Chapter 6 - The Mother’s Confession
Ethan lowered his weapon only slightly.
“Explain.”
Evelyn looked older than she had that morning.
“I knew Sophia was alive.”
Ethan's voice cracked.
“You knew?”
“Yes.”
“How long?”
“Ten years.”
Norah stepped backward.
“Then why didn't you tell him?”
“Because Sophia made me promise.”
“Promise what?”
“Never reveal where she was.”
Ethan shook his head.
“You let me mourn her.”
“I let you survive.”
“You let me become someone she would be afraid of.”
Evelyn began crying.
“I was afraid of your father.”
Ethan turned away.
Gregory laughed from the floor.
“Family reunions are beautiful.”
Finn shoved him against the wall.
“Shut up.”
Gregory looked at Norah.
“You think Daniel loved you?”
Norah stiffened.
“He used you.”
“He needed access to the child.”
“That isn't true.”
Gregory smiled.
“You really don't know anything.”
Ethan grabbed him by the collar.
“Start talking.”
Gregory hesitated.
Then:
“Your father had an account.”
“Offshore.”
“Buried beneath a chain of restaurants.”
“The trust wasn't money.”
“It was evidence.”
“Evidence against everyone.”
“Politicians.”
“Judges.”
“Police officials.”
“Businessmen.”
“And your father.”
Ethan's grip tightened.
“Where is Sophia?”
Gregory laughed.
“You're too late.”
“What does that mean?”
“She already came for the boy.”
Norah's heart stopped.
She grabbed Sam.
“What?”
Gregory looked at her.
“The woman you met at the grocery store wasn't Sophia.”
Norah stared.
“Then who was she?”
Gregory smiled.
“Her daughter.”
Ethan's expression changed.
“Sophia had another child?”
Gregory nodded.
“Two.”
“One disappeared.”
“One survived.”
Norah looked at Sam.
Her mind raced.
Daniel.
Sophia.
Children.
The bloodline.
Then she noticed something.
Sam's bracelet.
A silver bracelet Daniel had put on him at birth.
It carried a tiny engraving.
N.R.
Norah remembered Daniel saying it stood for Never Run.
Now she understood.
It wasn't a phrase.
It was initials.
Nathaniel Romano.
One of the most powerful men in the city.
The name made Ethan's eyes narrow.
“My father's partner.”
Gregory nodded.
“Exactly.”
Ethan stared at the bracelet.
“Nathaniel Romano had a daughter.”
“And a son.”
“Daniel knew.”
“He knew everything.”
“Then why did he die?”
Gregory stopped smiling.
“He didn't.”
Norah's breath caught.
“What?”
Gregory looked toward the window.
“Daniel Hayes is alive.”
A black SUV accelerated past the estate gates.
Ethan turned.
“Mateo!”
Mateo ran outside.
A second later, tires screamed.
Norah looked at Gregory.
“Where is my husband?”
Gregory whispered:
“Right where he has always been.”
“Close enough to watch you.”
Then a voice came through Ethan's phone.
Daniel.
“Brother.”
Ethan froze.
“Daniel?”
“I'm sorry.”
“Where are you?”
“Don't trust anyone.”
“Not even Mom.”
Ethan stared at Evelyn.
“Why?”
“Because she doesn't know which side she's on anymore.”
The call ended.
Ethan stood motionless.
Norah's eyes filled with tears.
“Daniel is alive.”
Ethan looked at her.
“Yes.”
“And he left us.”
“I don't know why.”
Norah shook her head.
“He had a reason.”
May you like
Ethan nodded.
“Then we're going to find him.”
