Chapter 4 - The Gray Sedan Driver Finally Spoke—and Called Me by a Name Only My Father Had UsedThe next evening, the gray sedan returned.
This time it parked outside the restaurant.
Vincent saw it.
He didn't react.
He simply told everyone to remain inside.
Then he turned to me.
“Stay here.”
“Why?”
“Because I don't know what he wants.”
The driver's door opened.
A man stepped out.
He was tall.
Gray-haired.
He looked tired.
Not angry.
Not violent.
He walked toward the restaurant.
Vincent's guards surrounded him.
The man stopped.
“I'm not here to hurt her.”
Vincent stepped forward.
“Then why are you here?”
The man looked at me.
“Leora.”
I froze.
Then he said:
“Little star.”
My heart stopped.
That was what my father used to call me.
My mother had never told anyone.
“How do you know that?”
The man looked at Vincent.
“Because Jonathan told me.”
Vincent's hand moved toward his weapon.
“Who are you?”
“Samuel Carter.”
Vincent stared.
“Jonathan's friend.”
Samuel slowly raised his hands.
“I have proof.”
He pulled out a photograph.
It showed my father holding me as a baby.
On the back was a note.
For my little star.
I cried.
“Where is he?”
Samuel's eyes filled with sadness.
“He's alive.”
My mother rushed outside.
“What?”
Samuel looked at her.
“Jonathan survived.”
She covered her mouth.
“Where?”
“Somewhere safe.”
Vincent stepped forward.
“Why have you been following her?”
Samuel looked ashamed.
“To protect her.”
“By stalking her?”
“I couldn't approach the house.”
“Why?”
“Because Victor has people everywhere.”
Vincent's eyes narrowed.
“Victor is dead.”
Samuel shook his head.
“No.”
Silence.
“He isn't.”
The entire street seemed to become colder.
Samuel continued.
“Victor faked his death.”
Vincent stared at him.
“Why?”
“To disappear from the people hunting him.”
“Who?”
Samuel looked at me.
“Your father's enemies.”
Then he said something that changed everything.
“Jonathan discovered that Victor wasn't the real mastermind.”
Vincent's face hardened.
“Who was?”
Samuel hesitated.
“Someone inside the Blackwood family.”
Vincent's eyes became dangerous.
“Who?”
Samuel shook his head.
“I don't know.”
“Then why come here?”
“Because Jonathan sent me.”
He reached into his coat.
He removed a small key.
“This opens a safe.”
Vincent took it.
“Where?”
Samuel looked at me.
“Your father's old house.”
My mother started crying.
“We don't have that house.”
Samuel shook his head.
“You do.”
He gave me the key.
“Your father hid it where no one would think to look.”
I stared at the tiny key.
“Where?”
Samuel smiled sadly.
May you like
“Inside the first book he ever read to you.”
I knew exactly where it was.
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