Chapter 8 - The Threat Behind the DoorLily Vale was twenty-one when she learned her mother had lied to her.
Not about who she was.
About why she had spent half her childhood moving.
Why no school had ever kept her records for long.
Why birthdays were celebrated in different apartments.
Why her mother always checked the street before opening the curtains.
Lily confronted Elena in the clinic basement.
“You knew?”
Elena closed her eyes.
“Yes.”
“You knew who Rebecca was?”
“Yes.”
“You knew who my father was?”
Silence.
Lily stepped back.
“Who?”
Elena's voice broke.
“I don't know.”
“You lied to me.”
“I protected you.”
“From what?”
“From people who kill for money.”
Lily shook her head.
“I can protect myself now.”
“No.”
“I'm not a child.”
“I know.”
“Then stop treating me like one.”
Ethan watched from the doorway.
Rebecca stood beside him.
The sight of Lily made Rebecca emotional.
She had spent a lifetime imagining what it would be like to meet the sister she never knew existed.
Now she had a niece too.
A whole family hidden from her.
Lily saw Rebecca.
“So you're her.”
Rebecca nodded.
“Yes.”
“You look like Grandpa.”
Rebecca smiled sadly.
“You do too.”
Lily crossed her arms.
“Does that mean I can trust you?”
Rebecca answered honestly.
“I don't know.”
Lily seemed surprised.
Then she smiled.
“Good.”
The tension broke.
For a moment, they were just family.
Then Ethan's phone rang.
Unknown number.
He answered.
A man's voice said:
“Look outside.”
Ethan walked toward the window.
A car sat across the street.
No movement.
“Who is this?”
“You already know.”
Victor.
Ethan's jaw tightened.
“Stay away from them.”
“Too late.”
A photograph arrived.
Lily entering the clinic.
Ethan looked at Rebecca.
She read his face.
“What?”
He showed her the phone.
Her expression hardened.
They immediately called the police.
But before officers arrived, the lights went out.
The basement fell dark.
A scream came from upstairs.
Ethan grabbed a flashlight.
“Stay here.”
Rebecca caught his arm.
“No.”
“You're not trained for this.”
“Neither are you when you're angry.”
He stared at her.
Then nodded.
They climbed the stairs.
The clinic door was open.
A man lay unconscious near the entrance.
Rosa was gone.
Ethan's heart stopped.
“Rosa?”
Nothing.
Maya ran from the back hallway.
“They took her.”
“Who?”
“I don't know.”
Rebecca turned white.
“They took a hostage.”
A note had been left on the desk.
BRING THE LEDGER.
COME ALONE.
LANTERN BRIDGE.
MIDNIGHT.
Rebecca looked at Ethan.
“You're not going.”
“I have to.”
“No.”
“They have Rosa.”
“You don't know if she is alive.”
“I know.”
He picked up the ledger.
Rebecca grabbed his hand.
“Then I'm coming.”
He looked at her.
“No.”
“Yes.”
“This isn't your fight.”
Her voice became very quiet.
“Everything about this is my fight.”
They went together.
At midnight, Lantern Bridge was nearly empty.
Rain fell steadily.
A freight train rumbled below.
Ethan held the ledger.
Rebecca stood beside him.
Victor appeared with two men.
Rosa was bound to a chair.
She looked terrified but conscious.
Ethan stepped forward.
“Let her go.”
Victor smiled.
“You always were predictable.”
Rebecca stepped forward.
“You want the ledger?”
“Yes.”
“Take it.”
She held it out.
Victor shook his head.
“No.”
He pointed at Ethan.
“He gives it to me.”
Ethan looked at Rebecca.
She nodded.
He walked forward.
Victor took the ledger.
Then threw it into a puddle.
Ethan's eyes widened.
“What are you doing?”
“I don't need the original.”
Victor turned.
“I need you to believe I do.”
He pulled out a gun.
Rebecca froze.
The two men behind Victor moved.
Then sirens screamed.
Police flooded the bridge.
Victor turned.
Rebecca smiled.
“You really should stop underestimating me.”
Victor swore.
One of his men ran.
The other surrendered.
Victor grabbed Rosa and tried to use her as a shield.
Ethan lunged.
A shot rang out.
Rosa screamed.
Ethan fell.
Rebecca's world stopped.
“Ethan!”
He lay on the wet pavement.
Blood spread across his shirt.
Victor ran.
Police chased him.
Rebecca dropped beside Ethan.
“Stay with me.”
He tried to smile.
“Wasn't planning on leaving.”
“You're bleeding.”
“I noticed.”
“Don't joke.”
“I can't help it.”
She pressed her hands against the wound.
“Someone help!”
Police rushed over.
An ambulance arrived.
Rebecca climbed inside with him.
Ethan grabbed her wrist.
“Stay.”
“I’m here.”
His eyes closed.
“Rebecca.”
“Yes?”
“Pie.”
She laughed through tears.
“You're unbelievable.”
He opened one eye.
“You still owe me one.”
Then he passed out.
Rebecca held his hand all the way to the hospital.
Victor was arrested before sunrise.
But when Ethan woke six hours later, there was one final problem.
The officer stood at the door.
“Dr. Rowan?”
“Yes?”
“We found Victor's second phone.”
Ethan frowned.
“And?”
“There are records from the night of the fire.”
“What records?”
“Orders.”
“From Victor?”
“No.”
The officer hesitated.
“From someone higher.”
Ethan looked at Rebecca.
“Who?”
The officer placed a photograph on the table.
It was a picture of Rebecca.
Taken outside the courthouse.
Beside it was a note.
THE CEO IS NOT THE PERSON YOU SHOULD FEAR.
Rebecca stared at it.
May you like
Then turned pale.
“Daniel.”
