Chapter 10 - THE OTHER CHILDMy foot came off the accelerator.
“What did you say?”
Claire looked at me.
“Noah has an older brother.”
“Where?”
“Dead.”
I swallowed.
“What?”
“He died before Noah was born.”
“What happened?”
Claire's eyes filled with tears.
“He wasn't supposed to die.”
I stared at the road.
“Explain.”
“His name was Lucas.”
She handed me an old photograph.
A little boy.
Two years old.
Same dark eyes as Noah.
Same tiny smile.
I looked at Claire.
“Who was his father?”
She didn't answer.
“Claire.”
“Victor.”
My blood froze.
“Your father?”
“Yes.”
“Then Lucas was…”
“Your half-brother.”
I nearly crashed.
“How?”
“Your father had another family.”
Of course.
Another secret.
Another life.
Another lie.
Claire continued.
“Lucas died because Victor needed someone to blame for a financial crime.”
“Your father sacrificed his own son?”
“He sacrificed everyone.”
“And Noah?”
“He wanted Noah as replacement.”
I gripped the wheel.
“What kind of person does that?”
“Your father.”
We drove in silence.
Then Claire reached into her bag.
She pulled out a tiny recording device.
“I have evidence.”
“Of what?”
“Victor admitting everything.”
She pressed play.
His voice filled the car.
“Ethan is weak. Vanessa will keep him unstable. Claire will eventually crack. Once Ethan signs, Noah belongs to us.”
I stared at the device.
Then another voice.
Daniel.
“What if Ethan refuses?”
Victor laughed.
“Then use the boy.”
The recording ended.
I couldn't speak.
Claire switched it off.
“Now you understand.”
I looked at her.
“You could have gone to the police.”
“I tried.”
“What happened?”
“Two officers disappeared.”
I swallowed.
“So what do we do?”
Claire looked at me.
“We destroy him.”
“Victor?”
“Everyone.”
“What do you mean?”
She held up a flash drive.
“This contains the entire financial network.”
“How much?”
“Enough to bring down three companies, two banks, and half the people connected to your father.”
I stared.
“What are we waiting for?”
Claire looked out the window.
“There is one problem.”
“What?”
“The files are encrypted.”
“Can you decrypt them?”
“No.”
“Who can?”
She turned toward me.
“Vanessa.”
I stared.
“She's dead.”
Claire shook her head.
“No.”
“What?”
“She isn't.”
My phone rang.
Unknown number.
A woman's voice whispered,
“Claire was right.”
I froze.
“Vanessa?”
May you like
A pause.
“I'm alive.”
