Chapter 11 - Harper heard the crying before she saw the room.A child.
Small.
Terrified.
The sound came from beneath the hospital.
Gabriel walked beside her.
“Stay close.”
“I am.”
Derek had disappeared.
The three armed men were gone too.
It felt like a trap.
Because it was.
They reached a basement door.
Harper opened it.
A corridor stretched beneath the hospital.
At the end was a glass room.
Inside was a chair.
Metal restraints.
A machine covered in wires.
Harper stopped.
“This is where it happened.”
Gabriel stared.
“Your memory treatment.”
She shook her head.
“I remember this.”
Gabriel looked at her.
“You do?”
She closed her eyes.
A flash.
Her mother screaming.
A baby crying.
A man in a black suit.
Her father.
No.
Not James.
Adrian.
Her biological father.
He was holding her.
Then a gunshot.
Adrian fell.
Harper screamed.
She opened her eyes.
“He was killed here.”
Gabriel stared.
“Who shot him?”
She shook her head.
“I didn't see.”
A door opened.
Derek walked in.
“You're remembering.”
Gabriel raised his gun.
“Stop.”
Derek ignored him.
He walked toward Harper.
“You were four years old.”
Harper froze.
“What?”
“When Adrian died.”
She stared.
“I was told I was ten.”
“Your memories were altered.”
“Why?”
“Because your grandfather needed an heir.”
Gabriel stepped forward.
“He needed Harper.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Derek looked at him.
“Because the Ashford bloodline had fractured.”
Gabriel frowned.
“Explain.”
“Your father was against Black Wolf. His brother wanted control. Your grandfather wanted both sons loyal.”
“So Adrian's death was a family war.”
“Yes.”
“And Harper?”
“Collateral.”
Harper felt sick.
“What about you?”
Derek smiled bitterly.
“I was sent to watch her.”
“For twenty years?”
“Yes.”
“Then why abuse me?”
His face changed.
“I needed you afraid.”
“Why?”
“Because fear makes memories return.”
Gabriel's jaw tightened.
“You tortured her for information.”
“Yes.”
Harper stared at him.
“You broke my ribs.”
“I had to.”
“You nearly killed me.”
“I knew you would survive.”
Gabriel moved.
Derek raised his gun.
“Don't.”
Harper stepped between them.
“Where is Noah?”
Derek nodded toward another room.
Harper ran.
Noah was there.
Alive.
Untied.
Sitting beside a table.
She hugged him.
“Are you hurt?”
“No.”
“What happened?”
“I found the files.”
“What files?”
Noah pointed to a box.
“The ones Dad hid.”
Harper opened it.
Inside were dozens of tapes.
Photos.
Medical records.
And one newspaper clipping.
The headline:
ASHFORD HEIR PRESUMED DEAD IN HOUSE FIRE.
Gabriel took it.
“Which heir?”
The photo showed Adrian Ashford.
But the date was twenty years earlier.
Then another document.
Harper's name appeared.
Underneath:
HEIR DESIGNATION: FEMALE
Gabriel stared.
“She wasn't supposed to inherit the organization.”
Derek looked at him.
“Correct.”
“Then why was she hidden?”
“Because the old man changed his mind.”
Gabriel frowned.
“When?”
“After Adrian's death.”
Derek continued.
“Your grandfather discovered something.”
“What?”
“Harper's mother left another child.”
Harper stared.
“Another child?”
Derek nodded.
“A twin.”
Gabriel's face changed.
“No.”
Harper whispered:
“Where?”
Derek smiled.
“You've already met him.”
The room fell silent.
Harper's eyes widened.
“Noah?”
Derek shook his head.
“Not Noah.”
Gabriel looked at Harper.
“Then who?”
Derek stepped closer.
“Victor.”
Gabriel froze.
“No.”
Derek smiled.
“Victor isn't loyal to you.”
Gabriel's expression became terrifying.
“He's been with me for fifteen years.”
“Yes.”
“And?”
“He was placed beside you.”
Harper stared.
“To kill me?”
“To control you.”
Derek's phone rang.
He answered.
Listened.
Then he smiled.
“The vault has been breached.”
Gabriel narrowed his eyes.
“What?”
Derek looked at Harper.
“Someone else got there first.”
“Who?”
Derek's smile widened.
“Your grandfather didn't die tonight.”
Gabriel went completely still.
“What?”
“He was waiting for you to think he was dead.”
Derek looked at the door.
“And now he's taking over Ashford Tower.”
Gabriel's phone buzzed.
Security alert.
ASHFORD TOWER: ALL SYSTEMS OVERRIDDEN.
Another alert.
MOTHER'S HOSPITAL ROOM COMPROMISED.
Then another.
VICTOR ASHFORD ENTERED PRIVATE LEVEL.
Gabriel stared at the screen.
Harper looked at him.
“You said Victor wasn't…”
Gabriel's voice was cold.
“I was wrong.”
Then every phone in the room rang simultaneously.
Derek looked at Harper.
“Your family is calling.”
A distorted voice came through the speakers.
“Gabriel.”
Gabriel raised his head.
The voice laughed.
“Come home.”
May you like
Then:
“Bring your sister.”
