Chapter 6 - The Secret Emma Never Meant to Tell HimThree days later, Vincent proposed.
Not marriage.
Protection.
He brought Emma into his office.
“You're moving into the main suite.”
She nearly choked on her coffee.
“Excuse me?”
“The guest wing is vulnerable.”
“I have guards outside my bedroom already.”
“Not enough.”
Emma narrowed her eyes.
“Are you trying to protect me or keep me under surveillance?”
“Both.”
“No.”
“Emma.”
“No.”
He sighed.
“You're impossible.”
“You hired me.”
“I regret it.”
She smiled.
“You don't.”
“No.”
He crossed the room.
“I don't.”
They kissed again.
Then Lily burst into the office.
“Daddy!”
Vincent separated from Emma instantly.
Lily stared.
“Were you kissing Emma?”
Vincent cleared his throat.
Emma turned red.
“Yes,” Lily said.
Noah appeared behind her.
“I told you.”
Vincent closed his eyes.
“This family is going to kill me.”
That evening, the twins demanded that Emma stay for dinner.
Then breakfast.
Then bedtime.
Three days later, they called her family.
Vincent pretended not to notice.
But he noticed everything.
Especially the way Emma had stopped looking like an employee.
She looked like she belonged.
Then one afternoon, a letter arrived.
No return address.
Only Emma's name.
She opened it.
The message was short.
YOUR MOTHER DIDN'T DIE IN A HIT-AND-RUN.
Emma froze.
Vincent took the paper.
“What does it say?”
She couldn't speak.
Another line appeared beneath the first.
SHE WAS WAITING FOR SOMEONE.
Vincent looked at her.
“Who?”
Emma's hands trembled.
“My father.”
Vincent went still.
Emma had always believed her father abandoned her.
She had never met him.
Her mother refused to talk about him.
But now Vincent discovered something else.
Sarah Brooks had been married to a federal prosecutor named Daniel Brooks.
Daniel disappeared six months before Sarah died.
No body was ever found.
Vincent searched every database available.
Daniel Brooks was alive.
Living under another name.
In Virginia.
They found him two days later.
Daniel opened the door.
He saw Emma.
Then he cried.
“My little girl.”
Emma stared.
“You knew where I was?”
“Yes.”
“Why didn't you come?”
“Because they were watching you.”
“You let me think you abandoned us.”
Daniel shook his head.
“I thought staying away was the only way to keep you alive.”
He gave them another piece of the puzzle.
Edward Voss had not acted alone.
A man inside Vincent's organization had helped him.
Someone who had access to every move Vincent made.
Emma looked at Vincent.
“Marcus.”
Vincent's face hardened.
Daniel nodded.
“Marcus Vale.”
The betrayal cut deep.
Marcus had been Vincent's right hand.
His father's friend.
His protector.
His family.
He had also been Claire's driver the night she died.
Vincent couldn't breathe.
Marcus had been there.
He had lied for years.
Emma touched Vincent's hand.
“We'll get the truth.”
Vincent nodded.
Then they heard a gunshot downstairs.
Everyone froze.
The twins screamed.
Vincent ran.
Marcus stood in the foyer.
His gun was pointed at Aaron.
Blood covered his shoulder.
Marcus looked at Vincent.
“You don't understand.”
Vincent raised his weapon.
“Then explain.”
Marcus dropped his gun.
“I was trying to protect Claire.”
Vincent's eyes narrowed.
“From Voss?”
“Yes.”
“Why did she die?”
Marcus looked at Emma.
“Because she trusted the wrong person.”
Emma's blood turned cold.
“Who?”
Marcus's voice broke.
“Daniel.”
Everyone turned.
Emma stared at her father.
Daniel looked away.
Vincent lowered his weapon.
May you like
For the first time, nobody knew whom to believe.
And then Daniel ran.
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