Chapter 8 - The gunshot shattered the room.The detective fell sideways.

Officers shouted.

Daniel dropped the weapon.

“Wait!”

Two officers tackled him.

I stood frozen.

My father.

Alive.

Standing three feet from me.

He had just shot someone.

Or tried to.

The detective rolled behind a sofa.

No blood.

The bullet had struck the wall.

Daniel wasn't trying to kill him.

He was trying to scare him.

“Get away from the girl!” Daniel shouted.

Two officers forced him onto the floor.

“Stop resisting!”

Daniel looked at me.

“Claire, listen to me.”

I couldn't speak.

“Your mother didn't hide me.”

“Then why?”

“She hid you.”

My breath caught.

“What?”

Daniel stared at me.

“You weren't supposed to exist.”

The room went silent.

“What does that mean?”

“Your mother was investigating Charles.”

“She knew him?”

“Yes.”

“How?”

“Before you were born.”

Daniel looked toward Maya.

“You know.”

Maya slowly nodded.

“Your mother worked for Charles's company.”

The detective stood up.

“You're saying Claire's mother was involved?”

“At first,” Daniel said.

“She handled financial transfers.”

“And then?”

“She found the ledger.”

“The one Charles is looking for.”

Daniel nodded.

“She discovered that Charles was using the company to launder money.”

“Through what?”

“Fake charities.”

“Who benefited?”

“Politicians. Judges. Criminals.”

Daniel turned toward me.

“Your mother copied everything.”

“Why didn't she go to the police?”

“Because Charles owned half the police department.”

The detective's face tightened.

Daniel continued.

“She planned to expose him.”

“What happened?”

“Charles found out.”

My voice was barely audible.

“And my mother?”

“She ran.”

“To where?”

“To me.”

I stared.

“Why?”

“Because I was the only person Charles couldn't control.”

“Who were you to her?”

Daniel paused.

“Her first love.”

My stomach twisted.

“And my father?”

“Yes.”

I looked away.

Everything I had believed about my family was collapsing.

Then Daniel said,

“But you're not the only person she had.”

I looked at him.

“What?”

“Your mother had another child.”

I felt dizzy.

“Emma?”

Daniel nodded.

“Your half-sister.”

Maya began crying.

“What happened to her?”

Daniel looked at the floor.

“I took her.”

“What?”

“To protect her.”

“Where?”

He hesitated.

“Somewhere Charles couldn't find her.”

“Is she alive?”

Daniel looked at me.

“Yes.”

The words barely registered.

“My sister is alive?”

“Yes.”

“Where?”

Before Daniel could answer, the door slammed.

Charles entered.

He wasn't alone.

Three armed men stood behind him.

The officers immediately raised their weapons.

Charles smiled.

“Put those away.”

The detective laughed.

“You're finished.”

Charles looked at me.

“No.”

Then at Daniel.

“We were hoping you would say that.”

Daniel's face went pale.

One of the armed men held up a photograph.

It showed Emma.

Alive.

Older.

Standing beside Evelyn.

My heart stopped.

Charles said,

“Your mother didn't hide the ledger.”

He smiled.

“She hid your sister.”

Daniel looked at him with hatred.

“You'll never find her.”

Charles smiled wider.

“I already did.”

He held up another photograph.

Emma was sitting in a chair.

Bound.

Terrified.

And on the wall behind her was the exact same room we had found beneath Charles's mansion.

Charles looked at me.

“Now you're going to help me get her back.”

Then Daniel whispered,

“Don't listen to him.”

Charles raised his hand.

One of his men pointed a gun at Daniel.

And Charles said,

“Because your father is lying about one thing.”

I looked at him.

“What?”

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Charles smiled.

“Emma isn't your sister.”