Chapter 12 - The Mother at the Door
Amelia couldn't speak.
Her mother had been the person she called after every failed relationship, every gallery rejection, every bad day.
And now she stood outside a hidden farmhouse in North Carolina.
Impossible.
Declan moved toward the window.
“Don't open it.”
Amelia's voice shook.
“She wouldn't hurt me.”
Matthew looked at her.
“You don't know that anymore.”
Amelia stared through the glass.
Her mother stood beneath the porch light.
Alone.
No weapon.
No guards.
She looked exhausted.
“Amelia.”
Amelia opened the door.
Declan caught her arm.
She looked at him.
“I need to know.”
He let go.
Her mother entered.
The second she saw Declan, she cried.
“I thought you were dead.”
Declan's face hardened.
“You knew where she was.”
“No.”
“Then how did you find her?”
Her mother looked at Amelia.
“Because I helped your grandmother.”
Silence.
Amelia felt dizzy.
“With what?”
“Your grandmother's records.”
Her mother reached into her coat.
She pulled out an old photograph.
It showed three women.
Amelia's grandmother.
Her mother.
And a young Savannah.
Amelia stared.
“Why is Savannah in this?”
Her mother whispered:
“Because our families were connected long before you were born.”
She sat down.
“Your grandmother worked for Anthony Voss.”
“We know.”
“No.”
Her mother shook her head.
“You know the harmless version.”
She took a deep breath.
“Your grandmother was not an accountant.”
“Then what was she?”
“The woman who kept Anthony's secrets.”
Amelia felt cold.
Her mother continued.
“She discovered that Anthony had a second wife.”
Declan looked up.
“A second wife?”
“And a daughter.”
Savannah's name seemed to echo in the room.
Amelia whispered, “Savannah.”
Her mother nodded.
“Anthony had children everywhere. But Matthew was the one he considered his true heir.”
“What about Declan?”
“He was the shield.”
Declan looked away.
Her mother continued.
“When your grandmother discovered Anthony wanted Matthew killed, she tried to save him.”
“She did.”
“Yes.”
“But Anthony thought she failed.”
Amelia touched the ring.
“She hid the ledger.”
“She did.”
“Where?”
Her mother smiled sadly.
“You're wearing it.”
Amelia stared at the ring.
Her mother said:
“The ring wasn't a family heirloom.”
“It was a key.”
“To what?”
“The final page.”
A long silence followed.
Then someone behind them said:
“Thank you.”
Everyone turned.
Anthony Voss stood in the doorway.
No weapon visible.
No guards.
Just a dark coat and silver hair.
Declan raised his gun.
Anthony smiled.
“Put it down.”
“No.”
Anthony looked at Amelia.
“Your grandmother was clever.”
Amelia stepped backward.
“What do you want?”
“The child.”
Declan stepped between them.
“You won't get near her.”
Anthony sighed.
“You still think this is about power.”
“What else?”
“Blood.”
He looked at Amelia's stomach.
“The Voss line is dying.”
Matthew laughed.
“Then let it.”
Anthony looked at him.
“You were always weak.”
Matthew smiled.
“And you were always scared.”
Anthony's expression changed.
Then he said the words that made Amelia's blood run cold.
“Ask your daughter what she saw the night I died.”
Everyone turned toward Savannah.
She was standing behind Anthony.
Her face was wet with tears.
“I saw him.”
Amelia whispered, “Who?”
Savannah answered:
“Declan.”
May you like
The room went silent.
“And he wasn't alone.”
