Chapter 10 - The Secret Alexander BuriedClara didn't move.
“Tell me.”
Alexander closed his eyes.
“Before our wedding, I discovered that Black Thorn had been monitoring you since childhood.”
“Why?”
“Because they believed you possessed the Orchid code.”
“I don't understand.”
“You weren't chosen because of your family.”
He swallowed.
“You were chosen because of your memory.”
Clara stared.
“So my entire marriage was arranged around me.”
“Yes.”
“By Gabriel?”
“Yes.”
“And you?”
“I was ordered to marry you.”
She stepped closer.
“And you agreed.”
“I thought I could protect you from inside.”
“You beat me.”
Alexander looked down.
“I know.”
“You humiliated me.”
“I know.”
“You made me believe I had no choice.”
“I know.”
Clara slapped him.
He didn't move.
“You don't get forgiveness just because you regret it.”
“I don't want forgiveness.”
“What do you want?”
“To make sure you survive.”
Suddenly the vault lights went out.
An explosion rocked the building.
Dust fell from the ceiling.
Jonathan shouted.
“Move!”
The vault door opened.
Armed men rushed inside.
Alexander fired.
Clara grabbed the Orchid file.
They ran.
The underground corridor filled with smoke.
They reached an emergency staircase.
But Jonathan stopped.
“Go.”
Clara turned.
“What?”
He pressed something into her hand.
A small metal chip.
“The code is inside.”
“What code?”
“The code that unlocks Orchid.”
Jonathan looked at Alexander.
“Get her out.”
“What about you?”
Jonathan smiled sadly.
“This is my debt.”
He turned back toward the attackers.
Gunfire erupted.
Clara screamed.
“Dad!”
Alexander dragged her away.
They escaped into the street.
Rain poured down.
Clara turned toward the bank.
“No.”
Alexander held her.
“He knew what he was doing.”
She shoved him away.
“You don't know anything about my father.”
Then her phone vibrated.
Unknown number.
A text.
HE'S ALIVE.
Another message.
BUT YOUR MOTHER ISN'T.
Clara stared.
Then a final message appeared.
COME ALONE. HOTEL ORPHEUS.
Alexander read it.
“It's Gabriel.”
“I know.”
“Don't go.”
“I have to.”
“No.”
Clara looked at him.
“You've been telling me for days what I can't do.”
She took the chip from her pocket.
“Now it's my turn.”
She walked away.
Alexander grabbed her wrist.
“Clara.”
She turned.
“What?”
His eyes were filled with something she had never seen there before.
Fear.
“Because I love you.”
She froze.
He let go.
“That’s the one thing I never planned.”
Clara stared at him.
Then walked into the rain.
At Hotel Orpheus, she entered alone.
Room 707.
The door opened before she touched it.
Gabriel was waiting.
He held a photograph.
Clara stopped.
The photograph showed her mother.
Alive.
Sitting on a hospital bed.
Gabriel looked at Clara.
“She has ten minutes left.”
Clara's heart stopped.
“What did you do?”
Gabriel smiled.
“Nothing.”
May you like
He lifted the photograph.
“Your mother has been waiting for you for eleven years.”
