Chapter 12 - My father had lied about many things.But that one sentence broke something in me that I thought had already shattered.
Your mother is alive.
My mother.
The woman I had buried fifteen years ago.
Laura Carter.
Alive.
Ethan grabbed the phone.
"Can you enhance the video?"
"Not without a computer."
"There."
Anna pointed toward another terminal.
We transferred the recording.
The file contained a timestamp.
Twenty-six years ago.
Then another.
Fifteen years ago.
Then one from six months ago.
My father had recorded messages for decades.
He had been preparing.
For me.
For Anna.
For the day the truth surfaced.
The next video opened.
My mother's face appeared.
Older.
But unmistakable.
I stopped breathing.
"Emily."
Her voice was shaking.
"If you're watching this, I'm sorry."
I covered my mouth.
"Your father told you I died."
I looked at Ethan.
He looked as stunned as I was.
"He wanted you to believe that because he thought it would protect you."
My mother's eyes filled with tears.
"After the hospital, we made a plan."
My father and Jacqueline had hidden my true identity.
My mother had taken Anna and disappeared.
But fifteen years later, someone found them.
My mother had gone into hiding.
She had never left willingly.
Thomas had forced her underground.
She had been protecting Anna.
She continued.
"Daniel knows where I am."
I froze.
I turned toward him.
He looked sick.
"You knew."
Daniel said nothing.
"You knew my mother was alive."
"Yes."
"Where?"
"I can't tell you."
"You will."
"My father will kill her."
I stepped toward him.
"Then help me."
He looked at Anna.
Then at me.
And something in his expression changed.
For the first time, I saw fear that wasn't for himself.
"I have a key."
He pulled a small device from his pocket.
"The location is encrypted."
Ethan took it.
"Can you decode it?"
Anna looked at Daniel.
"Why did you hide me?"
He looked away.
"Because Thomas wanted to use you."
"Use me for what?"
"The ledger."
She frowned.
"You were the only person your father couldn't control."
Daniel swallowed.
"He believed bloodline mattered."
"But it didn't."
"No."
He looked at me.
"Character did."
That almost sounded like the Daniel I had married.
Then the lights went out.
A gunshot came from upstairs.
Anna screamed.
Ethan pulled us behind the vault wall.
Another shot.
Then another.
Someone shouted.
"Thomas wants the girl!"
We heard footsteps.
Fast.
I looked at Daniel.
"How many?"
"At least four."
Ethan whispered,
"We need another exit."
Daniel pointed.
"Behind the shelves."
We moved.
A hidden panel opened.
A narrow tunnel.
I pushed Anna through first.
"Go."
We ran.
The tunnel led beneath the property.
After several minutes, we emerged in an abandoned greenhouse.
Snow fell outside.
My phone had no signal.
Ethan checked the road.
A black SUV was approaching.
"They found us."
Daniel looked around.
"There's another route."
"Where?"
"Train tracks."
We ran.
The abandoned station was two miles away.
As we crossed the road, a car screeched to a stop.
Marcus stepped out.
"Get in."
Ethan raised his weapon.
Marcus lifted his hands.
"I'm not with Thomas."
"How do we know?"
"You don't."
He looked at Anna.
"I'm the one who protected her."
Anna stared.
"You know me?"
"I've been watching you since you were six."
"Why?"
"Because your father asked me to."
My mother.
I stared at him.
"Where is she?"
Marcus looked at me.
"Alive."
"Where?"
"At the train station."
My heart leaped.
"But there's a problem."
"What?"
"Thomas knows too."
The station was nearly empty.
We ran inside.
Then I saw her.
A woman standing at the far end of the platform.
Gray coat.
Dark hair.
Older.
But the eyes were the same.
My mother's eyes.
I whispered,
"Mom?"
She turned.
And tears filled her face.
I ran.
We collided.
She held me like I was still fifteen.
"I'm sorry."
I cried into her shoulder.
"Why didn't you come back?"
"Because I couldn't."
"You let me think you were dead."
"I was trying to keep you alive."
Anna stood behind me.
My mother looked at her.
Then froze.
"You're alive."
Anna stepped forward.
"Do you know me?"
My mother covered her mouth.
Then whispered,
"My granddaughter."
For a moment, none of us spoke.
Then a sound came from the station entrance.
Footsteps.
Marcus looked toward the doors.
"He's here."
My mother grabbed my arm.
"Who?"
Marcus answered.
"Daniel's father."
The lights came on.
Thomas stood at the far end of the platform.
But he wasn't alone.
Beside him was Jacqueline.
She was holding a gun.
I looked at her.
"Jacqueline."
She raised it.
Her face was covered in tears.
"I'm sorry."
May you like
Then she pointed the gun at Anna.
And pulled the trigger.
