Chapter 4 - The Warehouse Where Claire Refused to Be AfraidClaire woke in darkness.
Her head hurt.
Her wrists were tied.
Her dress was torn.
She smelled oil and wet concrete.
She heard water somewhere nearby.
She opened her eyes.
Jonah was across the room.
Alive.
Barely.
“You okay?” he whispered.
Claire coughed.
“I think so.”
“That's good.”
“What happened?”
“Car accident.”
“Then?”
“Someone took us.”
Claire looked around.
“Victor?”
Jonah nodded.
She closed her eyes.
“I knew it.”
“You did?”
“No.”
She opened her eyes.
“I suspected.”
Jonah smiled weakly.
“Mason's going to kill him.”
“If Mason finds us.”
“He will.”
Claire looked at him.
“How do you know?”
“Because he loves you.”
She swallowed.
“He thinks I betrayed him.”
Jonah laughed.
“Then he's an idiot.”
“Yes.”
She looked away.
“I still love him.”
“I know.”
Hours passed.
Victor entered.
He was older than Mason remembered.
But his presence remained powerful.
“Claire.”
She looked at him.
“You're Victor.”
“Yes.”
“Why am I here?”
“Because your father hid something.”
“My father is dead.”
“No.”
Victor smiled.
“He disappeared.”
“What did he hide?”
“The ledger.”
“I don't have it.”
Victor slapped the table.
“You've been searching for it.”
“Yes.”
“Where is it?”
“I don't know.”
Victor looked at Jonah.
“Then maybe he does.”
Jonah shook his head.
“No.”
Victor left.
Claire looked at Jonah.
“Do you know?”
“Yes.”
Her eyes widened.
“What?”
“Your father gave it to someone.”
“Who?”
Jonah whispered:
“Your mother.”
Claire froze.
“My mother?”
“She wasn't a victim.”
“She knew.”
“She helped your father.”
Claire couldn't breathe.
Her mother had spent years telling her Daniel Hayes was dead.
But the truth was worse.
Her parents had been hiding together.
And the ledger was part of the secret.
Victor returned hours later.
This time he brought photographs.
One showed Claire's mother.
Another showed Mason's father.
Another showed Daniel Hayes.
All three together.
Claire stared.
“They knew each other.”
Victor smiled.
“They built the network.”
“No.”
“Yes.”
“You're lying.”
“I don't need to.”
He placed one final photograph down.
A young Mason.
Maybe eighteen.
Standing beside his father.
Claire looked at it.
Then at Victor.
“What do you want?”
“The ledger.”
“I don't have it.”
Victor leaned closer.
“You will.”
He turned toward the door.
Then stopped.
“Oh.”
Claire looked up.
“Your lover is coming.”
Her heart stopped.
“He doesn't know where you are.”
Victor smiled.
“He'll find you.”
Then he left.
Jonah looked at her.
“That's good.”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because Victor wants him to come.”
She understood.
The warehouse was bait.
May you like
Mason was the target.
And Claire would be the weapon.
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