Chapter 6 - The Man Who Protected Me
The object wasn't explosive.
It was another phone.
Victor wanted fear.
He wanted confusion.
He wanted us divided.
Marcus refused to let me become bait.
So we made Victor believe I had.
Using controlled communications and a decoy vehicle, federal agents staged my departure while Nathaniel and I remained inside the operation center.
Victor contacted the decoy.
That gave Marcus the location.
An old private airfield once owned by Bennett International.
We moved.
Dad was ordered to remain behind.
He ignored the order.
Of course he did.
At the hangar, agents found Samuel tied to a chair.
Alive.
Victor was gone.
Again.
Samuel looked older than Dad.
Twenty-two years of hiding had carved itself into his face.
When Richard entered, Samuel stared at him.
Neither spoke.
Then Dad crossed the room and embraced his brother.
I had never seen my father hug another man.
Samuel broke down.
So did Richard.
For a few seconds, all the arrogance disappeared.
They were simply brothers who had lost twenty-two years.
Then Samuel saw me.
“Claire.”
I approached slowly.
“You've been watching me.”
“Protecting you.”
“You could have told me.”
“I was afraid.”
That answer sounded familiar.
Fear had shaped our entire family.
Dad used cruelty because he feared weakness.
Mom used silence because she feared danger.
Samuel disappeared because he feared Victor.
Madison laughed because she feared becoming Dad's next target.
And I hid my life because I feared letting them hurt me again.
Nathaniel stood beside me.
Samuel smiled faintly.
“So you're Cole.”
Nathaniel offered his hand.
“You've made my job difficult.”
Samuel actually laughed.
“Good.”
Samuel revealed the final piece.
Victor's crimes were stored on an encrypted server.
The access key had been divided.
Samuel possessed half.
Daniel unknowingly possessed the other half on the flash drive he carried for eleven years.
Together, they could expose everything.
Victor knew it.
That was why he returned.
Marcus called Daniel.
No answer.
Again.
Nothing.
I felt cold.
Dad said, “Where is he?”
Marcus checked tracking information.
Daniel's phone had stopped moving.
At the hotel.
We raced back.
His room was empty.
The flash drive was gone.
On the bed sat an envelope addressed to me.
Claire.
Inside:
YOUR FAMILY ALWAYS CHOOSES SECRETS.
NOW CHOOSE WHICH BROTHER RICHARD GETS TO KEEP.
Dad read it.
His face went gray.
Samuel whispered, “Victor has Daniel.”
Nathaniel looked toward Marcus.
Marcus was already issuing orders.
Then my phone rang.
Daniel.
I answered.
No voice.
Only breathing.
Then Victor.
“One hour.”
“What do you want?”
“You.”
“No.”
“Then Daniel dies.”
Dad grabbed the phone.
“Victor!”
Victor laughed.
“Still shouting, Richard?”
“Take me.”
“I already took everything from you.”
“No. You didn't.”
Dad looked at me.
For the first time, there was no superiority in his face.
Only a father terrified for his children.
Victor said, “Claire comes alone.”
The line disconnected.
Seconds later, a location appeared.
I recognized it.
Bennett International headquarters.
Dad stared at the address.
“That building is empty tonight.”
Samuel shook his head.
“No.”
“What?”
Samuel looked toward the windows.
“Victor doesn't want the building.”
“Then what does he want?”
Samuel's face changed.
“The vault beneath it.”
Dad went silent.
I looked between them.
“What vault?”
Neither answered.
May you like
Then Samuel whispered:
“The one your father never told you existed...”
