Chapter 8 - Marcus looked different.The arrogance was gone.
He looked exhausted.
Angry.
Terrified.
“Claire.”
I stepped in front of Mia’s father.
Marcus raised his hands.
“I don’t want anyone hurt.”
“You brought a gun.”
“It isn’t loaded.”
Chloe laughed.
“It is.”
Marcus glared at her.
“Shut up.”
For the first time in five years, I saw fear on his face.
Not fear of me.
Fear of Chloe.
Lucas stepped closer.
“What do you want?”
Marcus looked at him.
“You.”
Lucas froze.
Marcus continued.
“You were supposed to stay dead.”
Lucas’s expression hardened.
“You helped them.”
“I was forced.”
“You lied to Claire.”
Marcus looked at me.
His eyes lowered.
“Yes.”
I stared.
“Why?”
Marcus swallowed.
“Because my father threatened to kill you.”
I felt nothing.
Not anger.
Not pity.
Just emptiness.
“You could have told me.”
“I tried.”
“When?”
“Three times.”
I laughed bitterly.
“You expect me to believe that?”
He looked at Chloe.
“She intercepted every message.”
Chloe snapped.
“Because you were too weak.”
I looked at her.
“You destroyed my marriage.”
“I saved Marcus.”
“From what?”
“From you.”
I shook my head.
“Then why do you look terrified now?”
Chloe’s smile disappeared.
Marcus spoke.
“Because she’s the one behind the missing money.”
Everyone went silent.
I looked at him.
“What?”
“The money that disappeared from your company.”
He nodded.
“She took it.”
Chloe backed away.
“Marcus.”
“You blamed Claire because it was easier.”
Chloe raised her gun.
“Marcus, stop.”
Lucas moved.
Alexander grabbed me.
The gun went off.
The bullet struck the wall.
Security stormed into the corridor.
Chloe ran.
Marcus dropped to his knees.
Alexander’s men restrained him.
Lucas stared at the bullet hole.
“She wasn’t trying to kill us.”
I frowned.
“What?”
Lucas looked at the floor.
A tiny metal cylinder lay beneath the broken plaster.
“It was a signal.”
Daniel arrived seconds later.
He picked up the cylinder.
His face changed.
“They know we found Lucas.”
Alexander looked at him.
“Who?”
Daniel stared at me.
“Your father.”
My phone rang.
Unknown number.
I answered.
A man spoke.
My father.
“Claire.”
I couldn’t breathe.
“Dad?”
His voice was older.
But calm.
“Bring Mia to the old mansion.”
“No.”
A pause.
“Then Lucas dies.”
I looked at Lucas.
My father continued.
“You have one hour.”
“What do you want?”
“The box.”
“I don’t have it.”
“Yes, you do.”
He laughed softly.
“You always were terrible at lying.”
The call ended.
I looked at Alexander.
“Did you trace it?”
He nodded at one of his men.
“Working on it.”
Daniel suddenly stiffened.
“Wait.”
“What?”
He stared at me.
“There is something else.”
“What?”
“The box was never meant to be opened by you.”
My skin prickled.
“Then who?”
Daniel whispered:
“By Mia.”
I stared at him.
“That makes no sense.”
Daniel looked toward my daughter.
“The lock was designed to recognize her DNA.”
Silence.
Alexander looked at Mia.
“Why?”
Daniel answered.
“Because Lucas knew he might not survive.”
He reached into his pocket.
May you like
He pulled out a tiny silver key.
“Your daughter is the only person who can unlock what’s inside.”
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