Chapter 9 - The Trap
Valerie called at midnight.
Norah answered.
“Hello?”
“I know where your father is.”
Norah froze.
“Where?”
“Come to the Bellmont Hotel.”
“No.”
“You want answers.”
“Yes.”
“Then come alone.”
Norah hung up.
Dominic was already standing behind her.
“You're not going.”
“She knows where my father is.”
“She wants you to think that.”
“What if she's telling the truth?”
“Then we'll find him another way.”
Norah shook her head.
“I can't keep waiting.”
Dominic grabbed his coat.
“Fine.”
“You're coming?”
“Yes.”
“You said—”
“I know what I said.”
They returned to the Bellmont.
The building was empty.
Valerie stood in the lobby.
She wore a red dress.
No guards.
No fear.
“You came.”
Dominic stepped forward.
“Where is her father?”
Valerie smiled.
“You're still protecting her.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because she deserves it.”
Valerie laughed.
“You really don't understand.”
“Explain.”
“Norah isn't Elena's daughter.”
Norah felt the world tilt.
“What?”
Valerie looked at her.
“Your mother adopted you.”
“No.”
“Your real parents were killed.”
“Stop.”
“Your father was never your biological father.”
Norah shook her head.
“You're lying.”
Valerie reached into her purse.
She produced a birth certificate.
Norah stared.
The name of her biological mother was different.
So was her father.
Dominic looked at the document.
“This can be forged.”
Valerie smiled.
“Of course.”
Then the lights went out.
Gunfire erupted.
Dominic pushed Norah behind a marble column.
Men stormed through the doors.
Valerie disappeared.
Dominic fired back.
Norah crawled across the floor.
Then she saw something.
A man dragging her father toward the elevator.
“Dad!”
Her father looked back.
“Norah, run!”
Dominic saw him.
“Stay here.”
“No!”
Dominic chased them.
The elevator doors closed.
Norah followed.
When she reached the elevator, there was only a note on the floor.
She picked it up.
May you like
ASK DOMINIC WHY HE WAS AT THE HOSPITAL THE NIGHT YOU WERE BORN.
Norah's blood ran cold.
