Chapter 12 - The Child in the FileRoman couldn't speak.
Sophia looked at him, tears falling.
“I didn't know.”
“What didn't you know?”
“That Gabriel wasn't…”
She looked at the baby.
“I thought he was mine.”
Roman took the file.
The documents described an illegal genetic procedure.
Elena had been used as the biological source.
Roman was listed as the father.
Sophia had carried the baby.
But the embryo had been created eleven years earlier.
Roman stared at the date.
Eleven years.
Before Sophia even knew Vincent.
Before Gabriel should have existed.
“This is impossible.”
Graham smiled.
“That is the entire point.”
Roman looked at him.
“What did you do?”
“Nothing.”
“You were there.”
“I was cleaning up your father's mistakes.”
Roman's voice became dangerous.
“Where is Vincent?”
Graham's smile disappeared.
“Dead.”
Marcus stepped forward.
“You're lying.”
Graham turned.
“You don't know anything.”
Marcus pulled out his gun.
“I know exactly what happened.”
Graham suddenly grabbed Sophia.
A hidden blade appeared at her throat.
Roman froze.
“Drop it.”
Marcus lowered his weapon.
Graham dragged Sophia backward.
“Gabriel is worth billions.”
Roman said quietly:
“He's a baby.”
“To you.”
Graham's eyes were cold.
“To corporations, governments, private families, he's something else.”
Roman stepped closer.
“He isn't a product.”
Graham laughed.
“Neither was Vincent.”
He pulled Sophia toward a steel door.
“Your father created the program to produce heirs nobody could challenge.”
Roman looked at Gabriel.
“He created Vincent.”
“Yes.”
“And Gabriel?”
Graham paused.
“Gabriel was the final version.”
Sophia trembled.
“What does that mean?”
“It means he was designed to inherit.”
Roman's expression hardened.
“From whom?”
Graham whispered:
“Everyone.”
Then the lights went out.
Marcus attacked.
Gunshots erupted.
Roman grabbed Sophia.
Graham disappeared.
When the emergency lights came on, the room was empty.
But Gabriel was gone.
Roman's heart stopped.
He ran to the crib.
Empty.
Only a note remained.
COME TO THE CALLAWAY TOWER.
Underneath:
COME ALONE.
May you like
And beneath that, three words.
OR HE DIES.
