Chapter 6 - THE MAN WHO RAISED HIM
Lucas stood motionless in the security room.
The screen showed the car disappearing through the gates.
Harold was sitting beside Vincent.
The man Lucas had trusted more than anyone.
The man who had known every family secret.
The man who had raised Lucas after his father's death.
Emma stood behind him.
“Mr. Blackwood?”
Lucas turned.
“Stay with Daniel.”
“But—”
“Please.”
Emma nodded.
Lucas looked at Daniel.
“If anything happens to her…”
Daniel interrupted.
“I know.”
Lucas grabbed his coat.
He walked toward the garage.
Daniel followed.
“Where are you going?”
“To find Vincent.”
“And Harold?”
Lucas stopped.
“To find out which one betrayed me.”
They drove through Boston.
Rain poured against the windshield.
Daniel finally spoke.
“There's something you need to understand.”
Lucas stared ahead.
“What?”
“Your father wasn't killed because of money.”
Lucas said nothing.
“He was killed because he wanted to expose a network operating inside Boston.”
“What network?”
“Politicians. Judges. Police officers. Businessmen.”
Lucas's hands tightened.
“And Vincent?”
“He was part of it.”
Lucas shook his head.
“No.”
“He was.”
“My uncle helped build this organization.”
“Exactly.”
Lucas looked at him.
Daniel continued.
“Your father discovered the network was using the Blackwood organization to move money and eliminate witnesses.”
“Why didn't he go to the police?”
“Because some of them were involved.”
Lucas's jaw tightened.
“And my brother?”
Daniel looked away.
“Your father discovered that your brother had been born.”
Lucas frowned.
“Why would that matter?”
“Because your brother's mother was an undercover witness.”
Lucas stared.
“Who?”
“Emily.”
Lucas's breathing stopped.
“Emily Carter?”
Daniel nodded.
“She and your brother were trying to expose Vincent.”
Lucas finally understood.
His father's secret family.
Emily's disappearance.
Sarah's fear.
Emma's existence.
It was all connected.
“Where is my brother?”
Daniel looked at him.
“You're going to hate the answer.”
“Tell me.”
“He's been working inside Vincent's organization.”
Lucas slammed his hand against the steering wheel.
“Why?”
“To destroy it from within.”
Lucas stared at the road.
Then his phone rang.
Unknown number.
He answered.
A man's voice said:
“Lucas.”
Lucas froze.
The voice sounded familiar.
Too familiar.
“Who is this?”
A pause.
Then:
“You've spent your entire life believing you were alone.”
Lucas's eyes narrowed.
“Who are you?”
The man laughed quietly.
“You're looking at my childhood bedroom.”
Lucas stopped breathing.
“What?”
The voice continued.
“Your father used to tell me stories about you.”
Lucas looked at Daniel.
Daniel nodded slowly.
“It's him.”
Lucas whispered:
“My brother.”
The voice said:
“My name is Nathan Blackwood.”
Lucas's entire world shifted.
Nathan continued.
“And Vincent has Sarah.”
Lucas's eyes hardened.
“Where?”
“Blackwood Cemetery.”
Lucas slammed the accelerator.
“Why would he take her there?”
“Because that's where our father was buried.”
Lucas's jaw clenched.
“What does he want?”
Nathan answered:
“He wants the truth buried with him.”
The call ended.
Lucas looked at Daniel.
“Take me there.”
Daniel shook his head.
“It's a trap.”
“I know.”
“You'll die.”
May you like
Lucas's eyes were cold.
“Then Vincent better be ready.”
