Chapter 8 - The chapel had been abandoned since Elena was eight.She remembered it.

Not because of prayer.

Because of the night her childhood ended.

The old stone building sat behind the Sterling cemetery, hidden beneath trees.

Julian parked outside.

Elena stepped out.

Rain had stopped.

The world was silent.

Too silent.

“Stay behind me,” Julian said.

Elena almost smiled.

“You're not exactly a trained soldier.”

“No.”

He checked the handgun.

“But I've had a terrible week.”

She smiled despite herself.

They entered.

Dust covered the pews.

Candles burned near the altar.

A woman stood beneath the stained-glass window.

Her back was turned.

Elena stopped breathing.

The woman slowly turned.

It was like looking into a mirror that had lived another life.

Same eyes.

Same face.

Different scars.

The woman's name was Ava.

Elena whispered:

“Ava.”

Ava smiled.

“You remember.”

“I don't remember you.”

“You were five.”

“I was eight.”

“No.”

Ava stepped closer.

“You were five when we were separated.”

Elena shook her head.

“That isn't possible.”

“It is.”

Ava touched her own wrist.

“You had a birthmark here.”

Elena looked down.

She had one too.

Ava smiled.

“Mother said you were weak.”

Elena's eyes filled.

“She said you died.”

“She told you that because you were the one she chose to save.”

Julian stepped forward.

“Save you from what?”

Ava looked at him.

“From Victor.”

She lowered her voice.

“He wanted both of us.”

“Why?”

“Because we were useful.”

Elena's stomach turned.

“Useful for what?”

Ava laughed softly.

“Do you really want to know?”

“Yes.”

Ava looked at the altar.

“Your father discovered that Victoria wasn't the mastermind.”

Elena already knew.

“But he didn't know how deep it went.”

Ava continued.

“Victor was part of an international network.”

Julian frowned.

“What network?”

“The network controlling ports.”

Ava looked at Elena.

“Governments.”

“Banks.”

“Shipping unions.”

“Private security companies.”

“Elena.”

Her voice became cold.

“This wasn't a family crime empire.”

“It was an organization.”

“What organization?”

Ava smiled.

“The Black Meridian.”

Julian's face changed.

He recognized the name.

“You've heard of it,” Elena said.

“No.”

Ava interrupted.

“Everyone has.”

She walked toward him.

“You just don't know it by that name.”

Elena glanced at the walls.

“What does the chapel have to do with them?”

Ava pointed toward a stone beneath the altar.

“Your mother buried something here.”

Elena knelt.

She removed the stone.

Inside was a metal box.

The same three-line symbol appeared on the lid.

Ava said:

“Open it.”

Elena inserted the ring.

The box opened.

Inside was a photograph.

Two little girls.

Standing together.

Behind them stood Victoria.

Daniel.

And another man.

Victor.

Elena picked it up.

Something was written on the back.

She read aloud.

THE FIRST KEY: BLOOD.

Her hands began to shake.

Then she found another photograph.

This one showed only one child.

Ava.

But the date was different.

Elena frowned.

“Why is this dated three years after we were supposedly separated?”

Ava stopped smiling.

Elena looked at her.

“You weren't here.”

Ava slowly shook her head.

“No.”

“Where were you?”

Ava stared at her.

“I was in Switzerland.”

Elena froze.

“Why?”

Ava whispered:

“I was the child they used to test the vault system.”

Julian stepped closer.

“What does that mean?”

Ava looked directly at Elena.

“Your ring wasn't designed for Victoria.”

Elena's blood ran cold.

“It was designed for me.”

Before anyone could speak, the chapel doors exploded inward.

Gunmen flooded the room.

Julian pulled Elena down.

Ava fired first.

The chapel became a storm of bullets and shattered glass.

A man shouted:

“Take the twins alive!”

Elena stared at Ava.

“Twins?”

Ava looked back.

“Yes.”

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She grabbed Elena's hand.

“Because they need both of us.”