Chapter 7 - My Father Finally Appeared on Aldridge Street—but He Wasn't the Monster Nathaniel Had Been Taught to FearWe returned to Aldridge Street just before midnight.
The old bus bench was still there.
Rusty.
Broken.
Forgotten.
The exact place where I had found Nathaniel's wallet.
A man stepped from the shadows.
He looked older than Nathaniel.
Tired.
His hair was streaked with gray.
But his eyes were unmistakable.
Nathaniel froze.
"Daniel."
The man nodded.
"Brother."
I stared.
"Are you my father?"
Daniel looked at me.
His eyes filled with tears.
"Yes."
I didn't know what to do.
I wanted to hug him.
I wanted to hit him.
I wanted to ask why he had abandoned us.
Instead, I whispered:
"Why didn't you come home?"
Daniel looked devastated.
"Because every time I tried, someone died."
Nathaniel stepped between us.
"Who took Claire?"
Daniel looked at him.
"Father."
"He died."
"No."
Nathaniel's face hardened.
"He died fifteen years ago."
Daniel shook his head.
"You buried the wrong man."
Before Nathaniel could respond, headlights appeared at the end of the street.
Dozens of black vehicles surrounded us.
Marcus stepped out.
Behind him came an elderly man.
Nathaniel's face went completely white.
"No."
The old man smiled.
"My sons."
Daniel stepped backward.
I realized immediately.
The Graves patriarch was alive.
And he was looking directly at me.
"My granddaughter."
Nathaniel moved in front of me.
"Stay away from her."
The old man laughed.
"Still protecting the innocent."
He looked at Daniel.
"You always were sentimental."
Then he looked at Nathaniel.
"But you..."
His smile disappeared.
"You were always my favorite."
Nathaniel's face hardened.
"I was never your son."
The old man smiled.
"That's where you're wrong."
May you like
He looked at me.
"Ask your mother."
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