Chapter 8 - Rafe pulled the motorcycle beneath an abandoned railway bridge.Rain cascaded from the concrete above them.
He took the photograph again.
The woman in it was perhaps twenty-eight.
Dark hair.
Brown eyes.
A scar near her eyebrow.
His scar.
Not identical.
But close enough to make his stomach twist.
"My twin?"
Anna nodded.
"Yes."
"Why did everyone tell me I had a younger sister?"
"Because that was easier."
"Explain."
"When you and Lena were born, Victor Hale's network was searching for Thomas Vance's children."
"Why?"
"Your biological father had stolen evidence from them."
"What evidence?"
"Names."
Rafe looked at the photograph.
"Why separate us?"
"Because two children were harder to hide than one."
Anna lowered her head.
"Your mother took you."
"Where did she take Lena?"
"Thomas took her."
Rafe stared.
"So Thomas wasn't my biological father."
"No."
"But he was hers."
"No."
Rafe looked confused.
"Then whose daughter was she?"
Anna hesitated.
"Victor Hale's."
Silence.
Rafe stared.
"You're telling me my twin sister is Victor Hale's daughter?"
"Yes."
He laughed once.
"That's impossible."
"Your mother and Victor were together before she met Daniel."
Rafe stepped away.
"So Lena was his daughter."
"By blood."
"Then why did he want to kill her?"
"Because she inherited something."
"What?"
Anna looked at the photograph.
"A memory."
Rafe frowned.
"A memory?"
"Lena remembered what happened the night Thomas was killed."
Rafe's skin prickled.
"I don't."
"You were drugged."
"So she wasn't."
Anna shook her head.
"She escaped."
"Where?"
"Your mother hid her."
Rafe looked at the photograph again.
"Then why hasn't she contacted me?"
"She tried."
"When?"
"Three years ago."
"Where?"
Anna looked toward the road.
"At your biker club."
Rafe stared.
"No."
"You never met her."
"Why?"
"Because Victor intercepted her."
Rafe's face hardened.
"What happened?"
"She was taken."
"Is she alive?"
Anna nodded.
"I believe so."
Rafe's phone vibrated.
Unknown number.
He answered.
"Hello?"
Silence.
Then a woman's voice.
"Rafe."
His entire body froze.
It was a voice he didn't know.
But somehow recognized.
"Who is this?"
"Don't trust Anna."
Rafe looked at the old woman.
Anna's face drained of color.
The caller continued.
"She didn't save you tonight."
Rafe's grip tightened.
"Then what did she do?"
The voice whispered:
"She delivered you."
The call ended.
Rafe stared at Anna.
"What was that?"
Anna's eyes filled with tears.
"Lena."
Rafe's phone rang again.
This time, a video arrived.
He opened it.
The footage showed a dark room.
A young woman sat in a chair.
Blood ran down her cheek.
Behind her stood Victor Hale.
And beside him...
Daniel.
Rafe's father.
Victor looked into the camera.
"Your family has always had a problem with unfinished business."
The video shifted.
The woman raised her head.
Rafe recognized his own face in hers.
She whispered:
"Elias, don't come."
Victor smiled.
Then Daniel stepped into frame.
He leaned toward the camera.
And said:
"Son..."
Rafe stared.
Daniel continued:
"Your mother is lying to you."
The video ended.
Rafe looked at Anna.
She whispered:
"He's right."
Rafe's blood ran cold.
"About what?"
Anna closed her eyes.
"I didn't come here to save you."
"Then why?"
May you like
Her answer shattered whatever trust remained.
"I came here because Victor ordered me to bring you home."
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