Chapter 9 - Nobody moved.Lily clung to Clara.
Liam crouched in front of the child.
“What man?”
Lily pointed toward the ceiling.
“The man with the silver eye.”
Clara looked confused.
Eleanor went pale.
She whispered:
“Marcus.”
Liam stood.
“What?”
Eleanor shook her head.
“Not Marcus.”
Liam's expression darkened.
“Then who?”
Eleanor looked at Clara.
“Your father.”
Clara's heart stopped.
“My father died.”
Eleanor said quietly:
“That is what we told you.”
Clara stared at her.
Eleanor continued.
“Your father was the original architect of Project Lily.”
Tommy shook his head.
“No.”
“He didn't die in the crash.”
Clara couldn't speak.
“He disappeared.”
“Where?”
“Into hiding.”
Liam suddenly understood.
“That's why Marcus wanted the ledger.”
Eleanor nodded.
“The ledger contains the location.”
Clara stared.
“Of my father?”
“Of the entire operation.”
Then the church windows shattered.
Everyone ducked.
Gunfire erupted.
Liam moved instantly.
He dragged Clara behind a stone wall.
Tommy grabbed Lily.
Eleanor ran toward the basement.
Bobby and the bikers returned fire.
The church became chaos.
Liam shouted:
“BACK EXIT!”
They ran.
Clara held Lily's hand.
The little girl wasn't crying.
She looked strangely calm.
That frightened Clara more.
They escaped into the forest.
But Marcus's men were waiting.
A black SUV blocked the path.
A masked man stepped out.
“Hand over the girl.”
Liam moved forward.
“No.”
The man raised his weapon.
Then someone behind him fired.
He collapsed.
Liam turned.
Tommy was holding the gun.
“Run!”
They reached the bikes.
Clara climbed behind Liam.
Lily rode with Bobby.
The convoy disappeared into the trees.
Hours later, they reached a safe house.
Clara finally confronted Liam.
“Tell me everything.”
Liam sat across from her.
“My father was one of the men protecting Project Lily.”
“And my father?”
“Worked with him.”
“Why?”
“Money.”
She stared.
“My entire family was built on lies.”
Liam nodded.
“And mine.”
Clara looked at him.
“What happened to your father?”
“He betrayed everyone.”
“Did he kill my parents?”
Liam's silence answered.
Clara's face fell.
“No.”
“My father disappeared after your mother's death.”
“You think he killed them.”
“I know he was there.”
Clara felt sick.
“And you still helped me?”
Liam leaned forward.
“Because whatever my father did isn't yours.”
Silence.
Then Lily entered.
She was holding a small box.
“I found this.”
Clara opened it.
Inside was an old cassette.
A label was written on it.
FOR CLARA ONLY.
They played it.
Miriam's voice filled the room.
“If you're hearing this, then Liam Henderson has found you.”
Clara looked at Liam.
Miriam continued.
“Do not trust him.”
Liam stared at the cassette.
“But if you're still alive, then he probably saved you.”
Clara frowned.
The recording continued.
“That means my plan failed.”
Static.
Then Miriam whispered:
“Clara, your father is alive.”
Clara covered her mouth.
And then her mother's voice became almost inaudible.
“He is the man who killed me.”
The cassette stopped.
No one spoke.
Liam slowly stood.
Outside the safe house, a car door slammed.
Then another.
Bobby looked through the blinds.
“President.”
Liam turned.
“What?”
Bobby's face went pale.
“The men outside aren't Marcus's.”
“Then whose?”
May you like
Bobby looked toward Clara.
“Your father's.”
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