Chapter 4 - Daniel Mercer Walked Through My Gates Without Firing a Shot—Because He Knew the Children Would Make Me Lower My GunThe gates opened.
Daniel entered alone.
No guards.
No weapons visible.
He walked through the driveway as though the property still belonged to him.
My men surrounded him.
I stood at the top of the steps.
He smiled.
“Andrew.”
“Daniel.”
He stopped.
“It's been a long time.”
“You died.”
He laughed.
“Not very well.”
My security chief raised his gun.
I lifted one hand.
“Not yet.”
Daniel looked toward the windows.
He knew where the children were.
That told me everything.
“You brought them here.”
Hannah stepped out behind me.
Daniel looked at her.
“You always were brave.”
“You should have stayed dead.”
“I tried.”
He smiled.
Then looked at Sophie.
She stared back.
Daniel's expression changed.
“She's beautiful.”
I stepped forward.
“You don't go near her.”
“She is my family too.”
“She is mine.”
He laughed.
“There it is.”
“What?”
“You finally know.”
I wanted to shoot him.
Instead, I asked:
“Why did you send her to that grocery store?”
His expression became amused.
“I didn't.”
“Then who?”
“Your father.”
I froze.
My father had been dead for fifteen years.
Daniel continued.
“Your father knew the children existed.”
“How?”
“He was tracking Hannah.”
“And me?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because Sophie is your daughter.”
I knew that already.
Then Daniel said:
“And the twins are mine.”
I stared.
“Why bring all three to me?”
“Because they needed protection.”
“You could protect them.”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because I'm not the man who can give them a future.”
I hadn't expected that answer.
“What happened to you?”
He looked tired.
“Your father destroyed me.”
I didn't respond.
“He took my money.”
“My people.”
“My family.”
“He forced me underground.”
Daniel looked toward the mansion.
“You are now the strongest man in this city.”
“I built that.”
“Because I taught you how.”
That wasn't true.
Or at least I didn't want it to be.
Then Daniel took a step closer.
“I didn't bring them to you.”
He looked toward Hannah.
“She did.”
Hannah stared at him.
“What?”
Daniel smiled.
“Ask her.”
I turned.
Hannah looked terrified.
“What did you do?”
She whispered:
“I called Daniel.”
“When?”
“Before we came to Milwaukee.”
“Why?”
“Because I knew someone was coming.”
“Who?”
She shook her head.
“I didn't know.”
Daniel looked at me.
“That was the point.”
Then a gunshot came from the mansion.
One of my guards fell.
Chaos exploded.
Daniel grabbed Hannah.
I reached for Sophie.
May you like
The children were screaming.
And someone inside my house had just fired the first shot.
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