Chapter 10 - The Woman Who Was Supposed to Be Dead
“Give me the card.”
Malcolm pressed the gun against Elaine's temple.
Harper froze.
Adrian didn't.
“The file is gone.”
“Copies exist.”
“Where?”
Malcolm smiled.
“That's what Harper is going to tell me.”
“I don't know.”
“You do. Daniel built everything around you.”
Elaine whispered, “Don't.”
Malcolm struck her.
Harper moved.
Adrian caught her wrist.
Malcolm laughed.
“Look at that. Adrian Crowe learned restraint.”
His eyes settled on Harper.
“You really did something remarkable.”
Adrian's voice was ice.
“Let her go.”
“You've killed men for less.”
“Yes.”
“But not tonight?”
Adrian glanced at Harper.
“No.”
Malcolm understood.
Love was a weakness men like him recognized instantly.
He smiled.
Then Elaine moved.
She slammed backward into Malcolm.
The gun fired.
Adrian crossed the distance.
Malcolm hit the floor.
Harper pulled her mother away.
Alive.
The bullet had missed.
Adrian pinned Malcolm against the elevator wall.
Every instinct told him to kill.
Harper watched.
Adrian released him.
“Cole.”
Cole arrived moments later.
“Take him.”
Malcolm laughed as he was dragged away.
“You think Victor cares about me?”
Adrian looked at him.
“He's already won.”
“Why?”
“Because you brought Harper into the building.”
Adrian turned.
Harper's face changed.
A sound came through the ventilation system.
Ticking.
Cole swore.
“The explosives.”
The building alarms activated.
Evacuation.
Adrian grabbed Harper.
They moved downward.
Then Harper stopped.
“My mother.”
Elaine had vanished.
A note lay where she had been standing.
Harper picked it up.
COME TO THE ROOF ALONE.
She looked at Adrian.
“No.”
“Adrian—”
“No.”
“He'll kill her.”
“He'll kill you.”
Harper's eyes filled.
“Then help me make sure he doesn't.”
They took the stairs upward.
On forty-two, Cole stopped.
“Roof access is open.”
Adrian looked at Harper.
“Behind me.”
She nodded.
He pushed open the door.
Rain struck them.
Victor stood near the edge.
Elaine knelt beside him.
But Victor wasn't holding the gun.
Elaine was.
And it was pointed at Adrian.
Harper whispered, “Mom?”
Elaine's expression broke.
“I'm sorry.”
Victor smiled.
May you like
Then Elaine said the words Harper had never imagined hearing.
“Victor is your father.”
