Chapter 6 - ISABELLA
The man in the gray suit stepped closer.
“My name is Adrian Voss.”
I knew the name.
Everyone in my world did.
Adrian Voss didn't belong to any family.
He belonged to himself.
He had spent twenty years manipulating rival organizations against each other.
Nobody knew where his loyalty ended.
Or where his ambition began.
“What do you want?”
“Your son.”
“You'll never have him.”
Voss smiled.
“That's what your father said.”
I fired.
He ducked.
The bullet struck the wall.
His men raised their weapons.
Then the lights exploded.
Darkness.
Elena grabbed Daniel.
“Run!”
We disappeared into the subway tunnel.
Behind us, gunfire echoed.
We ran until Daniel began struggling to breathe.
I picked him up.
Elena pointed ahead.
“There!”
An old maintenance room.
We locked ourselves inside.
Daniel's heart monitor wasn't with us.
I felt his pulse.
Too fast.
“What's happening?”
“Panic,” Elena said.
“He needs medication.”
She opened the emergency kit.
“Hold him.”
I did.
She administered the medicine.
Daniel slowly relaxed.
Then he whispered:
“Mommy is alive.”
Elena looked away.
I stared at her.
“Is she?”
“Yes.”
“Where?”
“I don't know.”
“You've lied to me all night.”
“I've told you the truth you were ready to hear.”
I nearly exploded.
“What does that mean?”
She looked at me.
“Six years ago, Isabella came to me after Daniel was born.”
“Why?”
“She was running.”
“From my father?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“She discovered the Black Ledger.”
I remembered the name.
“She found proof your father controlled people in government. Judges. Police commanders. Doctors.”
“And Daniel?”
“He was born carrying information your father wanted.”
I frowned.
“A child can't carry information.”
“Not intentionally.”
She opened the red folder.
There was another document.
A genetic report.
I read it.
Daniel carried a rare genetic marker.
The marker belonged to a bloodline connected to a European banking dynasty.
I looked at Elena.
“What does this have to do with my father?”
“Money.”
“How much?”
She swallowed.
“Thirty-two billion dollars.”
I stared at her.
Daniel shifted in my arms.
“The money belongs to him?”
“Legally, yes.”
I understood.
My father hadn't protected Daniel because he loved him.
He had hidden Daniel because Daniel was valuable.
Very valuable.
“Who else knows?”
“Voss.”
“Who else?”
“People inside your organization.”
My jaw tightened.
“Names.”
“I don't know all of them.”
“Give me the ones you know.”
She hesitated.
Then said:
“Vincent.”
My heart stopped.
“What?”
“Vincent Kane.”
“No.”
“He worked for your father before he worked for you.”
“He was fourteen when my father died.”
“He was twenty-six.”
I stared.
Vincent had lied about his age.
About his history.
About everything.
Suddenly, a sound came from outside.
Footsteps.
Then Vincent's voice.
“Gabriel?”
I raised my gun.
Elena whispered:
“Don't trust him.”
The door opened.
Vincent stood there.
Blood covered his shirt.
He looked exhausted.
“Boss.”
I aimed directly at his chest.
He stopped.
His eyes dropped to the weapon.
“What happened?”
“You tell me.”
He slowly raised his hands.
“Gabriel…”
“Did you work for my father?”
Silence.
Then Vincent nodded.
“Yes.”
Daniel opened his eyes.
“Uncle Vincent?”
Vincent looked devastated.
“I didn't betray you.”
“Then prove it.”
Vincent reached inside his jacket.
I tightened my grip.
He slowly pulled out a photograph.
It showed Isabella.
Alive.
Holding a newborn baby.
Daniel.
And standing beside her was my father.
On the back was a handwritten message.
THE BOY MUST NEVER KNOW WHO HIS FATHER REALLY IS.
I looked at Vincent.
“What does that mean?”
Vincent's eyes filled with regret.
“It means your father wasn't hiding Daniel from your enemies.”
May you like
He looked at me.
“He was hiding Daniel from you.”
