Chapter 7 - THE MAN WHO SHOULD HAVE BEEN DEAD
They traced the call to an abandoned train station.
Ronan insisted Mirabelle stay behind.
She refused.
"I'm coming."
"No."
"My father called me."
"I know."
"Then I'm coming."
Ronan stared at her.
Finally, he nodded.
They arrived just before dawn.
The station was empty.
Dust covered the benches.
An old clock had stopped at 4:17.
Then footsteps echoed.
A man emerged from the darkness.
Older.
Thinner.
Gray at the temples.
But unmistakable.
Mirabelle stopped breathing.
"Dad?"
Daniel Hayes looked at her.
Tears filled his eyes.
"Mirabelle."
She ran.
He caught her.
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Then she hit his chest.
"You were alive."
"I know."
"You let us believe you were dead."
"I had to."
"You left me."
"I was trying to save you."
"You weren't there when Mom died."
Daniel closed his eyes.
"I know."
"You weren't there when Kellen broke his arm."
"I know."
"You weren't there when the electricity was shut off."
"I know."
Her voice broke.
"I needed you."
Daniel looked at her.
"And I needed to stay away so you could live."
Ronan watched silently.
Daniel finally looked at him.
"You kept your promise."
Ronan nodded.
"I told you I would."
Mirabelle looked between them.
"What promise?"
Daniel said:
"If I disappeared, Ronan would protect my children."
Mirabelle turned toward Ronan.
"So all these years..."
"Yes."
Daniel suddenly grabbed his chest.
Ronan moved.
A suppressed gunshot cracked from the roof.
Daniel fell.
Mirabelle screamed.
Ronan dragged her behind a concrete pillar.
His men returned fire.
The assassin vanished.
Daniel was bleeding but alive.
Ronan knelt beside him.
"Who ordered it?"
Daniel coughed.
"Victor."
"Victor Hale?"
Daniel nodded.
Then he looked at Mirabelle.
"There's something you need to know."
"What?"
"Your mother didn't die."
Mirabelle stared.
"What?"
Daniel's voice became a whisper.
"She was taken."
"By Victor?"
"No."
He looked at Ronan.
"By someone closer."
Ronan's expression darkened.
"Who?"
Daniel's eyes closed.
May you like
Before losing consciousness, he whispered one word.
"Brandon."
