Chapter 7 - The Promise Elias Never Remembered Making
They escaped through the ventilation corridor.
By the time they reached the parking garage, the gala was in chaos.
Elias drove without speaking.
Genevieve sat beside him holding the ledger.
"Tell me."
He kept his eyes on the road.
"I don't remember signing that."
"Then why is your signature there?"
"I don't know."
"You have to know something."
He slammed his palm against the steering wheel.
"I was seventeen."
She turned.
"What happened when you were seventeen?"
"Your father."
He swallowed.
"Thomas took me away from the port."
"And?"
"Before I left Chicago, he made me sign something."
Genevieve stared.
"What?"
"I thought it was permission to access a bank account."
"It was?"
"No."
He looked at her.
"It was guardianship."
Her mouth fell open.
"Of whom?"
"You."
The silence was absolute.
"You were legally assigned to protect me?"
"Not exactly."
He explained.
After a threat against Thomas, a lawyer had arranged a private contingency agreement.
If Thomas died under suspicious circumstances, Elias would become Genevieve's legal protector until she turned twenty-five.
But the paperwork was buried.
Thomas never activated it.
Then, when Genevieve's twenty-fifth birthday approached, the agreement had disappeared from public records.
"Why didn't anyone tell me?"
"Because my people found evidence that someone inside the courthouse was altering files."
"Judge Whitmore."
"Exactly."
Genevieve looked down at the ledger.
"So Preston knew."
"Likely."
"He knew you had legal authority to protect me."
"Yes."
"And he wanted to remove me before I found out."
Elias nodded.
The pieces were finally coming together.
But another piece remained.
Adrian.
And the mysterious network behind him.
They returned to the club.
Miriam was waiting.
She had news.
"Preston has your father."
Genevieve froze.
"What?"
"Alive."
"No."
Miriam nodded.
"Thomas."
Genevieve could barely breathe.
"My father?"
"He's alive."
Elias stared at her.
"Where?"
"Adrian's private estate."
Genevieve felt tears in her eyes.
"He survived the crash?"
"Yes."
Miriam explained that Thomas had been badly injured but rescued by a man loyal to Elias.
The problem was that the rescue had happened too late to stop the Whitmores from claiming he was dead.
Thomas had spent months recovering under another identity.
Then he was captured again.
He had been kept alive because Adrian wanted access to the Hayes shipping network.
Genevieve covered her mouth.
"Why didn't he come home?"
"Because he was protecting you."
She cried.
Elias stood beside her.
This time he didn't offer words.
He simply wrapped his arms around her.
She let herself lean into him.
For the first time in years, she felt safe enough to stop pretending she wasn't scared.
Then Elias whispered:
"We'll get him back."
Genevieve looked up.
"Together."
"Together."
They planned the rescue.
Adrian's estate was heavily fortified.
The operation would be dangerous.
But there was one advantage.
Preston believed Genevieve was still emotionally vulnerable.
He sent her a message.
COME ALONE.
She showed it to Elias.
"I'll go."
"No."
"I'm the bait."
"You'll be a target."
"Exactly."
He looked furious.
"I don't like this."
"You don't have to."
His eyes narrowed.
"That's not how this works."
"What then?"
"I don't let people I love walk into traps."
Genevieve went still.
"You love me?"
He looked at her.
There was no hesitation.
"Yes."
She closed her eyes.
Everything they had fought through.
Everything they had lost.
Everything they had become.
It all seemed to settle into that one word.
She kissed him.
Long.
Slow.
And terrifyingly real.
When they separated, Elias rested his forehead against hers.
"I should have told you sooner."
"I would have run."
"You ran anyway."
She laughed.
"Fair."
The rescue began at midnight.
Genevieve entered the estate through the front gate.
Preston was waiting.
He looked at her dress.
"You came back."
"You wanted me."
"I wanted the company."
"And my signature."
He smiled.
"You finally understand."
"Where is my father?"
"Alive."
"Take me to him."
Preston motioned toward the hallway.
She followed.
They entered a basement chamber.
Thomas Hayes was there.
Older.
Thinner.
But alive.
His eyes widened when he saw her.
"Genevieve."
She ran to him.
He held her.
"I thought you were dead."
"I'm sorry."
"I searched for you."
"I know."
Elias entered from behind.
Preston spun.
But before he could move, every light came on.
Adrian Vale stood at the top of the stairs.
"Enough."
Elias raised his weapon.
Adrian smiled.
"You've been very troublesome, Elias."
"Let them go."
Adrian shook his head.
"Not until you understand."
He turned toward Genevieve.
"Your father wasn't the target."
Genevieve froze.
"Then who was?"
May you like
Adrian smiled.
"You."
