Chapter 8 - Hotel Saint Clair had been closed for three years.The sign still flickered above the entrance.
One letter at a time.
SAINT CLAIR.
I entered at 11:56.
The lobby was empty.
Dust covered the marble.
The elevators didn't work.
I took the stairs.
Fourth floor.
Room 417.
The door was open.
I entered.
Nobody.
A television played static.
On the bed was a single red dress.
Vanessa's.
Beside it lay a photograph of my father.
Alive.
Older.
Standing outside a prison.
My breathing stopped.
A voice came from behind me.
“You're finally here.”
I spun around.
A woman stood near the window.
Late forties.
Black suit.
Silver hair.
No weapon visible.
“Who are you?”
She smiled.
“Your father's sister.”
I froze.
“My father didn't have a sister.”
“He thought you were safer believing that.”
She moved closer.
“My name is Evelyn Carter.”
The surname hit like a punch.
“Why have I never heard of you?”
“Because your father erased me.”
“Why?”
“To keep me alive.”
I stared.
“Where is he?”
Evelyn looked toward the photograph.
“He's coming.”
“When?”
“He already is.”
A sound came from the hallway.
Footsteps.
Evelyn's expression changed.
“They found us.”
The door burst open.
Three men entered.
I moved.
The first attacked.
I ducked.
Second.
Counter.
Third.
Kick.
The room exploded into movement.
Evelyn pulled a hidden knife.
She fought like someone trained.
Not professionally.
Personally.
Desperately.
When the last attacker fell, she looked at me.
“You really are Daniel's daughter.”
I breathed heavily.
“What do you know about him?”
“Everything.”
“Then tell me.”
She walked to the window.
“Your father was recruited into Moretti's organization because he wanted access to its inner circle.”
“He wasn't a criminal.”
“No.”
“He was investigating them.”
“Yes.”
“For who?”
Evelyn turned.
“For an organization called The Crown.”
I frowned.
“That sounds like a myth.”
“It isn't.”
She sat down.
“The Crown controlled politicians, judges, corporations, and organized crime families. Dominic Moretti was powerful, but he was never at the top.”
I stared at her.
“Then who is?”
“You saw the message.”
The Queen knows.
I understood.
“Vanessa?”
Evelyn shook her head.
“Vanessa is not the Queen.”
“Then who?”
Evelyn reached into her pocket.
Pulled out a photograph.
A man wearing a silver ring.
My stomach dropped.
I knew him.
I had seen him every time I delivered to Dominic's mansion.
The quiet older man who always stood near Dominic.
Dominic's chief security adviser.
Michael Cross.
Evelyn whispered:
“He is the Queen's executioner.”
I remembered Dominic's warning.
Silver ring.
Run.
“Where is Vanessa?”
“Alive.”
“Where?”
“Captured by Michael.”
“How do we rescue her?”
“We don't.”
I stared at Evelyn.
“What?”
“She is already working for them.”
I shook my head.
“No.”
“She betrayed Daniel.”
“You don't know that.”
“I do.”
“Then why did Daniel trust her?”
“Because she loved him.”
I froze.
“Loved him?”
Evelyn nodded.
“Long before Dominic.”
The photograph suddenly made sense.
The secret meetings.
The protection.
The fear.
Vanessa had not been randomly cruel to me.
She had been ordered to determine whether I was Daniel Carter's daughter.
But why humiliate me?
Evelyn answered before I asked.
“To force you to reveal yourself.”
“She knew I could fight.”
“Yes.”
“She wanted me to react.”
“Yes.”
I looked at the floor.
“What happens now?”
“Your father wants you to leave the city.”
“I won't.”
“I knew you'd say that.”
She handed me a key.
Not metal.
A brass room key.
“Room 902.”
“What is it?”
“The place where your father planned to expose The Crown.”
I looked at the number.
“What will I find?”
Evelyn's expression darkened.
“A list of everyone involved.”
I pocketed the key.
A sound came from downstairs.
Cars.
Many.
Evelyn looked toward the window.
“They're here.”
“Who?”
“Everyone.”
She grabbed my arm.
“Run.”
We climbed through the fire escape.
Halfway down, I heard a voice from above.
Michael Cross.
“AVERY!”
I looked up.
He stood at the window.
Silver ring shining.
“You have your father's face!”
Then he smiled.
“He'll be so happy to see you.”
I froze.
Evelyn pulled me lower.
“Don't listen.”
But one question burned through me.
Why would Michael say that?
Unless my father was not hiding from them.
May you like
Unless he had been waiting.
And unless Michael knew exactly where he was.
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