Chapter 5 - THE FATHER'S SECRET
Vincent denied signing the file.
He didn't hesitate.
“I didn't.”
I placed the document on his desk.
“Your signature is there.”
“Forged.”
“You're sure?”
“Yes.”
He stared at the paper.
I watched his face.
For the first time, I saw something deeper than anger.
Fear.
Not for himself.
For me.
“Claire, listen carefully.”
“No.”
His eyes lifted.
“I need the truth.”
“You're getting it.”
“Everything.”
He was silent.
Then he sat down.
“My father created the Black Ledger.”
“I know.”
“My brother Marcus helped him.”
“I know.”
“Marcus was supposed to die.”
I froze.
“What?”
“He betrayed my father.”
Vincent leaned back.
“Marcus discovered what the ledger contained. He wanted out.”
“So your father killed him?”
“We thought he did.”
“But he didn't.”
“No.”
“Then why didn't you look for him?”
“I did.”
“For how long?”
“Ten years.”
I stared at him.
“Why stop?”
“Because every person I sent to find him disappeared.”
My chest tightened.
“You thought he was killing them.”
“I thought he was protecting himself.”
“From you?”
“From everyone.”
Vincent rubbed his forehead.
“Marcus became obsessed with control. He believed the only way to survive was to become more dangerous than the people hunting him.”
I looked at the file.
“And me?”
“That part wasn't mine.”
“Then whose?”
Vincent looked at me.
“Marcus.”
The room seemed colder.
“Why would he investigate me?”
“Because of your mother.”
My breath caught.
“What does she have to do with him?”
“She helped my father.”
I shook my head.
“My mother worked for the government.”
“She worked both sides.”
“No.”
“She was trying to expose the ledger.”
I stared at him.
“Then why did she never tell me?”
“Because she believed silence would keep you alive.”
I sat down.
Suddenly, memories returned.
My mother hiding letters.
My father arguing with someone late at night.
The strange phone calls.
The night my father disappeared, my mother had told me to pack a bag.
She had been crying.
I had been nineteen.
I hadn't understood.
I understood now.
“She knew my father was alive.”
“Yes.”
“Why didn't she tell me?”
“Because she believed someone was watching you.”
“Was someone?”
Vincent nodded.
“Me.”
I looked at him.
“What?”
“I had men watching your family.”
My heart broke.
“You knew?”
“Yes.”
“For how long?”
“Since before you came to work for me.”
“Why did you hire me?”
His voice softened.
“Because I wanted to protect you.”
“From Marcus?”
“From everyone.”
I stood.
“You should have told me.”
“I couldn't.”
“You didn't trust me.”
“I trusted you more than anyone.”
“Then why?”
“Because if you knew what I knew, you would have become a target.”
I laughed bitterly.
“I became one anyway.”
“Yes.”
He looked at me.
“And that's what I regret most.”
Silence stretched.
Then I stepped closer.
“Do you regret loving me?”
His eyes met mine.
“No.”
The answer was immediate.
“Never.”
My heart broke open.
He reached for my hand.
I let him.
For a few seconds, neither of us spoke.
Then the lights went out.
The entire house plunged into darkness.
A gunshot cracked downstairs.
Vincent pulled me behind him.
“Stay here.”
“No.”
“Claire.”
Another shot.
Then a scream.
Vincent grabbed a weapon from the desk.
“Lock the door.”
He left.
I heard footsteps.
Shouting.
A crash.
Then silence.
Five minutes passed.
Ten.
I opened the door.
The hallway was empty.
A trail of blood led toward the staircase.
“Vincent?”
No answer.
I followed it.
At the bottom, one of the guards lay unconscious.
And beside him was a note.
I picked it up.
Only six words were written.
BRING CLAIRE TO THE OLD MARLOWE HOUSE.
I turned.
Someone was standing behind me.
A voice whispered into my ear.
“Your father should have told you sooner.”
May you like
I spun around.
Marcus Marlowe smiled.
