Chapter 11 - The Woman Behind the WarNatasha stared at the photograph.
"My mother was with Claire."
Leo took the phone.
"Which means your mother knew about the embryo."
Her mother shook her head.
"I didn't."
"You knew enough to meet her."
"I was trying to stop her."
Leo laughed bitterly.
"Everyone is trying to stop something."
He turned to Marcus.
"Call every contact."
"Already doing it."
"No phones."
Marcus frowned.
"Boss?"
"Burn them."
The room went quiet.
Leo looked at Natasha.
"We're going underground."
They left the penthouse through a private elevator.
Chicago had become hostile territory.
Every street could hold an ambush.
Every phone could be compromised.
Every trusted person might have another employer.
At dawn, they reached a safe farmhouse outside the city.
Natasha sat by the window.
Leo entered carrying two cups of coffee.
He placed one in front of her.
She looked at it.
"Americano?"
"Black."
She almost smiled.
"You remembered."
"I remember everything about you."
Silence.
She looked at him.
"Do you?"
"Yes."
"The bracelet?"
"I remember when you bought it."
"The watch?"
"You paid for it."
"The first night?"
His eyes softened.
"I remember."
"Then why did you throw me out?"
Leo looked at the floor.
"Because Carlo died and every enemy he had started moving."
"So you chose me as the easiest thing to remove."
"I chose distance."
"It felt the same."
He nodded.
"I know."
A long silence followed.
Then Leo said:
"I never stopped loving you."
Natasha looked at him.
"That's a terrible thing to say now."
"I know."
"Because I believed you."
"I know."
"Because I stayed."
"I know."
He stepped closer.
"And because I want you to stay now."
Before she could answer, Marcus entered.
"We found Claire."
Leo turned.
"Where?"
"Saint Michael's."
Natasha stood.
"What about my mother?"
Marcus shook his head.
"She's there too."
They drove to the cathedral.
But the building was empty.
Except for one coffin.
Black.
Placed beneath the altar.
Leo approached.
The lid opened.
Inside was Carlo.
Dead.
Again.
Natasha stared.
"You said he was killed."
"I thought he was."
Leo examined the body.
There was a wound.
But the blood was wrong.
He touched the skin.
Cold.
Too cold.
Then he noticed something in Carlo's hand.
A key.
Same brass key as before.
Natasha whispered:
"Another box."
Leo found an inscription on the coffin.
FOR THE LAST DAUGHTER OF ELENA.
Natasha stepped closer.
A hidden compartment opened beneath the altar.
Inside were dozens of files.
Birth certificates.
Bank records.
Property deeds.
Photographs.
And one envelope marked with Natasha's name.
She opened it.
Inside was a single letter.
My granddaughter,
You were never chosen because of Leo.
You were chosen because of what comes after him.
Her eyes moved to the last line.
When the child is born, the Tomlin name will no longer matter.
Natasha looked at Leo.
"What does that mean?"
He didn't answer.
Behind them, the cathedral doors slammed shut.
A voice echoed through the darkness.
"It means the baby will belong to me."
Lights came on.
Claire Benton stood in the aisle.
May you like
And beside her was Natasha's mother.
But this time, her mother was holding a gun.
