Chapter 7 - The Secret Daniel Died Protecting
Emma did not sleep.
Neither did Vincent.
The possibility that Daniel had not been Lily's biological father consumed her.
But she hated herself for caring.
Daniel had been Lily's father in every way that mattered.
He changed diapers.
Held her during fevers.
Learned how to inject insulin.
Built her a wooden shelf for her stuffed animals.
He was her father.
Blood didn't change that.
Still, Emma needed the truth.
They found Richard in an abandoned chapel.
He surrendered.
That alone shocked Vincent.
Richard sat on a wooden bench.
“I knew you'd come.”
Vincent raised his gun.
“Talk.”
Richard looked at Emma.
“Lily's father was a man named Anthony Reed.”
Emma frowned.
“My husband's brother.”
Vincent stared.
Emma's face went pale.
“Daniel had a brother?”
Richard nodded.
“Anthony disappeared years ago.”
“No,” Emma said. “Daniel told me he was dead.”
“He lied.”
“Why?”
“Because Anthony was dangerous.”
Richard explained.
Anthony had been involved in organized crime.
Daniel had stolen evidence from him.
When Anthony learned Emma was pregnant, he wanted the child.
Not because he loved her.
Because Lily was the legal heir to a hidden fortune.
Emma's mind raced.
“What fortune?”
Richard laughed.
“You still think this is about money.”
Vincent stepped closer.
“Then what is it about?”
Richard looked directly at him.
“Anthony was working with Sarah.”
Emma whispered, “Why?”
“Because they wanted access to Vincent's empire.”
The pieces connected.
The insurance.
The ledger.
The missing money.
The attacks.
Everything.
But there was another secret.
Anthony had died shortly before Lily was born.
Or so everyone believed.
Richard looked at Emma.
“He's alive.”
Emma stopped breathing.
Vincent's hand tightened around his gun.
“Where?”
Richard shook his head.
“I don't know.”
“Then why tell us?”
“Because Sarah was afraid of him.”
Vincent's eyes narrowed.
That meant something.
Richard continued.
“Sarah wasn't the mastermind.”
“Then who?”
Richard smiled.
“Anthony Reed.”
The final pieces fell into place.
The real architect behind the conspiracy was the man Emma believed had died before Lily's birth.
Emma felt sick.
“I don't believe you.”
Richard reached into his coat.
He removed a photograph.
Anthony.
Older.
Alive.
Standing outside a hospital.
Beside Sarah.
And Lily.
As an infant.
Emma grabbed the picture.
Her knees nearly gave out.
“No.”
Vincent caught her.
Richard whispered.
“He watched you for seven years.”
Emma began shaking.
“Why?”
“Because Lily has something he wants.”
Vincent demanded, “What?”
Richard looked at him.
“The trust fund.”
There it was.
Lily had inherited money from Anthony's family.
Daniel had hidden it.
Sarah had tried to access it.
Richard had tried to steal it.
And Vincent had unknowingly become the final barrier.
Emma looked at Vincent.
“Will they ever stop?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because they think Lily is worth more alive than dead.”
Emma's expression hardened.
“What does that mean?”
Richard looked away.
“It means if they can't control her legally, they'll control her through fear.”
Vincent understood immediately.
He turned to Marcus.
“We're moving Lily.”
Richard laughed.
“You think you can hide her?”
Vincent looked at him.
“Yes.”
Richard shook his head.
“No one has ever hidden from Anthony Reed.”
That night, Vincent moved Emma and Lily to a remote estate in Wisconsin.
No staff.
No phones.
No internet.
No cameras.
Only Vincent, Emma, Lily, and Marcus.
For the first time, there were no guards standing outside.
No employees.
No mansion.
No rules.
Just three people trying to survive.
Lily found Vincent sitting by the fireplace.
“Are we hiding?”
“Yes.”
“From bad people?”
“Yes.”
“Are you scared?”
Vincent smiled.
“Very.”
Lily climbed onto the chair beside him.
“You're not supposed to say that.”
“Why?”
“Because grown-ups are supposed to say everything is okay.”
Vincent looked at Emma.
She was standing in the doorway.
He smiled.
“Sometimes grown-ups lie.”
Emma came closer.
“You're getting good at this.”
“At what?”
“Being human.”
Vincent laughed.
It was quiet.
Warm.
For one brief moment, they forgot the danger.
Then someone knocked on the cabin door.
Everyone froze.
Marcus reached for his gun.
Vincent raised a hand.
He moved slowly.
Opened the door.
No one stood outside.
Only an envelope.
Inside was a photograph.
Lily at school.
The day she collapsed.
On the back were five words.
I HAVE BEEN WATCHING.
Emma held Lily tightly.
May you like
Vincent looked toward the dark forest.
The war had just become personal.
