Chapter 5 - The Woman Who Should Be DeadNobody moved.
I couldn't breathe.
Alessandro's hands tightened around the wheelchair controls.
“Get back.”
The woman smiled.
“You're still protective, Alessandro.”
His face became stone.
“Who are you?”
She laughed softly.
“You really don't remember?”
Then she touched the scar above her eyebrow.
“You gave me this.”
My stomach dropped.
Alessandro stared at her.
“Elena?”
She nodded.
Emma looked at her.
“Mommy?”
I crouched beside my daughter.
“No.”
Elena's eyes turned toward Emma.
“You don't know me.”
Emma shook her head.
“You look like me.”
Elena smiled.
“That is because you are mine.”
I pulled Emma behind me.
Alessandro's voice thundered.
“Don't touch her.”
Elena laughed.
“She was never yours.”
My head spun.
“What does she mean?”
Elena looked at me.
“Daniel never told you?”
“Told me what?”
“That Emma wasn't supposed to be born.”
I stared.
Alessandro looked at Elena.
“Enough.”
“No,” Elena said. “She deserves the truth.”
She stepped closer.
“Daniel and I were working together.”
“On Black Meridian?”
“Yes.”
“Then why did everyone think you were dead?”
“Because I needed them to.”
My voice shook.
“Why?”
“Because the night Daniel disappeared, your husband chose you.”
I couldn't breathe.
“What?”
“He was supposed to leave with me.”
Elena's voice softened.
“Instead, he went home.”
I looked down.
Emma's tiny hand was gripping my sweater.
“Why?”
“Because he knew they would kill you too.”
Alessandro closed his eyes.
“Elena.”
She ignored him.
“Daniel discovered that Black Meridian had placed a surveillance device inside your house.”
My blood turned cold.
“What?”
“You thought he was paranoid.”
I remembered.
Daniel checking windows.
Changing locks.
Turning off phones.
Sleeping with lights on.
I had thought grief had made him anxious.
“He tried to protect you.”
“Then why did he disappear?”
Elena looked toward Alessandro.
“Ask him.”
I turned.
Alessandro's expression had gone pale.
“What happened?”
He remained silent.
“Elena.”
She smiled.
“Tell her.”
Alessandro looked at me.
“I killed Daniel.”
My heart stopped.
“No.”
“I didn't have a choice.”
I stepped backward.
“You said he was alive.”
“He was.”
“Then what did you do?”
Alessandro looked down.
“I staged his death.”
Tears filled my eyes.
“You lied to me.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because someone inside my family wanted Emma.”
I looked toward my daughter.
“Why?”
Alessandro's voice dropped.
“Because Emma is not just Daniel's daughter.”
Elena said it.
“She is the heir to the Black Meridian ledger.”
Silence.
I stared at them.
“What ledger?”
Elena's smile disappeared.
“The one hidden inside Mr. Rabbit.”
I looked down at the stuffed rabbit.
The toy suddenly felt heavier than my daughter’s entire world.
Then the warehouse doors exploded inward.
Men rushed inside.
May you like
And someone shouted:
“Take the girl!”
