Chapter 4 - The Billionaire Who Thought He Had Buried Me Was About to Discover That the Dead Can Still Make Phone CallsMy father's kidnapping changed everything.
Dominic found the first lead in twelve minutes.
A vehicle had been seen near my father's estate.
Black SUV.
No plates.
The same model Michael's security team used.
The second lead came from the blue office.
Dominic broke into the old Harper Holdings building.
Inside the hidden safe was a letter.
My father's handwriting.
It was addressed to me.
Emily,
If you are reading this, then something has gone terribly wrong.
I held the paper with shaking hands.
Michael will tell you that I trusted him.
I did.
That was my mistake.
The next line made me stop.
But Michael is not the man who wants you dead.
I looked at Dominic.
He went still.
“What does it say?”
I read the next paragraph.
He is only the face of a larger organization.
My stomach tightened.
The letter continued.
For years, Carter Global has been used to move money belonging to a criminal network operating through legitimate businesses.
The person above Michael is called The Chairman.
I never discovered his real identity.
Michael did.
And that is why he married you.
I stared at the page.
Dominic's expression darkened.
Then I saw the final line.
Trust the man with the tattooed hands.
I looked at Dominic.
He said nothing.
“You knew my father.”
He hesitated.
“Yes.”
“How?”
“He came to me three years ago.”
My heart pounded.
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because he asked me not to.”
“What did he ask you to do?”
“Protect you.”
I stared at him.
“From Michael?”
“From everyone.”
The door opened.
Everett rushed in.
“We found her father.”
“Where?”
“An abandoned Carter warehouse.”
We moved immediately.
The warehouse was empty when we arrived.
Except for a chair.
My father's blood was on the floor.
No body.
No message.
Only a single photograph.
My father standing beside Dominic.
I stared.
Dominic looked at it.
Then whispered:
“They know about me.”
A gunshot shattered the window.
Dominic pushed me down.
Security fired back.
The shooter disappeared.
We searched the building.
Nothing.
Then I saw a small recording device beneath the chair.
I pressed play.
Michael's voice.
“You should have stayed dead.”
My breath stopped.
Michael laughed softly.
“I know you're listening.”
Dominic looked at me.
Michael continued.
“You think Moretti can save you.”
The recording paused.
Then:
“He can't.”
A second voice entered.
I didn't recognize it.
But Dominic did.
His face became almost expressionless.
“Who is that?”
He said nothing.
“Dominic.”
Finally:
“My brother.”
I frowned.
“You have a brother?”
“Had.”
The recording ended.
I looked at him.
“What happened?”
“He died eight years ago.”
My skin prickled.
“Then who was speaking?”
Dominic didn't answer.
Because another realization had already reached him.
Someone had been using his brother's voice.
Someone with access to old recordings.
Someone close enough to know things even Michael shouldn't know.
We returned to the safe house.
My father was still missing.
The next morning, a package appeared at the gate.
Inside was his wedding ring.
And a note.
Come alone.
Michael wanted me.
Not the dead Emily.
The living one.
Dominic read the note.
“No.”
“I have to.”
“You're not going.”
“They have my father.”
“They want you because you're emotional.”
“They're right.”
He stared at me.
“I will go.”
“No.”
“Dominic.”
He stepped closer.
“I already failed to protect your father once.”
“You didn't.”
“I should have been there.”
I looked at him.
“You saved me.”
His eyes softened.
“And now I'm going to save him.”
We went together.
The location was an old church.
Inside, no one was waiting.
Except my father.
He was tied to a chair.
Alive.
I ran to him.
“Dad!”
He looked at me.
For several seconds he could not speak.
Then he whispered:
“Emily?”
I knelt beside him.
“I'm here.”
He cried.
“I buried you.”
“I know.”
“I saw your coffin.”
“It was empty.”
A laugh escaped him through his tears.
“I knew they couldn't take my little girl that easily.”
Then a slow clap came from the balcony.
Michael.
He stepped into the light.
Ashley stood behind him.
And between them was the man from the recording.
A man wearing Dominic's brother's old ring.
He looked directly at me.
Then said:
“Welcome back, Emily.”
Dominic froze.
Because the stranger wasn't using a recording.
May you like
He was real.
And somehow, he knew more about my family than either of us had ever imagined.
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