Chapter 9 - The Man Who Was Supposed to Be DeadThe hallway door opened.
My father stepped into the room.
I forgot how to breathe.
He was older.
Much older.
His hair was almost completely gray.
He had a scar along his cheek.
His eyes were exactly the same.
For a second, I was six years old again.
Running into his arms.
Then I remembered everything.
The tapes.
The lies.
The forged death.
“What did you do to Gabriel?”
My father looked at me.
“He's alive.”
“Where?”
“Outside.”
I ran.
Gabriel was on the ground.
Blood soaked his shoulder.
He was conscious.
My father stepped behind me.
“You shouldn't have trusted him.”
“You say that like you deserve my trust.”
He looked away.
“I don't.”
“Then why are you here?”
“Because Elias found you.”
“Did he?”
“He always does.”
My father looked at my mother.
“You told her.”
“She deserved to know.”
He shook his head.
“Too late.”
I stood between them.
“Enough.”
They both looked at me.
“I want the truth.”
My father nodded.
“You were born from a deal.”
“What kind of deal?”
“Your mother was supposed to inherit the Mercer trust.”
My mother shook her head.
“No.”
“You know that's true.”
“No, Julian was going to destroy it.”
“Exactly.”
My father explained.
Julian Mercer had left the family billions.
But he had also left a confession.
The person who controlled the trust would have access to the identities of every corrupt official connected to the financial network.
That information could destroy governments.
My father had hidden me because he believed powerful people would kill to control it.
“But why Adrian?”
“Because Adrian discovered your identity.”
“And you let me marry him.”
“I didn't.”
“You knew!”
“I tried to stop it.”
“How?”
“I sent Clara.”
Clara.
The woman who had spent years gathering evidence.
The woman who had exposed Adrian.
My father looked at me.
“Clara was supposed to watch over you.”
“Then why didn't she tell me?”
“Because she made a deal with Elias.”
The room went silent.
I looked at my mother.
She began crying.
“What deal?”
My father answered.
“Clara exchanged your safety for her own.”
I felt betrayed again.
Everyone had used me.
Everyone had hidden something.
Suddenly, my phone rang.
Unknown number.
I answered.
Elias's voice.
“You've met your father.”
“Yes.”
“Good.”
“What do you want?”
“I want the trust.”
“No.”
“You will give it to me.”
“I'd rather die.”
He laughed.
“That is exactly what Adrian said.”
I froze.
“Where is Adrian?”
A photograph arrived.
Adrian stood in a basement.
Beside him was Clara.
Both were tied to chairs.
Elias continued:
“You have thirty minutes.”
“What happens then?”
“I execute them.”
My father stepped forward.
“Don't listen.”
Elias heard him.
“So the dead man is back.”
My father's face tightened.
Elias laughed.
“You should have stayed buried, Richard.”
The call ended.
I looked at my father.
“Thirty minutes.”
He nodded.
“We go.”
“To where?”
He looked at the photograph.
“Mercer Tower.”
“No police?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because someone inside federal law enforcement is working for Elias.”
I thought of the murdered agent.
Then I remembered something.
The man standing behind Elias in the photograph.
The face was partly visible.
I zoomed in.
My blood froze.
I knew him.
He had been at my wedding.
He had applauded when Adrian said his vows.
He had even hugged my father.
I whispered:
“It's not just the police.”
May you like
“What?”
“The traitor is someone in my family.”
