parasite. Malcolm's obsession. The favorite child who wasn't even his biological daughter.' Sophia's pleasant expression never wavered, which made the venom more chilling. 'Did you know? That your mother had an affair? That Malcolm isn't your real father? The family has known for years. Kept it quiet to preserve the dynasty. But we've always resented the lie. You're not a Thornton. You're an imposter.'
The revelation hit like a gut punch. Not Malcolm's daughter. Not a Thornton. Everything she'd built her identity on—a lie. She looked at Ryder, seeing her own shock reflected.
'I don't believe you.' But her voice shook.
'DNA doesn't lie. Your mother was weak. Slept with the CFO—remember him? The one who survived the car crash that killed her? That was no accident, darling. That was family cleanup. She was going to confess everything, destroy the Thornton name with scandal. So we eliminated the problem.' Sophia examined her nails casually. 'You should have died in that crash too. Would have, if fate hadn't intervened. Adrian and I have been correcting that error ever since.'
'You killed my mother.' The words came out hollow, broken.
'Our family killed your mother. Malcolm knew. Approved it, even. Better a dead wife than a public scandal. He kept you because the media attention around a grieving daughter helped his image. But he's never loved you. How could he? Every time he looks at you, he sees her betrayal.'
'That's enough.' Ryder's voice cut through the poison. 'You've said your piece. Now what? You kill Isla and spend the rest of your life in prison? That's not much of a plan.'
'Oh, I'm not going to prison. I'm going to walk out of here after Isla tragically commits suicide—overcome by guilt over shooting her beloved cousin Adrian. The stalking was all a misunderstanding, you see. Adrian was trying to protect her from her violent bodyguard. And when that didn't work, she snapped. Shot herself. Very tragic.' Sophia's gun shifted to aim at Isla's head. 'The suicide note is already written in your handwriting. Technology is amazing.'
Ryder moved. Faster than thought, faster than Sophia could track. He slammed into Isla, throwing them both sideways as gunfire erupted. The bullet meant for Isla's head caught Ryder in the back instead—high, near his shoulder, but enough to spin him around and drop him.
'No!' Isla's scream tore from her throat.
More gunfire. The windows exploded inward—not Sophia's snipers, but FBI. The agents from earlier, bursting through on rappel lines. They'd been watching. Waiting. Using Isla and Ryder as bait.
Sophia fired wildly, trying to reach Isla, determined to complete her mission even as federal agents swarmed the loft. Ryder, bleeding and damaged, grabbed Sophia's ankle, taking her down. They grappled, his training overcoming his injury through sheer will.
'FBI! On the ground! Now!' Agent Kimball had Sophia in his sights.
Sophia's gun swung toward Ryder's head—one last chance to hurt Isla by killing the man she loved. Isla didn't think. She fired. Center mass. Just like Ryder had taught her. Just like her mother had insisted she learn years ago.
Sophia dropped, shock replacing malice in her eyes. 'You shot me. Your own family.'
'You're not my family.' Isla's hands shook but her voice was steel. 'You killed my mother. Stalked me. Nearly destroyed everyone I love. You're just a monster who shares my DNA.'
Paramedics swarmed Ryder. Isla tried to reach him, but agents held her back—crime scene, evidence, procedure. She watched helplessly as they cut away his shirt, revealing the bullet wound, as blood soaked the floor beneath him.
'I'm fine,' he managed, eyes finding hers. 'Took worse in Afghanistan. Just... hurts like hell.'
'You're an idiot.' Tears streamed down her face. 'I told you to stop taking bullets for me.'
'Can't help it. Occupational hazard.' He tried to smile. Failed. 'Love you. So much. Even if you're not technically a Thornton. Still the woman I'm completely gone for.'
'I love you too. Now shut up and let them help you.'
Agent Kimball approached as paramedics loaded Ryder onto a stretcher. 'We've been monitoring the situation since we left earlier. Had the loft under surveillance. Sophia walked right into our trap.'
'You used us as bait.' Isla's voice was hollow.
'We protected you. My sharpshooters had clear shots the entire time. If Kane hadn't moved so fast, we would have taken Sophia down before she could fire.' Kimball's expression was apologetic. 'For what it's worth, everything she said is being recorded. About your mother's death, about Malcolm's knowledge, about the conspiracy. This is going to blow open an investigation that goes back decades.'
'What about my father? The charges against him?'
'Being dropped. Sophia confessed to framing him. He'll be released within the hour.' Kimball paused. 'There's more. About your paternity. Your mother's affair. That's your personal business, but you should know—we'll need statements. This is bigger than just attempted murder. This is conspiracy, multiple homicides, decades of corruption.'
Isla watched them load Ryder into the ambulance. 'I'm going with him.'
'You're a material witness—'
'I. Am. Going. With. Him.' She said each word separately, definitively. 'You can question me at the hospital. But I'm not leaving his side. Not after he took a bullet meant for me. Again.'
Kimball nodded. 'Fair enough. But Miss Thornton—Isla—there are going to be a lot of difficult revelations coming. About your family, your identity, your entire life. Are you prepared for that?'
'No.' She climbed into the ambulance. 'But I'll deal with it. After I make sure Ryder survives being my hero. Again.'