Chapter 6 - MY SON WAS TAKEN
I don't remember crossing the hallway.
One second I was standing beside Samuel.
The next I was at the broken window.
“NOAH!”
Emily screamed his name.
I looked outside.
The backyard was empty.
Marcus ran toward the road.
“Daniel!”
I climbed through the window.
There were tire tracks in the mud.
Fresh.
I followed them to the fence.
A black SUV was already disappearing down the road.
I ran after it.
It was pointless.
The vehicle vanished around a bend.
Emily came outside barefoot.
“Where is he?”
I couldn't answer.
Her face collapsed.
“No.”
She grabbed my jacket.
“Where is my son?”
“I'll get him.”
“You said you'd protect him.”
“I will.”
“You promised.”
“I know.”
Her hands were shaking.
Marcus returned.
“We need to think.”
“I am thinking.”
“No. You're panicking.”
I turned on him.
“My son was kidnapped.”
“I know.”
“Then get me a helicopter.”
“We don't know where they're going.”
Samuel stepped forward.
“I do.”
Everyone turned.
He pointed at the road.
“They'll take him to the old Whitmore property.”
“What property?”
“Black Creek.”
My blood went cold.
“Why?”
“Because your father built an underground facility there.”
I stared at him.
“What kind of facility?”
“Private medical and security compound.”
Emily whispered, “That's where Richard took Noah.”
“When?”
“When he was three.”
I looked at her.
“You've never told me.”
“I was trying to forget.”
Samuel shook his head.
“You can't forget this.”
We drove.
Marcus drove like a man who knew every second mattered.
Samuel sat in the passenger seat.
I sat beside Emily.
She stared out the window.
“I should have told you.”
I took her hand.
She pulled away.
“Not now.”
“I know.”
“You don't understand what it was like.”
“I want to.”
“No.”
She looked at me.
“You want to save Noah.”
“Yes.”
“You don't get to become his father because he's in danger.”
The words hurt.
But I deserved them.
“I know.”
She looked away.
After an hour, we reached Black Creek.
The property looked abandoned.
A large stone building stood among the trees.
Broken windows.
Rusting gates.
No lights.
Samuel showed us a hidden entrance.
Inside was a corridor.
Cold.
Concrete.
Old security cameras lined the ceiling.
Then we heard something.
A child's voice.
“Mom?”
Emily nearly collapsed.
“NOAH!”
We ran.
A metal door opened.
Noah was inside.
He was frightened but unharmed.
I rushed toward him.
A man stepped from the shadows.
Victor Kane.
He was in his sixties.
Silver hair.
Perfect suit.
Calm eyes.
He looked at me.
“You have your father's eyes.”
I stepped between him and Noah.
“Move.”
Victor smiled.
“You think this is about kidnapping.”
“What is it?”
“Correction.”
He pointed at Noah.
“Your father made a promise.”
“My father is dead.”
“His promises aren't.”
Victor walked closer.
“He created a trust that would preserve the Whitmore empire for generations.”
“And?”
“Richard wanted control.”
“So you worked for him?”
Victor smiled.
“I worked for your father.”
I felt sick.
“What did he want?”
“Your father knew you were becoming reckless.”
Emily stiffened.
“He was afraid you would destroy the company.”
“So he used my children?”
“He protected them.”
I stepped forward.
“You threatened Emily.”
“No.”
Victor looked at her.
“Your father did.”
Emily's eyes filled with anger.
“You burned my house.”
Victor shook his head.
“No.”
“Then who?”
“Richard.”
“But Richard is dead.”
Victor's face changed.
“Yes.”
I frowned.
“What?”
“Richard died six years ago.”
“Then who sent the letter?”
Victor looked at me.
“You did.”
I froze.
“What?”
He reached into his coat.
Pulled out a letter.
My handwriting.
My name.
My signature.
I stared at it.
“I never wrote that.”
Victor smiled.
“You did nine years ago.”
My blood ran cold.
He handed it to me.
It was an old letter.
Written the week Emily left.
I read the first line.
Emily,
If anything happens to me, take the children to Kentucky.
My hands began shaking.
“I didn't write this.”
Victor nodded.
“No.”
He looked at Samuel.
“He did.”
Samuel lowered his head.
I turned toward him.
“You?”
Samuel's voice broke.
“Your father forced me.”
“To do what?”
“To forge your signature.”
Emily stepped backward.
“Why?”
Samuel looked at her.
“Because your father knew Richard would kill Daniel if he discovered the children.”
I stared at him.
“Then why didn't he tell me?”
Samuel's eyes filled with tears.
“Because your father was dying.”
Silence.
“He wanted to protect you.”
I looked at Noah.
Then Emily.
Then Victor.
“Where is Richard?”
Victor's face became grim.
“Dead.”
“Then who has been threatening us?”
He looked at me.
“Someone your father never told you about.”
“Who?”
Victor whispered:
“Your brother.”
My heart stopped.
“I don't have a brother.”
Victor stared at me.
May you like
“Yes, Daniel.”
“You do.”
