Chapter 3 - The Secret in Claire’s Father’s Debt
Martin Bennett disappeared.
Claire found out when she called the motel.
His room was empty.
His phone was disconnected.
Adrian's men searched the city.
Nothing.
Then an envelope appeared at the mansion gate.
Inside was a photograph.
Claire's father.
Bound to a chair.
Alive.
On the back were six words.
Bring Claire to the old ferry terminal.
Claire stared at the photograph.
Adrian took it from her.
“No.”
“He's my father.”
“He's bait.”
“I know.”
“You're not going.”
“I am.”
Adrian's face hardened.
“So am I.”
They went together.
The terminal was abandoned.
Wind tore through broken windows.
A voice echoed through the darkness.
“Mercer.”
Victor Kane stepped into view.
He was older than Adrian.
Silver hair.
Expensive coat.
Smile like a knife.
“Leave Claire,” Victor said.
“No.”
“You're protecting someone you don't understand.”
Adrian looked at Martin.
“Let him go.”
Victor laughed.
“You still think this is about your father?”
Claire froze.
“What?”
Victor looked at her.
“Ask him about your mother.”
Adrian's expression changed.
Claire turned.
“You knew my mother?”
He did not answer.
“Adrian?”
Victor smiled.
“She worked for us.”
Claire's world tilted.
“What?”
Victor continued.
“Your mother wasn't just a nurse.”
“She worked at a clinic.”
“For us.”
Adrian stepped toward him.
“Enough.”
Victor smiled.
“Oh, she never told you?”
Claire looked at Adrian.
He had known.
Or suspected.
The betrayal hurt more than the kidnapping.
“You knew.”
“Not all of it.”
“How much?”
“I knew her name appeared in old files.”
“And you never told me.”
“I was trying to protect you.”
“You keep saying that.”
Victor laughed.
“That is his favorite lie.”
Adrian's gun appeared.
Victor raised his hands.
But another sound came from the terminal.
A click.
A gunman stepped behind Claire.
Everything happened at once.
Adrian moved.
Claire turned.
The gun fired.
Adrian took the bullet.
He staggered.
Claire screamed.
He grabbed the gunman's wrist.
Daniel Shaw fired.
The man fell.
Victor escaped through the rear corridor.
Claire dropped beside Adrian.
Blood soaked his shirt.
“Stay with me.”
He looked at her.
“You're giving me orders again.”
“Because you keep doing stupid things.”
His eyes closed.
“Claire.”
“Don't you dare.”
She pressed against the wound.
“You're not dying.”
“I know.”
“You don't know.”
“I trust you.”
The ambulance arrived twenty minutes later.
But Claire knew she couldn't take him to Harborview.
Too many questions.
So she operated on him in a private medical facility Adrian owned.
For six hours, Claire stayed beside him.
When he woke, she was sitting in the chair.
“Your mother,” he whispered.
Claire looked at him.
“Tell me everything.”
He did.
Her mother had once worked as an emergency nurse at a private clinic secretly treating members of Adrian's organization.
She had discovered evidence of financial crimes.
She had tried to expose them.
Someone killed her.
Martin had known.
He had hidden the truth.
Claire closed her eyes.
Her entire childhood suddenly looked different.
“Why didn't you tell me?”
Adrian's voice was weak.
“Because I was afraid you'd hate me.”
“I don't hate you.”
He looked relieved.
“I hate that you thought I couldn't handle the truth.”
“You're right.”
She stared.
“I was wrong.”
That mattered.
Because Adrian Mercer had built his world around never admitting weakness.
And now he had admitted being wrong.
May you like
To her.
Only her.
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