Chapter 5 - The Man Who Betrayed Nathaniel Was Much Closer Than We Realized—and He Had Been Watching Mia for YearsThe investigation began with a name.
Victor Shaw.
Nathaniel's former attorney.
Adrian found him within six hours.
He was living quietly in Connecticut.
Retired.
Married.
Two children.
Perfect life.
Too perfect.
We drove there together.
Mia stayed with Adrian's security team.
When Victor opened the door, he recognized me immediately.
His face changed.
“You.”
I stepped inside.
“Hello, Victor.”
He backed away.
“You should not be here.”
“Why?”
“Because if Nathaniel knows you're alive…”
“He already knows.”
Victor's hands trembled.
Adrian stepped beside me.
Victor looked at him.
“Kane.”
“Shaw.”
They knew each other.
That surprised me.
Adrian said:
“You've been hiding.”
Victor laughed nervously.
“Everyone hides from the Cross family.”
I stared at him.
“Did you betray Nathaniel?”
He looked at me.
Then down.
“Yes.”
My chest tightened.
“Why?”
“They threatened my family.”
“What did you tell them?”
“Where Nathaniel was.”
I felt sick.
“And the pregnancy?”
He closed his eyes.
“You knew?”
“Yes.”
“Did you tell them about Mia?”
Victor began crying.
“No.”
I stepped closer.
“Then who did?”
He shook his head.
“I don't know.”
Adrian's phone rang.
He answered.
His face changed.
“Where?”
He looked at me.
“Come with me.”
We rushed back to Manhattan.
Mia was missing.
For thirty-seven minutes.
Thirty-seven minutes that nearly killed me.
Security found her in the building's private library.
She was sitting on the floor with Gerald.
Beside her was a man.
Nathaniel.
I froze.
Mia looked up.
“Mommy!”
I ran to her.
I grabbed her.
Nathaniel stood slowly.
Seven years had changed him.
He was thinner.
There was a scar across his left cheek.
His eyes were colder.
But it was him.
My husband.
My daughter's father.
The man I had loved.
The man I had buried without a grave.
Mia looked at him.
“Are you Daddy?”
Nathaniel couldn't speak.
Then he nodded.
“Yes.”
Mia smiled.
“You're handsome.”
He laughed.
A broken sound.
Then he knelt.
“I'm sorry.”
Mia hugged him.
I couldn't move.
Adrian stood behind me.
Nathaniel looked at him.
“Kane.”
“Cross.”
They stared at each other.
Then Nathaniel said:
“Thank you.”
Adrian nodded.
“For what?”
“For keeping them alive.”
I looked at Nathaniel.
“You don't get to walk back into our lives.”
“I know.”
“You don't get to decide when you're a father.”
“I know.”
“You left.”
“I know.”
“Seven years.”
“I know.”
I slapped him.
The room went silent.
Nathaniel didn't move.
“I deserved that.”
I slapped him again.
He closed his eyes.
“I deserved that too.”
I cried.
“I thought you were dead.”
“I know.”
“I buried you every night.”
“I know.”
“Then why?”
He looked at Mia.
“Because they would have killed her.”
I whispered:
“Who?”
“My family.”
I stared.
He continued.
“They wanted the Cross empire preserved.”
“And you?”
“I wanted out.”
“Why?”
“Because I discovered what they were doing.”
He paused.
“People disappearing.”
“Money laundering.”
“Blackmail.”
“Trafficking.”
“I tried to expose them.”
“That's why they tried to kill you?”
“Yes.”
“And you survived.”
“Yes.”
“Why didn't you come back?”
He looked at me.
“Because Samuel found you once.”
I froze.
“When?”
“Before Mia was born.”
I remembered.
The strange car.
The man outside the apartment.
The note on my windshield.
I had forgotten.
Nathaniel hadn't.
“He was watching you.”
I held Mia tighter.
“And now?”
“He wants her.”
Adrian stepped forward.
“Then he won't get her.”
Nathaniel looked at him.
“You don't know what you're dealing with.”
Adrian's expression hardened.
“I know enough.”
Nathaniel smiled.
“Then you know this war won't end quietly.”
Adrian answered:
“Neither will I.”
I looked between them.
Two powerful men.
Both willing to protect my daughter.
May you like
And for the first time, I wondered whether the greatest danger wasn't Nathaniel's return.
Maybe it was what his return would awaken.
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