Chapter 6 - Emma wanted to go immediately.Vincent refused.
“Absolutely not.”
“He's my father.”
“And someone just used him to lure you into a trap.”
“Then what do you suggest?”
“We find another way.”
Emma stared at the location.
Saint Michael's Church.
Twenty minutes away.
Vincent grabbed his coat.
“We're going.”
Emma blinked.
“You just said no.”
“I said you were not going alone.”
Isabella tried to stand.
Vincent stopped her.
“Mother, stay here.”
“No.”
She looked at Emma.
“I'm coming.”
“Mother…”
“Daniel saved your life before you were old enough to remember.”
She tightened her grip on the wheelchair.
“I owe him.”
They arrived at Saint Michael's under heavy rain.
The church was nearly empty.
Emma stepped through the doors.
“Dad?”
Nothing.
“Dad?”
Then the confession booth creaked.
A man stepped out.
Older.
Thinner.
Gray-haired.
Emma knew immediately.
“Dad.”
Daniel Carter looked at her.
His eyes filled with tears.
“Emma.”
She ran to him.
He held her so tightly she could barely breathe.
“You're alive.”
Daniel closed his eyes.
“Yes.”
“Why didn't you come home?”
“I tried.”
“You lied.”
“I had to.”
“You let us believe you abandoned us!”
Daniel pulled back.
“I know.”
Emma's eyes filled with tears.
“I hated you.”
Daniel looked devastated.
“I know.”
Vincent stepped inside.
Daniel's expression changed.
“You shouldn't have brought him.”
Emma turned.
“Why?”
Daniel looked directly at Vincent.
“Because the person hunting me wants Vincent dead.”
Vincent frowned.
“Who?”
Daniel looked at Isabella.
“Ask your mother.”
Everyone turned.
Isabella lowered her eyes.
“I know.”
Emma stared at her.
“What do you know?”
Isabella's voice trembled.
“Matthias.”
Vincent went still.
Daniel nodded.
“Matthias Moretti is alive.”
Emma looked at Vincent.
“Your uncle.”
“My father's brother.”
Daniel continued.
“He believed your father's empire should belong to him.”
“Then why did he target my father?”
“Because Daniel discovered Matthias had created secret accounts.”
Vincent asked,
“How much?”
Daniel looked at him.
“Four hundred million dollars.”
Vincent's face hardened.
“And you covered it?”
“No.”
“I exposed it.”
Daniel reached into his coat.
He removed a small flash drive.
“This contains everything.”
Emma stared at it.
“What is that?”
“Proof.”
Vincent reached for it.
Daniel pulled it away.
“Not yet.”
“Why?”
“Because the files contain more than financial crimes.”
Daniel looked at Emma.
“They contain the names of everyone involved.”
A church bell rang.
Daniel suddenly froze.
He heard something outside.
“What?”
He looked toward the stained-glass window.
Then whispered,
“We have to leave.”
A black SUV stopped outside.
Another one pulled behind it.
Vincent drew his weapon.
“Get down.”
Gunfire exploded through the church doors.
Emma screamed.
Daniel pushed her behind a stone pillar.
Vincent fired back.
Isabella's wheelchair overturned.
Emma rushed to her.
“Mother!”
“I'm fine!”
A bullet struck the wall inches from Emma's head.
Security returned fire.
Then the attackers vanished.
Vincent ran outside.
Empty street.
Rain.
No cars.
He returned.
Daniel was gone.
Emma froze.
“What?”
“Where's my father?”
Vincent looked toward the rear door.
Open.
Emma ran.
Outside was an alley.
Daniel lay on the pavement.
Blood covered his coat.
Emma screamed.
“Dad!”
Vincent rushed over.
Daniel's eyes fluttered open.
He grabbed Emma's hand.
“Listen.”
“You're bleeding.”
“Listen.”
Emma leaned closer.
Daniel whispered,
“Your mother didn't betray me.”
Emma looked at Isabella.
“What?”
Daniel coughed.
“She was protecting you.”
Emma shook her head.
“From who?”
Daniel's eyes moved toward the darkness.
“From your own brother.”
Emma stopped breathing.
“My brother?”
She had no brother.
Her brother Alex was twenty-two.
Daniel looked terrified.
“I don't mean Alex.”
“Then who?”
Daniel's voice faded.
“Your mother's first son.”
Emma stared.
“My mother had another son?”
Daniel closed his eyes.
“Matthias's grandson.”
Vincent suddenly looked toward the church.
“Get inside.”
“What?”
“Now.”
A laser dot appeared on Daniel's chest.
Vincent shoved Emma down.
A gunshot cracked through the alley.
Daniel stopped breathing.
Emma screamed.
Vincent looked up.
Across the street, on the rooftop of an abandoned hotel, a man lowered a rifle.
Before disappearing into the darkness, he looked directly at Emma.
Then he raised one hand.
He wasn't threatening her.
May you like
He was waving.
As if they knew each other.
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