Chapter 7 - My Father Returned After Seven Years—and the First Thing He Did Was Apologize for Leaving MeMy father arrived that night.
I was sitting in the library when the door opened.
A man stood there.
Older than the photograph.
Thinner.
Gray around the temples.
But I knew him.
Somehow.
I stood.
“Dad?”
He froze.
Then his face collapsed.
“Leora.”
I ran.
He caught me.
He held me like he was afraid I would disappear.
“I thought you were dead.”
“I know.”
“You left me.”
“I know.”
“Why?”
He cried.
“Because I thought it was the only way to keep you alive.”
I pulled away.
“Were you watching me?”
“Yes.”
“The gray car?”
“Yes.”
“You scared me.”
“I know.”
“Why didn't you just tell me?”
“Because Victor had someone inside the police.”
My father looked at Vincent.
“You protected her.”
Vincent nodded.
Jonathan stepped closer.
“You kept your promise.”
Vincent's eyes darkened.
“I owed you.”
“No.”
Jonathan shook his head.
“You owed yourself.”
My mother entered.
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Then my father looked at her.
“I am sorry.”
She slapped him.
Everyone froze.
Then she hugged him.
I laughed through my tears.
It was the strangest reunion in the world.
But it was ours.
That night, my father explained everything.
Victor had wanted the ledger.
It contained evidence of a massive network.
He had tried to eliminate anyone who knew about it.
Including my father.
Including Vincent.
And now—
me.
“Why me?” I asked.
My father looked at me.
“Because Victor believes I hid the final key inside your memories.”
“What memories?”
“The location of the ledger's second half.”
I frowned.
“I don't remember anything.”
“You were a baby.”
“Then how could I know?”
My father smiled sadly.
“You don't.”
He looked at Vincent.
“That's why Victor is wrong.”
Then the lights went out.
A phone rang.
My father's expression changed.
“Victor.”
Vincent answered.
A distorted voice spoke.
“Family reunions are beautiful.”
Vincent said nothing.
Victor continued.
“Especially when they happen for the last time.”
Then he said:
“Bring Leora to the old school.”
The call ended.
My father looked at me.
“No.”
Vincent nodded.
“We're not going.”
May you like
Then the house alarm sounded.
Someone had already entered.
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