Chapter 13 - The Man Declan Thought He Killed
Savannah couldn't stop shaking.
Declan stared at her.
“What are you saying?”
“You were there.”
“Where?”
“The night Anthony disappeared.”
Anthony looked amused.
Savannah continued.
“You were holding a gun.”
Declan's face went blank.
“I don't remember.”
“I know.”
Matthew looked at Anthony.
“You did something to him.”
Anthony said nothing.
Declan suddenly pressed a hand against his head.
Images flashed.
Rain.
A warehouse.
Blood.
Matthew screaming.
A gun.
A woman.
Then fire.
He fell to one knee.
Amelia rushed toward him.
“Declan!”
He pushed himself up.
His breathing was ragged.
“Savannah.”
She stepped closer.
“What?”
“Who was the woman?”
Savannah hesitated.
“My mother.”
Declan looked stunned.
“But your mother died before…”
“She didn't.”
Anthony's eyes sharpened.
Savannah turned toward him.
“You killed her.”
Anthony said nothing.
“You killed her because she found out Matthew survived.”
Matthew stared.
“And you made Declan forget.”
Anthony's silence was enough.
Declan looked at him.
“You drugged me.”
“You were six.”
“You made me think I killed my brother.”
“You would have been easier to control.”
Declan's hand tightened around the gun.
Amelia stood between them.
“Why does my baby matter?”
Anthony answered.
“Because your grandmother stole something from me.”
“The ledger?”
“The bloodline.”
Amelia frowned.
“What does that mean?”
Anthony stepped closer.
“Your grandmother discovered a Voss child had been given to the Mason family.”
Amelia froze.
“What?”
“Your mother was raised believing she was a Mason.”
She looked at her mother.
Her mother started crying.
Anthony said:
“She was my daughter.”
The room stopped.
Amelia couldn't breathe.
Her mother shook her head.
“No.”
Anthony continued.
“You are not simply the woman carrying a Voss child.”
He looked at Amelia.
“You are Voss blood.”
Declan stared at him.
“You're lying.”
Anthony's expression was cold.
“Open the final page.”
Amelia looked at the ring.
Her fingers trembled as she twisted the stone.
A tiny piece detached.
Inside was a folded piece of paper.
She opened it.
There was a list.
Names.
Dates.
Blood relations.
At the bottom:
AMELIA MASON, biological granddaughter of Anthony Voss.
Her knees nearly gave way.
Declan caught her.
She looked up at him.
“Then our baby…”
“Is Voss from both sides.”
Matthew stepped closer.
“That's why they want it.”
Anthony nodded.
“The child will unite two branches of the bloodline.”
Declan's expression became murderous.
“I won't let you turn my child into your empire.”
Anthony smiled.
“You won't have to.”
He stepped aside.
A dozen armed men entered.
Anthony looked at Declan.
“Because the city already believes you're dead.”
Declan turned.
“What?”
Anthony held up a phone.
A live news broadcast showed a burning vehicle.
The anchor spoke:
“Authorities believe Chicago crime boss Declan Voss was killed overnight…”
Amelia looked at Declan.
His phone began ringing.
Then hers.
Then Matthew's.
Every screen displayed the same message.
THE VOSS HEIR IS NOW UNPROTECTED.
And beneath it was a countdown.
06:00:00
May you like
Six hours.
Until the city turned against them.
