Chapter 10 - The message from my mother broke something inside me.Not because it said my father was dangerous.
Because it meant she had known.
Eight years of grief.
Eight years of silence.
Eight years of pretending my father was dead.
Maybe none of it had been real.
Dominic drove without speaking.
I watched the city pass outside.
Finally, I said:
“Where are we going?”
“My mother's safe house.”
“You trust the location?”
“No.”
“Then why go?”
“Because your mother wants you there.”
He looked at me.
“Or someone wants you to think she does.”
We stopped at an old church.
A hidden basement lay beneath it.
My mother sat at a table.
Vanessa was beside her.
She looked beaten.
But alive.
I entered slowly.
My mother stood.
“Avery.”
I stopped her.
“Don't.”
She froze.
“Tell me the truth.”
She began crying.
“I should have told you.”
“Yes.”
“Your father didn't die.”
“I know.”
“He left because people were after him.”
“I know.”
“He wasn't innocent.”
Silence.
“What did he do?”
She looked down.
“Your father joined The Crown.”
Dominic stepped closer.
“That's impossible.”
My mother shook her head.
“He joined them to destroy them from the inside.”
Dominic's face changed.
“He was undercover.”
“Yes.”
I stared.
“What about the money?”
“He used Dominic's organization to access The Crown's financial network.”
“What about his death?”
“A staged disappearance.”
“Why did you let me believe he was dead?”
“Because they were watching you.”
I shook my head.
“You let me grow up thinking my father abandoned us.”
“I thought it would keep you alive.”
“And now?”
My mother looked at Vanessa.
“Now they know everything.”
Vanessa stood.
“Your father planned this.”
I stared at her.
“Why did you humiliate me?”
Her eyes filled with tears.
“Because I needed you to hate me.”
“What?”
“If I had treated you kindly, they'd have realized you were Daniel's daughter.”
“So you made me hate you.”
“Yes.”
“You slapped me.”
“I had to make it convincing.”
“You mentioned my mother.”
Vanessa flinched.
“That was the only part I regret.”
I hated her.
But for the first time, I understood her.
“Why did Dominic think you were betraying him?”
“Because I couldn't tell him everything.”
“Why?”
“Because The Crown was listening.”
Dominic turned toward the ceiling.
He spotted a tiny camera.
He shot it.
The room went dark.
A voice came through the basement speakers.
Michael.
“You finally understand.”
Dominic raised his gun.
“Show yourself.”
“You're too late.”
The door above slammed shut.
Gas began filling the room.
My mother coughed.
Vanessa grabbed her.
“Go!”
Dominic smashed the basement window.
Cold air rushed inside.
I pulled my mother toward it.
Vanessa pushed her through.
Dominic followed.
I stayed behind.
A shadow moved at the far end.
Michael.
He stepped into the gas.
“Your father is waiting.”
“Where?”
“Tomorrow night.”
“Where?”
He smiled.
“Your wedding.”
I froze.
“My what?”
“To Dominic.”
Silence.
Vanessa stared.
Dominic stared.
Michael laughed.
“The Crown wants the Moretti empire united with the Carter bloodline.”
He stepped back.
“The only person powerful enough to stop the war is Daniel.”
Then he disappeared.
I climbed through the window.
Outside, Dominic grabbed my shoulders.
“You're not marrying me.”
I stared at him.
“That wasn't exactly the part I'm worried about.”
He almost laughed.
Then a black SUV appeared across the street.
The windows were tinted.
The rear door opened.
A man stepped out.
Older.
Gray hair.
Black coat.
My heart stopped.
My mother screamed.
“Daniel.”
My father stood across the street.
Alive.
He looked directly at me.
May you like
Then he said:
“Get Dominic away from my daughter.”
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