Chapter 5 - The Secret Marcus Buried for Ten YearsI had faced assassins.
I had faced rival families.
I had survived bombs, ambushes, betrayals, and wars.
Nothing had prepared me for the possibility that Lily was Marcus’s daughter.
Marcus stood in the middle of Adrian’s townhouse like a man watching his entire life collapse.
“You lied to me,” I said.
He shook his head.
“I never knew if she was mine.”
Adrian laughed.
“You knew.”
Marcus lunged.
Leon stopped him.
I raised my weapon.
“Enough.”
Marcus turned toward me.
“Caleb, listen.”
“I’ve listened for twenty-two years.”
“Then listen now.”
He took a breath.
“When I met Emily, I was young.”
“You loved her?”
“Yes.”
“And Lily?”
“Yes.”
My hands tightened.
“Why didn’t she tell me?”
“She did.”
Marcus looked down.
“I was supposed to take them away.”
“Instead, you let them disappear.”
“I thought it would keep them alive.”
Adrian coughed.
“That’s the story he tells himself.”
Marcus ignored him.
“Emily discovered the Black Ledger.”
“What is it?”
“A network.”
“Run by my father?”
“Yes.”
“And Adrian?”
“My father trusted Adrian.”
“Why?”
“Because Adrian knew how to manipulate people.”
I looked at Adrian.
He smiled.
“Your father taught me everything.”
“What happened to him?”
“I killed him.”
Marcus closed his eyes.
Adrian continued.
“But not alone.”
My stomach turned.
“Who helped you?”
Adrian looked at Vivian.
Vivian’s face went pale.
“No.”
He smiled.
“She knows.”
I turned.
“Vivian?”
She shook her head.
“I didn’t kill him.”
“You knew something.”
“I knew Adrian was involved.”
“When?”
“Years ago.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because I thought you’d become just like him.”
I stared at her.
“And now?”
She cried.
“Now I know I was wrong.”
Adrian laughed.
“Everyone always realizes that too late.”
I stepped closer.
“Where is Lily?”
He looked directly into my eyes.
“Not far.”
“Where?”
“She was never kidnapped.”
I froze.
“What?”
Adrian smiled.
“She ran.”
“Why?”
“Because someone told her to.”
“Who?”
He looked at Marcus.
Marcus stared at the floor.
I understood.
The truth came in pieces.
Marcus had moved Lily for years.
He had kept her hidden.
He had protected her mother.
He had watched from a distance.
He had lied to me.
But why?
“What are you protecting her from?”
Marcus finally spoke.
“Everyone.”
“Meaning?”
“You.”
I felt something inside me break.
“Me?”
“You are Caleb Vance.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means anyone connected to you becomes a target.”
I stepped closer.
“That doesn’t explain why you lied.”
“It does if Lily is my daughter.”
He looked at me.
“I knew that if anyone discovered she mattered to me, they would use her against me.”
I stared at him.
“You thought I would?”
“No.”
He shook his head.
“I thought our enemies would.”
I wanted to hate him.
Part of me did.
But another part understood the fear.
I had spent years believing attachment made people weak.
Marcus had spent years proving the opposite.
He had risked everything to protect a child.
Even from me.
A phone rang.
It was mine.
The screen displayed Lily’s name.
I answered.
“Lily?”
Her voice trembled.
“Mr. Caleb?”
“Where are you?”
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be sorry.”
“I ran away.”
“Why?”
“Because the man who took me said he would hurt Marcus if I didn’t.”
I looked at Marcus.
“Where are you?”
“I’m at the old train station.”
Leon gestured.
The station was fifteen minutes away.
“We’re coming.”
“No.”
“Lily.”
“He said only you could come.”
I closed my eyes.
“Give me the phone.”
Marcus shook his head.
“He wants you alone.”
“I know.”
“You can’t go.”
“I have to.”
Marcus grabbed my arm.
“I’m coming.”
I looked at him.
“Then stay behind me.”
The station was abandoned.
No trains.
No passengers.
Only rain and darkness.
I entered alone.
My gun remained hidden.
“Lily?”
No answer.
Then a door closed behind me.
Adrian stepped out of the darkness.
I raised my weapon.
“You.”
He smiled.
“I knew you would come.”
“Where’s Lily?”
“Safe.”
“Bring her out.”
Adrian shook his head.
“There’s one last thing you need to know.”
“I’m done listening.”
“You should listen.”
He stepped closer.
“Emily Carter wasn’t killed because of the Black Ledger.”
“Then why?”
“Because she discovered who Lily’s mother really was.”
I frowned.
“Emily was Lily’s mother.”
Adrian smiled.
“No.”
He whispered:
“Emily adopted her.”
Everything stopped.
“No.”
“Yes.”
“Who was Lily’s biological mother?”
Adrian looked toward the darkness.
And someone walked out.
A woman.
Alive.
Older.
Tired.
But unmistakable.
Charlotte Vance.
My mother.
She looked at me.
May you like
And whispered,
“Caleb.”
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