Chapter 7 - The Truth That Nearly Destroyed ThemDaniel Brooks disappeared before anyone could stop him.
Emma refused to believe he was guilty.
Vincent wanted to.
Not because he trusted Voss.
Because he had learned the hard way that every secret left a body behind.
They discovered Daniel had been working undercover for the government.
He had infiltrated Voss's organization.
But someone betrayed him.
Sarah knew.
Claire knew.
Marcus knew.
And now Emma knew.
The missing piece was still Voss.
Vincent found Marcus in an abandoned warehouse.
“You killed Claire?”
“No.”
“You drove her that night.”
“Yes.”
“Who attacked her?”
Marcus looked at him.
“Daniel.”
Vincent froze.
“He wasn't trying to kill her.”
“Then what?”
“He was trying to warn her.”
Marcus revealed the truth.
Daniel had discovered Voss planned to kill Sarah and Claire.
He tried to get them into protective custody.
But he had been too late.
Voss intercepted them.
Sarah died.
Claire escaped briefly.
She called Marcus.
Then Voss found her.
Marcus had arrived moments after the shooting.
He carried Claire to safety.
She died in his arms.
The entire time, Vincent believed Marcus had betrayed him.
He had not.
He had protected the truth.
Emma listened from the doorway.
“Then why did you lie?”
Marcus looked at her.
“Because Voss told me he'd kill the twins.”
Emma covered her mouth.
Marcus had lived with the guilt for years.
Vincent stared at him.
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because I knew you'd go after him.”
Vincent's expression was empty.
“I would have.”
Marcus nodded.
“And you would have died.”
Silence.
Then an explosion shook the building.
Voss had found them.
Men stormed the warehouse.
Vincent pushed Emma behind him.
Gunfire erupted.
Marcus fought beside Vincent.
For the first time in years, they fought together instead of against one another.
They escaped through a rear tunnel.
But Emma was hit.
Not by a bullet.
By falling debris.
She collapsed.
Vincent caught her.
“Emma!”
Her eyes fluttered.
“I’m okay.”
“No.”
“I am.”
“You're bleeding.”
“It's a scratch.”
He stared at her.
She smiled.
“You really need to stop looking terrified every time I get hurt.”
“You keep getting hurt.”
“Because your life is insane.”
“You're leaving.”
She looked at him.
“What?”
“When this is over.”
“No.”
“Emma.”
“No.”
“You deserve a normal life.”
“So do you.”
“I don't know how.”
“I can teach you.”
He stared at her.
Then kissed her.
Behind them, Aaron groaned.
“Could we maybe finish fighting the criminal mastermind before the romance?”
Emma laughed.
Vincent actually smiled.
Later that night, the twins slept between them.
Not because they were afraid.
Because they wanted to.
Lily held Emma's hand.
Noah held Vincent's.
For the first time, Vincent understood what Claire had meant.
Love wasn't a weakness.
It was the reason to keep fighting.
Then his phone rang.
Voss.
“Come alone.”
Vincent answered.
“Where?”
“The old Calder estate.”
Vincent's eyes narrowed.
“My father's house.”
“Bring the woman.”
Emma looked at him.
Voss continued.
“She has something I need.”
“What?”
“Her mother's blood.”
May you like
Then the line went dead.
Vincent knew the final confrontation had arrived.
