Chapter 3 - The Photograph
The room became unbearably quiet.
I stared at the photograph.
My father's face was unmistakable.
So was the man standing beside him.
Victor Blackwell.
Alexander's father.
His white shirt was stained dark with blood.
The photograph looked old.
Six years old.
The exact year Alexander and I met.
My hands began shaking.
I looked at my husband.
"Is this real?"
Alexander didn't answer immediately.
That was enough.
My stomach dropped.
"You know this picture."
"Yes."
"Where was it taken?"
"Outside a warehouse in Camden."
"Why was my father there?"
"I don't know."
"Why was your father bleeding?"
Alexander's jaw tightened.
"Because he was shot."
"By whom?"
He looked directly into my eyes.
"I don't know."
I almost laughed.
"You expect me to believe that?"
"No."
"Then what do you expect?"
"I expect you to ask me the right questions."
I stepped closer.
"Fine."
My voice trembled.
"Did my father shoot your father?"
"I don't know."
"Did your father shoot mine?"
"No."
"Did you know about this before we got married?"
"Yes."
My chest tightened.
"How long?"
"Since the day we met."
The words hit harder than a slap.
"You knew?"
"I knew your father was involved."
"And you still dated me?"
"I didn't know what his role was."
"Six years."
"I was trying to find out."
I stared at him.
"So I was an investigation?"
"No."
"Then what was I?"
He stepped toward me.
"The best thing that ever happened to me."
I wanted to believe him.
God, I wanted to.
But the photograph was burning into my mind.
Then my mother spoke again through the phone.
"Claire, come home."
I almost said yes.
Then Alexander whispered:
"Don't."
I looked at him.
"Why?"
"Because your father isn't at home."
My mother's breathing stopped.
"What?"
Alexander looked at my phone.
"He hasn't been there since yesterday."
My heart slammed against my ribs.
"Mom?"
No response.
"Mom, where is Dad?"
Still nothing.
Then she whispered:
"Claire..."
A crash sounded in the background.
My mother screamed.
The call ended.
I froze.
Alexander immediately grabbed his jacket.
"Stay here."
"I'm coming."
"No."
"He's my father."
"And someone just broke into your mother's house."
He reached for my hand.
I pulled away.
"Don't tell me what to do."
He stopped.
I could see the pain in his eyes.
But he nodded.
"Then stay beside me."
We left through the side entrance.
Outside, rain had started again.
A black SUV waited near the curb.
Alexander opened the passenger door.
I hesitated.
"You have a driver?"
He looked almost embarrassed.
"Yes."
I got in.
For the first time, I noticed the two men in dark suits sitting in the front.
Security.
Real security.
Not the man I'd thought I married.
Something else.
Something much bigger.
The drive to my parents' house took eighteen minutes.
Nobody spoke.
When we arrived, the front door was open.
My heart stopped.
Alexander raised one hand.
The men moved ahead.
I grabbed his sleeve.
"My mother."
"We'll find her."
We entered.
The house looked untouched at first.
Then I saw the dining room.
A chair overturned.
Glass shattered across the floor.
A smear of blood on the table.
"Mom!"
I ran.
Alexander caught my arm.
"Wait."
A voice came from upstairs.
"Claire?"
My mother's voice.
I pulled free and ran.
She was sitting on the bedroom floor.
Alive.
Shaking.
Blood running down one side of her face.
I dropped beside her.
"Mom!"
She grabbed my wrist.
"Where is he?"
"Who?"
"Alexander."
I looked behind me.
He stood in the doorway.
My mother's expression changed.
"You."
Alexander froze.
She pointed at him.
"You should never have come back."
His face went pale.
"What do you mean?"
My mother looked at me.
"Claire, your father was right."
"About what?"
She began crying.
"Alexander's family didn't destroy ours."
She looked at my husband.
"Your husband did."
I stared at him.
Alexander's expression hardened.
"What are you talking about?"
My mother whispered:
"Six years ago, before you met Claire, you made a deal with her father."
Alexander didn't move.
"What deal?"
My mother looked at me.
"He promised to protect you."
I frowned.
"From what?"
She swallowed.
"From the Blackwells."
Alexander shook his head.
"That's impossible."
Then my mother said the words that changed everything.
"Because Claire wasn't supposed to marry you."
May you like
She looked directly into my eyes.
"She was supposed to marry your brother."
