Chapter 7 - The woman stood beneath the rain.Older.
Paler.
But unmistakably Gabriel's mother.
Harper stared at her.
“You're alive.”
The woman looked at Gabriel.
“Barely.”
Gabriel didn't move.
“You died.”
“I had to.”
“Why?”
“Because your father was going to kill me.”
Gabriel's jaw tightened.
“Why?”
She looked at Harper.
Then Noah.
Then back to Gabriel.
“Because I knew what they had done.”
Gabriel's voice dropped.
“What did they do?”
His mother looked toward the burning church.
“They killed James Queen.”
Harper's heart stopped.
“You knew?”
“Yes.”
“Who killed him?”
She looked directly at Gabriel.
“Your father.”
Gabriel flinched.
“No.”
“He believed James had stolen his daughter.”
Harper whispered.
“Me.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because James protected you.”
Her voice broke.
“He knew Rachel was going to leave Adrian.”
Gabriel stared.
“My father killed her too?”
His mother closed her eyes.
“Yes.”
Gabriel took a step backward.
Harper had never seen him look so lost.
His mother continued.
“Rachel begged him to spare you.”
“What happened?”
“Adrian refused.”
“And James?”
“James took you.”
“Then my father killed him.”
“Yes.”
Harper could barely breathe.
Gabriel's mother looked at her.
“Your father died protecting you.”
Harper's eyes filled with tears.
“Why did Derek lie?”
“Because Derek needed the key.”
“What is in the vault?”
His mother didn't answer.
Gabriel stepped forward.
“Mother.”
She looked at him.
“What's in the vault?”
“The names.”
“What names?”
“Everyone who belonged to Black Wolf.”
Gabriel's face became cold.
“And why would Derek want them?”
“Because he isn't working alone.”
“Who is he working for?”
She looked at Harper.
“Your father's killer.”
Harper froze.
“Adrian?”
“No.”
The woman shook her head.
“Adrian is dead.”
“Then who?”
Her mother hesitated.
Then said:
“The founder.”
Gabriel's eyes narrowed.
“Black Wolf had a founder.”
“No.”
She shook her head.
“Adrian didn't create Black Wolf.”
“Then who?”
“Someone older.”
A gunshot cracked through the rain.
Gabriel's mother jerked.
Blood spread across her shoulder.
“Mom!”
Gabriel caught her.
Victor shouted.
“Sniper!”
Everyone scattered.
Harper pulled Noah behind the SUV.
Another bullet struck the hood.
Gabriel fired toward the church roof.
Victor searched the surrounding buildings.
“Nothing!”
Gabriel pressed his mother down.
“Stay awake.”
She grabbed his collar.
“Don't let Harper open the vault.”
Harper heard her.
“Why?”
His mother looked at her.
“Because the vault isn't just records.”
“What is it?”
Her eyes widened.
“It contains evidence that proves who you really are.”
Harper's blood ran cold.
“Who am I?”
The woman stared at her.
“You're not Rachel's daughter.”
Harper went still.
“What?”
The woman tried to speak.
Another gunshot.
Her head fell against Gabriel's arm.
“Mom!”
Harper stared.
Gabriel checked her pulse.
“Alive.”
He looked at Victor.
“Get her into the car.”
Then Gabriel stood.
His entire expression had changed.
The grief disappeared.
The mob boss returned.
“Find the sniper.”
Victor nodded.
Gabriel looked at Harper.
“We're going to Ashford Tower.”
“Why?”
“The vault.”
Harper hesitated.
“Your mother said not to open it.”
“She also said it contains the truth.”
“About me.”
“Yes.”
Harper looked at Noah.
Then at Gabriel.
“I'm going.”
He nodded.
The SUV sped away.
Forty minutes later, they entered Ashford Tower.
The building was nearly empty.
Gabriel led Harper to the basement.
She had never been there.
They passed a steel door.
Then another.
Finally they reached an old service corridor.
At the end was a wall.
Nothing else.
Harper frowned.
“Where's the vault?”
Gabriel handed her the key.
“Your father built it.”
She stepped forward.
There was a tiny wolf carved into the wall.
Harper inserted the key.
Nothing happened.
Gabriel frowned.
Then Noah spoke.
“Maybe it needs blood.”
Harper looked at him.
“What?”
Noah pointed.
There was a shallow groove beside the keyhole.
Harper placed her finger against it.
The mechanism clicked.
The wall opened.
Cold air rushed out.
Inside was a massive underground room.
Shelves.
Files.
Boxes.
Photographs.
And a single glass case in the center.
Harper walked toward it.
Inside was a sealed envelope.
Her name was written across it.
HARPER QUEEN.
Gabriel stood beside her.
“Open it.”
Her hand trembled.
She broke the seal.
Inside was a birth certificate.
Harper looked at it.
Then screamed.
The name of her biological mother wasn't Rachel Queen.
It was a woman Gabriel had never expected to see.
A woman whose name had been missing from every record for thirty years.
Gabriel stared at the document.
“No.”
Harper looked up.
“Who is she?”
May you like
Gabriel whispered:
“Derek's mother.”
Related Stories
