Chapter 4 - The Child in My Arms Was the Heir of a Dead Empire
Gabriel released Damian before dawn.
He took us to a safe house outside the city.
No guards.
No weapons visible.
Only old photographs and locked boxes.
Damian sat on a couch while I cleaned the wound on his shoulder.
“Does it hurt?”
“Yes.”
“You deserve it.”
He looked at me.
“For what?”
“For making me chase you.”
“I told you not to.”
“I don't listen very well.”
A faint smile appeared.
“I noticed.”
Lila sat on the floor nearby, drawing pictures.
Gabriel watched her.
“She looks like Elara.”
I stiffened.
“Tell me the truth.”
He nodded.
“Her name was Eliana.”
“Who?”
“My sister.”
“Lila isn't Eliana.”
“No.”
“But you think she is connected.”
“Yes.”
He took out an old photograph.
A baby girl wearing the same bracelet Lila now wore.
“This was Eliana.”
“Why would my daughter have her bracelet?”
“Because Elara gave it to someone she trusted.”
“My mother.”
“Yes.”
I looked at Damian.
He looked as confused as I felt.
“Why would my mother give it away?”
Gabriel's voice lowered.
“Because Victor discovered Eliana had the same sensory condition I told you about.”
“And?”
“He wanted to use her.”
“For what?”
“To locate hidden weapons, recording devices, people approaching rooms. She could sense tiny vibrations through walls.”
Lila stopped drawing.
Gabriel noticed.
“She's reacting.”
I looked down.
Lila had placed her hand against the floor.
Then she pointed toward the ceiling.
Someone was there.
Damian immediately stood.
“Move.”
A second later, the ceiling panel exploded.
Two men dropped into the room.
Gunfire erupted.
I grabbed Lila.
Damian pushed us behind a sofa.
Gabriel returned fire.
One attacker fell.
The second escaped through the window.
Silence followed.
Damian checked Lila.
“Are you hurt?”
She shook her head.
Then she pointed at the floor again.
There was a faint vibration.
A heartbeat.
Damian looked at Gabriel.
“He's still here.”
Gabriel crouched.
They followed the vibration to a hidden crawlspace.
Inside was a man clutching a phone.
Gabriel dragged him out.
“Who sent you?”
The man spat blood.
“Doesn't matter.”
Damian stepped closer.
“It matters to me.”
The man smiled.
“Your father isn't dead.”
Damian froze.
“What?”
“Victor Volkov is alive.”
I felt the world stop.
Gabriel looked stunned.
“No.”
The man laughed.
“You boys really believed that?”
Damian grabbed his collar.
“Where?”
The man refused.
Then Lila began tapping her fingers against my wrist.
One.
Two.
Three.
I recognized the pattern.
She was signaling.
Someone was near.
Damian looked toward the hallway.
The door opened.
An old man entered.
He wore a dark coat.
Silver hair.
Cold eyes.
Damian went completely still.
“Father.”
Victor Volkov smiled.
“I wondered how long it would take you to find me.”
Gabriel raised his weapon.
Victor looked at him.
“My lost son.”
Gabriel's face twisted with anger.
“You killed Mother.”
Victor's expression did not change.
“I made a mistake.”
“You abandoned me.”
“I protected the family.”
“You stole my sister.”
Victor looked at Lila.
“Yes.”
My whole body went cold.
“You know who she is.”
“Yes.”
“She isn't Eliana.”
“No.”
“Then who?”
Victor walked toward Lila.
Damian stepped between them.
“Don't.”
Victor stopped.
“You still think you're protecting her.”
“I am.”
“You cannot protect what you don't understand.”
“Then explain.”
Victor looked at me.
“Your daughter is Emma's child.”
“Yes.”
“She is also Elara's blood.”
I shook my head.
“What does that mean?”
Victor sighed.
“Elara had a daughter.”
“That's what I've been told.”
“Lila is not that child.”
I felt relief.
Then he continued.
“But she carries the same mutation.”
He looked at Damian.
“And the same bloodline.”
Damian asked, “Whose blood?”
Victor didn't answer.
He didn't have to.
Gabriel understood first.
“No.”
Victor nodded.
“Yes.”
I looked between them.
“What?”
Victor said quietly,
“Your daughter's biological father is a Volkov.”
My knees nearly gave out.
“Who?”
The answer came from Damian.
“Me?”
Victor shook his head.
“No.”
Gabriel stepped backward.
“I never met her.”
Victor said,
“You did.”
Gabriel looked at Lila.
Then at me.
“I didn't.”
“You were nineteen.”
“I was a child.”
“You spent six months with Emma's mother.”
Gabriel's face went white.
“No.”
I stared at him.
My mother had always spoken about a mysterious young man who helped her escape Grayhaven.
She had never named him.
I remembered something.
A story.
A man with dark eyes.
A silver wolf ring.
A scar on his hand.
Gabriel had all three.
Lila looked at him.
Then she smiled.
She reached for him.
He couldn't move.
“Is she mine?”
Victor nodded.
“Yes.”
The room disappeared.
My daughter looked between us.
Damian stared at Gabriel.
Gabriel looked devastated.
Then the old guard who had been captured laughed.
“You idiots still haven't figured out the real problem.”
Damian turned.
“What?”
“The girl isn't the target.”
“Then who is?”
The man smiled.
“You are.”
He looked at Gabriel.
“You were supposed to die twenty-five years ago.”
May you like
And then he swallowed a hidden capsule.
His body went limp.
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