Chapter 8 - The Woman Who Vanished Without A Trace
She vanished at 6:10 p.m.
One minute, Cora was in Julian's hospital room.
The next, the nurse's station found her empty chair.
The security cameras showed nothing.
No struggle.
No forced entry.
No suspicious person.
She simply walked into the elevator.
Then disappeared.
Julian tore the hospital apart.
Every camera.
Every street.
Every subway station.
Nothing.
Cora was gone.
For three days.
Then a message arrived.
COME ALONE.
An address.
Julian went.
He arrived at an abandoned train station.
Gabriel was waiting.
Cora was sitting beside him.
Alive.
Julian almost shot him.
"Touch her and I'll kill you."
Gabriel laughed.
"You still don't understand."
"What?"
"She didn't disappear because I took her."
Julian looked at Cora.
"What?"
Cora stood.
"I'm sorry."
She walked toward him.
Then stopped.
"Gabriel has proof."
"Of what?"
"Your father."
Julian went still.
Gabriel handed him a file.
Inside was a photograph of a much younger Julian.
Standing outside the hospital.
Holding his sister.
And behind him was his father.
The date was the night Elena died.
Julian's face changed.
"What is this?"
"Your father didn't refuse Elena treatment because he was saving money."
Gabriel smiled.
"He refused because he was paid."
Julian felt the ground disappear beneath him.
"Paid by whom?"
"Your mother."
"No."
"Yes."
The money had come from the very network Julian had spent his life fighting.
His father's death.
His sister's death.
His mother's silence.
Everything was connected.
Cora looked at him.
"That's why I vanished."
"You needed to know the truth before we chose what came next."
Julian looked at her.
"You could have told me."
"I needed to see whether you'd choose revenge."
He stared.
"And?"
"You did."
"No."
Julian shook his head.
"I wanted you."
He stepped closer.
"I have spent my whole life believing that fear keeps people safe."
He looked at Cora.
"It doesn't."
He turned toward Gabriel.
"Nothing does."
He lowered his gun.
"I don't want your empire."
Gabriel frowned.
"What?"
"I don't want the money."
"You are insane."
"Maybe."
Julian looked at Cora.
"I want my life back."
Gabriel raised his gun.
Cora shouted.
Julian ducked.
Tomas fired from the shadows.
Gabriel fell.
The station went silent.
Julian walked toward Cora.
She was crying.
He held her.
"You scared me."
"I know."
"I thought I lost you."
"I know."
He pulled back.
"Never do that again."
She smiled through tears.
"Then stop making me lie to you."
He kissed her forehead.
Behind them, the police sirens began.
This time, Julian did not run.
May you like
He waited.
Because the truth was finally coming out.
