Chapter 3 - THE MAN WHO WAS DEAD
Emergency lights flooded the hallway.
Mercer grabbed my hospital bed and pushed it toward the private elevator.
Natalie stayed behind us.
“Move!”
“Where?”
“Secure floor.”
I heard shouting outside.
Then another gunshot.
Julian was gone.
For the first time, I realized something terrifying.
He hadn't come to the hospital to kill me.
He had come because someone was trying to kill him.
The elevator doors opened.
We rushed inside.
Mercer pressed the button.
The doors closed.
I stared at him.
“Who shot at Julian?”
“We don't know.”
“Is it the Vances?”
“We don't know.”
“Then find out.”
He looked at me.
“You're not afraid anymore.”
“No.”
I placed my hand over my belly.
“I'm angry.”
The elevator opened into a secure underground level.
A black SUV waited.
But before I could enter, a man stepped from the shadows.
Tall.
Thin.
Dark coat.
He removed his baseball cap.
My breath caught.
Those eyes.
That jaw.
That scar above his eyebrow.
I knew him.
Even though my mind refused to accept it.
“Ethan?”
He nodded.
“Hello, Clara.”
I couldn't move.
“You're alive.”
“I've been alive for seven years.”
I stared at him.
“Why didn't you find me?”
“I tried.”
He looked at Mercer.
“They stopped me every time.”
I stepped toward him.
“Why does Julian think my baby is yours?”
Ethan's face changed.
“Because it is.”
Everything inside me went silent.
“No.”
He swallowed.
“Clara…”
I shook my head.
“No. That's impossible.”
“You were pregnant before you married Julian.”
I stared at him.
“I wasn't.”
“You were.”
He reached inside his coat.
He pulled out an old photograph.
Me.
Seven years ago.
Pregnant.
My knees nearly gave way.
“I lost that baby.”
“No.”
Ethan's voice broke.
“You were told you lost the baby.”
He looked directly into my eyes.
“But you didn't.”
I couldn't breathe.
“What happened?”
“The Vances took the child.”
I stared at him.
“Why?”
“Because they discovered the baby carried a genetic mutation that could expose their biological connection to another family.”
Mercer interrupted.
“Ethan, we don't have time.”
Ethan nodded.
He turned to me.
“Clara, your baby inside you isn't the first child they took.”
My heart shattered.
“There was another?”
“Yes.”
He looked toward the elevator.
“And that child is alive.”
The doors opened behind us.
Julian stepped out.
His hands were raised.
Blood covered his shirt.
He looked at Ethan.
His face went white.
“Brother.”
Ethan stared at him.
“Hello, Julian.”
Julian backed away.
“You're supposed to be dead.”
Ethan smiled.
“That was the story your father told you.”
Julian looked at me.
Then at Ethan.
Then at my belly.
“You don't understand.”
I stared at him.
“Then explain.”
He opened his mouth.
Nothing came out.
Because behind him stood Arthur Vance.
Handcuffed.
Surrounded by agents.
Arthur looked at Ethan.
And whispered:
“You should have stayed dead.”
Ethan answered:
“You should have stayed honest.”
Then Arthur smiled.
“It's already too late.”
May you like
He looked at me.
“The child has already been found.”
