Chapter 6 - The Father She Lost Twice
The church smelled of old wood and rain.
Norah entered first.
Sebastian followed despite the instruction.
The pews were empty.
Candles burned near the altar.
A single figure stood behind the last row.
Norah stopped.
Her lungs forgot how to work.
The man turned.
He was older.
His hair was gray.
His face was thinner.
A scar crossed his jaw.
But the eyes were the same.
The same eyes that had watched her tie her first bow.
The same eyes that had corrected her hands over tiny gears.
“Dad?”
Henry Collins took one step forward.
Norah ran.
She hit him so hard he nearly fell.
For a moment neither spoke.
Then Henry wrapped his arms around her.
“I’m sorry.”
Norah cried against his chest.
“I hate you.”
“I know.”
“You let me think you were dead.”
“I know.”
“I waited for you.”
“I know.”
He held her tighter.
“I watched you.”
“That isn’t the same.”
“No.”
His voice broke.
“But it was all I had.”
Sebastian remained several feet away.
Henry looked at him.
“You’re Arthur’s son.”
“Yes.”
Henry studied him.
“You have your mother’s eyes.”
Sebastian swallowed.
“Did you love her?”
Henry nodded.
“She was my friend.”
“Only a friend?”
Henry smiled sadly.
“She was the love of my life.”
Sebastian said nothing.
Norah looked between them.
“My mother is alive?”
Henry nodded.
“She’s nearby.”
“Take me to her.”
“Not yet.”
“Why?”
“Because Victor has people watching.”
Sebastian stepped forward.
“I’ll protect you.”
Henry looked at him.
“You’re already doing more than your father ever did.”
Sebastian’s expression tightened.
Henry continued.
“Arthur believed fear was power.”
“And you?”
“Love.”
Norah almost cried again.
Then Henry looked toward the door.
“We have company.”
Three armed men entered.
Sebastian reacted instantly.
Gunfire shattered the quiet church.
Norah ducked behind the pews.
Henry pulled her down.
Sebastian returned fire.
Luca and his men came through the side entrance.
Within seconds, the attackers fled.
One remained injured.
Sebastian grabbed him.
“Who sent you?”
The man laughed.
“Victor.”
“Where is he?”
The man smiled.
“Too late.”
His eyes flicked toward Norah.
“What did he mean?”
Henry answered.
“The safe house.”
A fire alarm sounded.
Smoke began filling the church.
“Move!”
They escaped through the basement.
Outside, the city was chaos.
Rain poured.
Henry climbed into the car.
Norah followed.
She looked at Sebastian.
“Where?”
He started the engine.
“Your mother.”
The safe house sat outside Chicago, hidden behind an old orchard.
Norah had passed the property once as a child.
She never remembered going inside.
A woman opened the door.
Norah stopped.
Her mother looked older, but beautiful.
Alive.
“Mom?”
Evelyn Collins burst into tears.
Norah ran into her arms.
For several minutes, nothing else mattered.
Not Victor.
Not the necklace.
Not Sebastian.
Only the impossible fact that the woman Norah had mourned for twenty-six years was standing in front of her.
“I’m sorry,” Evelyn whispered.
Norah hugged her.
“I’m angry.”
“You should be.”
“I don’t understand.”
“I know.”
“Then tell me everything.”
Evelyn looked at Sebastian.
He stood silently near the door.
“Your mother trusted you,” Evelyn said to him.
“Why didn’t she tell me?”
“Because if you knew, they would use you against her.”
“Who?”
Evelyn looked at Henry.
“Victor.”
Norah stared.
“But why did he want the necklace?”
“Because the necklace contains the final ledger.”
“The microfilm?”
“No.”
Evelyn pointed to the ruby.
“There is one more compartment.”
Norah stared.
“We already opened it.”
“You opened the first.”
Her mother smiled faintly.
“The second can only be opened by blood.”
Norah’s face went pale.
“What does that mean?”
“Your father knew.”
Henry nodded.
“Your fingerprint isn’t enough.”
Sebastian looked at Norah.
“Then what is?”
Evelyn answered:
“A drop of Romano blood.”
Everyone went silent.
Sebastian stepped forward.
“My blood?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because your grandfather designed the mechanism.”
The necklace had been engineered decades earlier as a verification device.
Only a designated Romano heir could open its final chamber.
Sebastian cut his finger with a small blade.
Norah held the necklace steady.
A drop of blood touched the center.
Click.
The ruby opened.
Inside was a tiny memory chip.
Sebastian stared.
“This?”
“The complete ledger,” Evelyn said.
It contained enough evidence to destroy Victor.
Enough to expose corrupt judges, police officers, politicians, bankers, and business leaders.
Enough to collapse the Romano network.
Sebastian looked at Norah.
“If this gets out, my family loses everything.”
Henry nodded.
“And thousands of people may finally be safe.”
Sebastian looked at the necklace.
“What do you want me to do?”
Evelyn answered softly.
“Be better than your father.”
Sebastian looked at Norah.
She said nothing.
He understood.
“I will.”
But outside the window, headlights appeared.
May you like
Too many.
Victor had found them.
