Chapter 8 - THE FAMILY SECRET
The house erupted.
Nora grabbed her mother's hand.
"Move."
They ran down the hallway.
David appeared at the staircase.
"Where's Julian?"
"With Richard."
"Where's Charles?"
"Downstairs."
David looked at Eleanor.
"Can you walk?"
"Yes."
"Then stay behind me."
They descended.
The living room looked like a battlefield.
Furniture overturned.
Glass shattered.
Security guards lying unconscious.
Richard stood near the fireplace.
Julian was beside him.
Charles was nowhere.
Nora looked around.
"Where's my father?"
Richard pointed toward the library.
"He ran."
David followed.
Nora started after him.
Julian caught her.
"Wait."
"No."
"Nora, listen."
"What?"
He held up the letter.
"I found something."
"What?"
"A second page."
She read it.
The Montgomery family did not create the foundation to help veterans.
Nora's stomach tightened.
It was created to hide the family fortune after your grandfather's companies became involved in illegal weapons contracts.
She stopped.
Weapons.
The veterans.
The money.
The foundation.
Everything connected.
Julian continued.
"Your grandfather used the charity to move money overseas."
"Why veterans?"
"Because nobody questions a charity that appears to help heroes."
Nora felt sick.
"And my father?"
"Your father inherited the operation."
Richard walked toward them.
"Not inherited."
Nora looked at him.
"Forced."
Richard continued.
"Your grandfather threatened Charles."
"Why?"
"Because Charles wanted out."
Nora stared.
"My father wanted out?"
"Once."
"What changed?"
"Rebecca."
Eleanor spoke softly.
"Your father loved her."
Nora turned.
"My mother?"
"Yes."
"He loved her?"
Richard nodded.
"They were siblings."
Nora stared.
"I don't understand."
"Not that kind of love."
Richard sighed.
"Charles loved Rebecca more than he loved himself."
"Then why did he betray her?"
"Because your grandfather gave him a choice."
Nora whispered.
"What choice?"
"Rebecca dies."
Richard paused.
"Or Charles takes her place."
Silence.
Nora looked at her mother.
"Did he choose?"
Eleanor nodded.
"Rebecca died."
Nora closed her eyes.
For the first time, she understood the look her father had carried for years.
Not pride.
Not power.
Guilt.
It had been guilt.
Julian touched her shoulder.
"There's more."
She opened her eyes.
"What?"
He held up the second page.
Charles will pretend he betrayed me.
He did not.
He was trying to protect Nora.
Nora stared.
"What?"
Eleanor began crying.
"Your father paid for your safety."
"From whom?"
"Everyone."
David entered the room.
"That's not the whole story."
He held a file.
"The real problem is still alive."
Nora looked at him.
"Who?"
David opened the file.
A photograph fell out.
It showed a man in his seventies.
Nora recognized him immediately.
Her grandfather.
Except the date on the photograph was yesterday.
She stared.
"He's alive?"
Richard nodded.
"Yes."
"Where?"
David looked at Charles's empty office.
"Here."
A slow clap echoed from the hallway.
Everyone turned.
An elderly man walked into the room.
Silver hair.
Black cane.
Perfect suit.
Nora had not seen him in twenty years.
But she knew him.
Her grandfather.
Henry Montgomery.
He smiled.
"My granddaughter."
Nora couldn't speak.
Henry looked at Julian.
"So you're the nobody."
Julian stared back.
Henry laughed.
"Rebecca always had terrible taste in men."
Richard stepped forward.
"You killed her."
Henry shook his head.
"No."
He looked at Nora.
"She killed herself."
Nora screamed.
"You lied!"
Henry's smile disappeared.
"No."
He tapped his cane against the floor.
"Your mother killed herself because she discovered the truth about you."
Nora froze.
"About me?"
Henry nodded.
"You're not simply Rebecca's daughter."
Julian stepped closer.
"What does that mean?"
Henry looked at Nora.
"Your mother wasn't supposed to have a child."
"Why?"
"Because your birth certificate is false."
Nora's heart stopped.
"What?"
Henry smiled.
"Your real father is alive."
Eleanor collapsed into a chair.
Nora turned toward her.
"Mom?"
Eleanor couldn't speak.
Henry looked at Julian.
"And that man has been searching for Nora for twenty-three years."
Nora whispered:
"Who?"
Henry leaned on his cane.
"Your father's greatest enemy."
Then the front doors exploded inward.
Federal agents rushed inside.
Daniel Price entered behind them.
He pointed at Henry.
"Enough."
Henry smiled.
"You're late."
Price looked at Nora.
"We need to talk."
David raised his weapon.
"No."
Price smiled.
"This time, David, you don't get a choice."
He lifted his gun.
"Because your wife is in the car."
David froze.
Nora looked at him.
Price smiled.
"And if anyone moves..."
May you like
He glanced toward the window.
"...she dies."
