Chapter 3 - The Secret Her Father BuriedThe next morning, Evelyn woke in a bedroom she didn't recognize.
For a few seconds, she forgot everything.
Then she saw the bandage on her hand.
The hotel.
Nolan.
Damen.
The photograph.
Her mother.
She sat upright.
Her phone was gone.
She ran downstairs.
Damen was already waiting in the kitchen.
He looked as though he hadn't slept.
“Where is my mother?”
“We're looking.”
“You said you would find her.”
“I said we're looking.”
“That isn't enough.”
His eyes lifted.
“I know.”
Evelyn stopped.
She expected coldness.
Instead, she saw exhaustion.
He had spent the night searching.
“You should eat,” he said.
“I can't.”
“You need strength.”
“I need my mother.”
“You'll get her back.”
The certainty in his voice almost broke her.
“How can you say that?”
“Because I'm going to make sure of it.”
He slid a file across the table.
“Your father knew this would happen.”
Evelyn opened it.
Inside was a handwritten letter.
Her father's handwriting.
Evelyn, if you're reading this, then someone has finally found the truth.
Her fingers trembled.
She kept reading.
Trust no one connected to the Pierce family.
She looked up.
“Nolan's family knew.”
“Yes.”
“How?”
“Your father was partners with them.”
“For what?”
Damen hesitated.
“Illegal shipments.”
Evelyn stared.
The word seemed too ugly to belong to her family.
“My father wasn't a criminal.”
“He wasn't a saint either.”
She continued reading.
Her father's letter mentioned an offshore company.
A vault.
A set of documents.
And something called The Black Ledger.
At the bottom was a location.
An old railway station on the south side.
Damen took the letter.
“We're going there.”
“No.”
His eyebrows rose.
“I want to come.”
“Absolutely not.”
“You're the one who told me my family is in danger.”
“Which is exactly why you stay here.”
“My mother is missing.”
“I know.”
“Then don't ask me to sit here.”
Their eyes locked.
Finally, Damen exhaled.
“You're stubborn.”
“I've heard that.”
“From Nolan?”
“Among others.”
A faint smile appeared.
“Get your coat.”
The drive to the station was silent.
Evelyn watched the city pass.
Snow had begun falling.
Chicago looked beautiful from inside the car.
Almost harmless.
But she knew better now.
When they reached the station, two men waited outside.
Damen raised a hand.
His security team moved.
The doors were unlocked.
Inside, the station smelled of dust and rust.
They descended beneath the platforms.
At the end of a narrow tunnel stood a metal door.
Evelyn's father's initials were carved into it.
Damen opened it.
Inside was a vault.
A small box rested on a table.
Evelyn reached for it.
“Wait.”
Damen inspected the box.
“No trap.”
She opened it.
Inside was a key.
A flash drive.
And a second letter.
Her father's handwriting again.
The shares are not the most important thing.
The ledger is.
If Nolan ever asks you to marry him, remember that he is not asking for you.
Evelyn's eyes filled with tears.
Damen gently took the letter.
“He knew.”
“Yes.”
“He knew Nolan was using me.”
“Yes.”
“Then why didn't he tell me?”
“Because he was trying to protect you.”
She looked away.
A sound echoed from the tunnel.
Footsteps.
Damen drew his weapon.
“Stay behind me.”
Three men appeared.
Then five.
Then eight.
Damen's security team raised their guns.
Victor Hale stepped forward.
He smiled.
“Damen.”
Damen's expression remained empty.
“Victor.”
Victor looked at Evelyn.
“Your father really did leave you quite a mess.”
Damen stepped in front of her.
Victor laughed.
“You still protect people who aren't yours.”
Damen's jaw tightened.
Victor lifted a phone.
On the screen was Evelyn's mother.
Alive.
Terrified.
Victor smiled.
“Bring me the ledger.”
Damen looked at Evelyn.
Then at the screen.
Victor's smile widened.
“Or her mother disappears forever.”
Evelyn whispered, “Damen.”
He looked at her.
Then he said something she never expected.
“Take the drive.”
She stared at him.
“What?”
“Go.”
“And you?”
“I'll handle him.”
Victor laughed.
“Oh, you still haven't told her?”
Damen froze.
Victor looked directly at Evelyn.
“Your mother wasn't kidnapped because of the shares.”
He smiled.
“She was kidnapped because she knows who your real father was.”
Evelyn's entire world tilted.
“My father?”
May you like
Victor's smile disappeared.
“He wasn't Michael Ward.”
