Chapter 7 - Tommy drove for nearly an hour without speaking.Clara sat rigid in the passenger seat.
Her entire world had become a series of impossible revelations.
Lily wasn't her sister.
Her mother had been hiding secrets.
Tommy had stolen something called the Red Ledger.
Liam's father had known their mother.
And Liam had somehow been involved in all of it.
“You shot him,” Clara said.
Tommy kept driving.
“I had to.”
“No.”
“He's dangerous.”
“So are you.”
Tommy glanced at her.
“You're finally seeing it.”
Clara reached for the door handle.
“Stop the car.”
“No.”
“Stop.”
“We're almost there.”
“Where?”
Tommy said nothing.
Clara looked out the window.
The road led toward the mountains.
An old cabin appeared between the trees.
Tommy parked.
Clara stepped out.
“I want answers.”
“You'll get them.”
Inside the cabin was a single table.
A laptop.
Several paper files.
And a photograph of Lily.
Clara stared.
“How long have you known?”
“Since the day she was born.”
“Who is she?”
Tommy sat.
“She is the daughter of a federal witness.”
Clara blinked.
“What?”
“Her biological mother was part of Project Lily.”
“What is Project Lily?”
“A witness-protection operation that went wrong.”
Clara stared.
“Then why did everyone call it a project?”
“Because it wasn't just witness protection.”
Tommy opened the laptop.
The files showed names.
Politicians.
Police officers.
Judges.
Businessmen.
And even bikers.
Clara recognized Liam.
Next to his name was one word.
GUARDIAN.
“What does that mean?”
Tommy looked at her.
“His father agreed to protect Lily.”
Clara shook her head.
“Why would he?”
“Because Lily's biological father had information that could destroy half of California's criminal network.”
Clara looked at the photo.
“And my mother?”
“She became the guardian after Liam's father disappeared.”
Clara sat.
“So my mother raised her.”
“Yes.”
“And I thought she was my sister.”
“Yes.”
“Why me?”
Tommy looked ashamed.
“Because people were searching for Lily.”
“You needed someone they wouldn't suspect.”
“You were a child.”
Clara stared at him.
“You turned me into her shield.”
Tommy didn't defend himself.
“I thought I was saving you both.”
Clara stood.
“Where is Lily now?”
Tommy looked toward the window.
“With people who can keep her safe.”
“Who?”
Before he could answer, a motorcycle engine roared outside.
Tommy went pale.
Clara recognized the sound.
Liam.
Tommy reached for his weapon.
“Stay here.”
The cabin door exploded inward.
Liam stepped through.
His shoulder was bandaged.
His shirt was stained with blood.
His eyes were ice.
“Tommy.”
Tommy aimed.
Liam moved faster.
He knocked the weapon away.
The two men collided.
Clara screamed.
“Stop!”
They separated.
Liam stared at Tommy.
“You shot me.”
“I know.”
“You stole her.”
“I saved her.”
Liam looked at Clara.
“You believe him?”
She didn't know.
Liam took something from his pocket.
A blood-covered photograph.
It showed Clara's mother.
Standing beside Liam's father.
But between them was another person.
A younger Marcus Vale.
Clara stepped closer.
Liam said quietly:
“Your mother, my father, and Marcus were partners.”
Tommy shook his head.
“No.”
Liam continued.
“They didn't just protect Lily.”
He looked at Clara.
“They built Project Lily.”
Tommy's face went white.
“That isn't true.”
Liam's eyes hardened.
“Then tell her why I found their signatures.”
Clara looked at Tommy.
He said nothing.
Liam stepped closer.
“And tell her why Marcus has spent six years trying to get the Red Ledger.”
Tommy whispered.
“Because it proves we were all involved.”
The cabin fell silent.
Clara stared at both men.
Then a phone on the table began ringing.
Nobody touched it.
It kept ringing.
Finally, Liam picked it up.
Marcus spoke.
“You finally brought Clara to me.”
Liam's eyes narrowed.
“What do you want?”
“Not Clara.”
A pause.
“Lily.”
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Then Marcus added:
“And she isn't the girl you think she is.”
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