Chapter 5 - The Man Everyone Believed Was Dead
I couldn’t breathe.
Daniel was alive.
It was the first thought that entered my mind.
Then a hundred others followed.
Where was he?
Why had he abandoned us?
Why had he let me believe he was dead?
Why had Ethan lied?
I turned toward him.
“You knew?”
“No.”
His answer came too fast.
“You’re lying.”
“I’m not.”
“You told me he was dead.”
“Because that’s what I believed.”
The woman placed the photograph on the table.
“My name is Evelyn Hart.”
She looked at Ethan.
“Your father once trusted me.”
Ethan’s jaw tightened.
“Then tell me everything.”
Evelyn sat down.
“Daniel discovered that Marcus had been moving money through Northstar Recovery. He also discovered that your father’s old network had been infiltrated.”
“By Marcus?”
“Not alone.”
She looked at me.
“Someone inside the Callahan organization helped him.”
Ethan’s expression became dangerous.
“Who?”
“I don’t know.”
“Then why are you here?”
“To warn you.”
She pointed at the photograph.
“Daniel is being held somewhere outside Chicago.”
My heart shattered.
“Held?”
“Yes.”
“By whom?”
“People who want Sophie.”
I stood.
“Take me to him.”
Ethan caught my wrist.
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because that is exactly what they want.”
“He’s my child’s father.”
“And walking into a trap won’t save him.”
I pulled away.
“You don’t get to decide.”
Ethan looked at me for a long moment.
Then he said something that silenced me.
“I lost my brother once.”
His voice was quieter than I had ever heard it.
“I am not losing him again.”
That night we left Chicago.
Not by jet.
By a convoy of vehicles that changed routes twice before reaching a private estate in Wisconsin.
The house was enormous.
Beautiful.
And heavily guarded.
I hated it immediately.
“It’s a prison.”
Ethan stood beside the window.
“It’s a fortress.”
“Same thing.”
He looked at me.
“You can leave.”
“With Sophie?”
“Yes.”
“And go where?”
“Anywhere.”
I laughed bitterly.
“Exactly.”
For the first time, anger crossed his face.
“I won’t force you to stay.”
“Then tell me where Daniel is.”
“I’m working on it.”
“You have money, men, connections—”
“And enemies.”
He stepped closer.
“Every move I make puts you in greater danger.”
I folded my arms.
“Maybe my life was already dangerous.”
His expression softened.
“Maybe.”
For several hours, no one spoke.
At dawn, Ethan entered my room carrying coffee.
“You didn’t sleep.”
“Neither did you.”
He handed me the cup.
Then he placed a small folder on the table.
“Your sister has been arrested.”
I stared at him.
“What?”
“Marcus reported her for financial fraud.”
“He framed her.”
“I know.”
“Then get her out.”
“I’m trying.”
“You said you would protect us.”
“I will.”
His phone rang.
He listened.
His eyes darkened.
“What?”
He ended the call.
“We found Daniel.”
My heart stopped.
“Where?”
“A medical facility outside Milwaukee.”
“Is he alive?”
“Yes.”
I ran toward the door.
Ethan caught up.
“Rachel.”
“I’m going.”
“So am I.”
We arrived at the facility under heavy security.
A nurse led us through a hidden corridor.
Then I saw him.
Daniel.
Pale.
Thin.
Bruised.
But alive.
I stumbled forward.
He opened his eyes.
“Rachel?”
I began crying.
He tried to sit up.
“Don’t.”
I touched his face.
“You’re alive.”
“I’m sorry.”
“You let me think you were dead.”
“I thought it was the only way.”
“You had a daughter!”
Tears filled his eyes.
“I know.”
“Where were you?”
“Trying to get evidence.”
“You could have called.”
“They were watching you.”
“Who?”
He looked toward Ethan.
Then his expression changed.
“They’re closer than you think.”
Ethan stepped forward.
“Tell me.”
Daniel struggled to breathe.
“It was your father’s attorney.”
Ethan went still.
“Grant Holloway?”
Daniel nodded.
“He took control of the trust documents.”
“Why?”
“He wants the money.”
“And Marcus?”
“Marcus is only the front man.”
I felt cold.
“Then who is really behind all of this?”
Daniel looked at me.
“The person who has been manipulating both families for years.”
He hesitated.
“Your mother.”
I stared at him.
“My mother died when I was twelve.”
Daniel shook his head.
“No.”
He looked at Ethan.
“Your mother helped fake her death.”
Ethan’s face went completely blank.
The room fell silent.
Then the door behind us slowly opened.
A woman stood there.
Elegant.
Calm.
May you like
And very much alive.
My mother.
