Chapter 8 - What Daniel RememberedDaniel remembered the gun.
He remembered the room.
He remembered his mother's scream.
But most of all, he remembered his father's voice.
“Pull the trigger.”
Daniel shook violently.
“No.”
Chloe knelt beside him.
“Daniel, look at me.”
He looked at her.
“I killed her.”
“No.”
“I remember.”
“You were a child.”
“My father told me to.”
“He manipulated you.”
Daniel looked toward his mother.
She was crying.
“He made me forget.”
His mother nodded.
“He made you believe she was dead.”
Daniel stood.
“Why?”
“To control you.”
His mother pointed to Vanessa.
“She was supposed to be your handler.”
Daniel looked at Vanessa.
“Handler?”
Vanessa lowered her weapon.
“I was supposed to protect you.”
“You betrayed me.”
“I saved you.”
“You took Chloe.”
“I took her because the organization was coming for her.”
Daniel stepped closer.
“Then why didn't you tell me?”
“Because you weren't ready.”
Daniel laughed bitterly.
“Everyone keeps saying that.”
Vanessa's expression hardened.
“You think truth is freedom?”
“Yes.”
“No.”
She shook her head.
“Truth is a weapon.”
A gunshot exploded.
Vanessa dropped.
Chloe screamed.
Daniel caught her.
Blood spread across Vanessa's shoulder.
Carter fired toward the darkness.
“Sniper!”
Ruiz searched the upper level.
“Nothing!”
Vanessa gripped Daniel's arm.
“Listen.”
Daniel leaned down.
“The fourth family is already inside your company.”
“What?”
“They've controlled Mercer Industries for six years.”
“Who?”
Vanessa looked toward Chloe.
“Your CFO.”
Daniel froze.
“Marcus?”
She nodded.
“Marcus Hale.”
Daniel remembered the messages.
The unexplained transfers.
The missing files.
The sudden acquisition attempts.
Marcus had been with him since college.
“He's one of them.”
Vanessa coughed.
“He's not the worst.”
“Who is?”
Vanessa looked at Daniel's mother.
“Ask her what happened the night your father died.”
Daniel turned.
His mother looked away.
“Mom?”
She couldn't speak.
“Tell me.”
“I found your father with the ledger.”
“And?”
“He knew they were coming.”
“Who?”
“The four families.”
Daniel's voice rose.
“What happened?”
“He asked me to take you and run.”
“Did you?”
“Yes.”
“Then why did you disappear?”
She looked at him.
“Because I was captured.”
Daniel stared.
“By whom?”
His mother whispered:
“Marcus Hale.”
Silence.
Daniel's phone rang.
Unknown number.
He answered.
Marcus's voice came through.
“Daniel.”
Daniel's blood ran cold.
“How long have you been listening?”
“Long enough.”
“What do you want?”
“Come home.”
“Why?”
“Because Chloe knows the location.”
Daniel looked at Chloe.
“Location of what?”
Marcus laughed.
“Your father's original ledger.”
Daniel's mother suddenly shouted:
“Don't tell him!”
Marcus laughed again.
“Too late.”
The call ended.
Daniel looked at Chloe.
“What does he mean?”
Chloe's eyes filled with tears.
“I don't know.”
Vanessa suddenly grabbed Daniel.
“She's lying.”
Chloe looked at her.
“No.”
“You remember.”
“I don't.”
“You do.”
Daniel stared between them.
Then Chloe whispered:
“I remember a room.”
Daniel's heart sank.
“What room?”
“A library.”
“Whose?”
“Your father's.”
“When?”
Chloe closed her eyes.
“Before our wedding.”
Daniel froze.
“That’s impossible.”
Chloe opened her eyes.
“He gave me something.”
“What?”
“A key.”
Daniel's hand tightened around the brass key.
Chloe stared at it.
“That isn't the key.”
Daniel looked down.
“What?”
She whispered:
“The key your father gave me was silver.”
A metallic click sounded behind them.
Daniel turned.
Marcus Hale stood at the end of the chamber.
May you like
Holding a silver key.
“Looking for this?”
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