Chapter 2 - THE DEAD MANJulian did not remember getting into the car.
One moment he was standing outside St. Patrick’s Cathedral.
The next, he was sitting in the back seat of his Mercedes, telling his driver to go to Mount Sinai.
“Sir,” the driver said, “your security detail is asking whether they should follow.”
“No.”
“Mr. Sterling…”
“I said no.”
The car pulled away.
Julian looked at the photograph again.
His father.
Daniel Sterling.
Gray hair.
Black suit.
That same silver watch.
That same cold smile.
The photograph had clearly been taken inside Elena’s hospital room.
Julian zoomed in.
The image was real.
Not an obvious deepfake.
Not an old photograph.
His father’s hand was resting on the railing of Elena’s bed.
Julian called the number.
It rang once.
Twice.
Then disconnected.
He tried again.
Nothing.
He searched the photograph for clues.
A clock on the wall showed 11:17.
The corner of Elena’s hospital chart was visible.
And behind his father, partially hidden by the curtain, was a second person.
A woman.
Julian enlarged it.
Blonde hair.
Black coat.
He knew her.
Margaret Sterling.
His mother.
But Margaret had been in Palm Beach for two weeks.
At least, that was what everyone had told him.
Julian felt something cold move through his stomach.
He called his mother.
Straight to voicemail.
He called his family's chief security officer.
No answer.
Then he called Elena.
She didn't pick up.
“Damn it.”
The Mercedes stopped at a red light.
Julian looked out the window.
Snow covered the city.
Six months ago, he had owned Manhattan in the way powerful men believed they owned cities.
Restaurants reserved entire floors for him.
Police escorts cleared intersections.
Politicians returned his calls.
Bankers sent gifts to his office.
Women wanted to be seen beside him.
And Elena had been the quiet woman standing behind everything.
She knew his schedule.
His accounts.
His investors.
His weaknesses.
She had helped build Sterling Holdings into a financial empire.
Then Julian had taken her name away.
Her office.
Her shares.
Her home.
He had even convinced a judge that she was emotionally unstable after discovering the affair.
It had worked.
Because Julian Sterling was good at making people believe him.
But Elena had known the truth.
The car finally stopped outside Mount Sinai.
Julian stepped out.
A security guard immediately approached.
“Mr. Sterling?”
“Yes.”
“You need to check in.”
“I’m here for Elena Vale.”
The guard looked at his tablet.
“There is no visitor authorization.”
“She just gave birth.”
The guard's expression softened.
“I understand, sir, but…”
A nurse walked out.
“Mr. Sterling?”
Julian turned.
“Yes.”
“She requested that we notify you.”
“Where is she?”
“Room 842.”
He started walking.
The nurse caught his arm.
“Mr. Sterling.”
He looked back.
“There is something you should know.”
“What?”
“The baby is healthy.”
Julian released a breath.
“And Elena?”
“She lost a lot of blood, but she is stable.”
“Can I see them?”
“Yes.”
Julian hurried down the corridor.
He stopped outside room 842.
His hand hovered over the handle.
Then he heard Elena's voice.
“Come in.”
He entered.
The room was quiet.
Soft hospital light.
Snow beyond the window.
Elena sat against the pillows.
She looked pale.
Exhausted.
Beautiful.
And completely unlike the woman Julian remembered.
In her arms was the child.
Julian couldn't move.
Three hours ago, he had believed his greatest problem was a cancelled wedding.
Now he was looking at a tiny boy who might inherit an empire.
His empire.
“Come closer,” Elena said.
Julian took one step.
Then another.
“That's Daniel.”
Julian looked at the baby.
The boy opened his eyes.
Gray.
Just like Julian's.
Julian's throat tightened.
“He has your eyes,” Elena whispered.
Julian looked at her.
“You knew?”
“I knew before he was born.”
“Why didn't you tell me?”
Elena's expression hardened.
“Would you have believed me?”
He had no answer.
She looked toward the window.
“I found out three weeks after you filed for divorce.”
“You should have called.”
“I did.”
Julian frowned.
“What?”
“I called your office.”
“I never got the message.”
“I called your assistant.”
“Which one?”
“Chloe.”
Julian went still.
“What did she tell you?”
“That you didn't want to hear from me.”
His jaw tightened.
“Elena…”
“She said you had moved on.”
“She lied.”
“Yes.”
Elena looked directly at him.
“She lied.”
Julian's phone buzzed.
Another message.
This time from an unknown number.
ASK HER ABOUT THE RED LEDGER.
Julian looked at Elena.
“What is the red ledger?”
Her face changed.
“What?”
“The red ledger.”
For the first time since he entered the room, Elena looked frightened.
“Who told you that?”
Julian showed her the screen.
She stared.
Then slowly looked at the baby.
“Where did you get that message?”
“Unknown number.”
Elena lowered her voice.
“Your father.”
Julian stopped breathing.
“My father is dead.”
“I know.”
“Then why did you say that?”
“Because he was the only person who knew about it.”
“What is it?”
Elena hesitated.
“A record.”
“Of what?”
“Payments.”
“To whom?”
“Everyone.”
Julian stared.
Elena continued.
“Judges. Politicians. Police. Executives. Private investigators.”
“Why would my father keep something like that?”
“Because it wasn't leverage.”
“Then what was it?”
“Insurance.”
Julian stepped closer.
“Where is it?”
Elena looked toward the closed door.
“Julian.”
“What?”
“He knew the baby existed.”
Julian looked at Daniel.
“How?”
“Because he came to see me.”
“When?”
“Two months ago.”
“Alive?”
Elena nodded.
Julian's mind raced.
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because he made me promise.”
“What did he promise?”
“That my son would be safe.”
Julian felt a terrible realization forming.
“What happens if I break the promise?”
Elena looked directly into his eyes.
“Then people start dying.”
The hallway outside suddenly erupted with shouting.
A nurse screamed.
Someone ran past the room.
Julian turned toward the door.
Then the lights went out.
A gunshot exploded somewhere downstairs.
Elena pulled Daniel against her chest.
Julian moved instinctively between them and the door.
Another shot.
Then another.
And from somewhere in the dark hospital corridor came a man's voice.
“Sterling heir.”
May you like
A pause.
“Come outside.”
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