Chapter 10 - HIS MOTHER'S CONFESSION
Lucas stared at the screen.
His mother looked older.
But her eyes were unmistakable.
Cold.
Controlled.
Intelligent.
The same eyes Lucas had inherited.
“Where is Emma?”
Eleanor smiled.
“Safe.”
“Bring her back.”
“You're giving orders to the wrong person.”
Lucas stepped closer.
“You're my mother.”
“Yes.”
“You let me believe you were dead.”
“I needed you to believe it.”
“Why?”
“Because you were becoming dangerous.”
Lucas laughed bitterly.
“I became dangerous because you made me.”
Eleanor's expression softened.
“For protection.”
“You destroyed my life.”
“I saved it.”
Nathan stepped forward.
“You destroyed mine too.”
Eleanor looked at him.
For the first time, emotion crossed her face.
“My son.”
Nathan shook his head.
“You never called me that.”
“I couldn't.”
“You chose Lucas.”
“No.”
Eleanor's voice cracked.
“I chose both of you.”
Lucas stared.
“Then why separate us?”
“Because your father wanted to expose the organization.”
She paused.
“And the organization wanted all of us dead.”
Lucas looked at Sarah.
“What about Emma?”
Eleanor sighed.
“Emma was never supposed to exist.”
Nathan's face hardened.
“She was my daughter.”
“Yes.”
“And Emily?”
“Emily betrayed us.”
Nathan stepped forward.
“You killed her.”
Eleanor didn't answer.
That silence was enough.
Nathan's eyes filled with rage.
Lucas raised his gun.
“Did you kill Emily?”
Eleanor finally said:
“No.”
“Who did?”
“Vincent.”
Lucas froze.
“Then why protect him?”
“I didn't.”
“Where is he?”
Eleanor smiled.
“He's been working for someone else.”
Lucas's eyes narrowed.
“Who?”
Eleanor looked directly at the camera.
“You.”
Lucas froze.
“What?”
“You inherited your father's organization.”
“I already knew that.”
“No.”
Her voice became quiet.
“You inherited something much larger.”
She looked at the screen.
“The Blackbird network.”
Lucas stared.
Eleanor continued.
“Your father wanted to destroy it.”
“And you?”
“I wanted to control it.”
Lucas felt sick.
“All those deaths…”
“Necessary.”
“All those people?”
“Collateral.”
Nathan shook his head.
“You're insane.”
Eleanor ignored him.
“Lucas, I need you to understand something.”
“What?”
“You were never supposed to become a criminal.”
Lucas laughed.
“Really?”
“You were supposed to become the king.”
Silence.
Eleanor continued.
“Vincent failed.”
“Failed at what?”
“Training you.”
Lucas's face hardened.
“My entire life…”
“Yes.”
“Was planned?”
“Yes.”
He stepped backward.
Sarah reached for him.
Lucas stared at his mother.
Then Eleanor said:
“But there was one thing I couldn't control.”
“What?”
“Love.”
Lucas looked at Sarah.
Eleanor continued.
“Your father loved you.”
A tear appeared in her eye.
“And Nathan loved Emily.”
She paused.
“And Emily loved Emma.”
Lucas's jaw tightened.
“You took Emma because she was a threat.”
“No.”
“Then why?”
“Because Emma is the only person who can expose the entire network.”
Lucas stared.
“How?”
Eleanor smiled.
“Because your father left the final evidence inside her.”
Lucas's blood went cold.
“What does that mean?”
Eleanor's smile disappeared.
“Ask Sarah what happened the night Emma was born.”
Lucas turned.
Sarah's face had gone pale.
“Sarah?”
She said nothing.
Lucas stepped closer.
“What happened?”
Sarah began crying.
“I didn't want this.”
“What happened?”
She whispered:
“Emma wasn't born in Boston.”
Lucas stared.
“Where?”
Sarah looked at Nathan.
“Inside a Blackbird safe house.”
Nathan's face changed.
“What?”
Sarah closed her eyes.
“And your father was there.”
Lucas stopped breathing.
“My father?”
Sarah nodded.
“He held Emma the night she was born.”
Lucas stared at the screen.
Eleanor whispered:
“And he left you a message.”
The screen went black.
Then a new video appeared.
Richard Blackwood.
Older.
Tired.
Blood on his shirt.
He looked directly into the camera.
“If you're watching this, Lucas…”
He paused.
“Your mother has betrayed us.”
Lucas stopped breathing.
Richard continued:
“And your brother is not the man you think he is.”
Nathan's face went white.
Then the video ended.
Lucas slowly turned toward Nathan.
Nathan whispered:
May you like
“Lucas…”
But Lucas had already raised his gun.
