Chapter 6 - The Lock BreaksValerie crossed the courtyard.
Victoria stepped forward.
"Valerie, wait—"
"Move."
The single word stopped her.
Valerie reached the cage and dropped to her knees.
Beatrice's fingers reached through the bars.
"I knew you'd come."
Valerie's expression finally broke.
She pressed her forehead against her mother's hand.
"I'm here."
She opened the cage and pulled Beatrice into her arms.
The elderly woman collapsed against her daughter, sobbing.
Valerie wrapped her military jacket around her shoulders.
For several seconds, she simply held her.
Then Beatrice whispered:
"She told me you were dead."
Valerie slowly lifted her head.
Her eyes moved toward Victoria.
The warmth disappeared.
Something colder took its place.
Victoria stepped backward.
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For the first time, she understood that the woman standing before her was not merely an angry daughter.
She was a trained military officer who had just discovered an enemy inside her own family.
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