Chapter 9 - THE NIGHT EVERYTHING EXPLODED

The police arrived within minutes.

The entire street was blocked off.

Neighbors stood outside watching.

But I didn’t care.

I only cared about one thing.

Sophie.

She was shaking in my arms.

“Daddy…”

“I’m here.”

“Are they coming back?”

I held her tighter.

“No one is taking you.”

But deep down…

I wasn’t sure.

Detective Harris inspected the window.

“This wasn’t random.”

I looked at him.

“What do you mean?”

He pointed at the floor.

A small object lay near the broken glass.

A warning.

Not a weapon.

Not an accident.

A message.

Someone wanted us scared.

Jason stood behind me.

Quiet.

Too quiet.

I turned.

“You knew this would happen.”

His face changed.

“No.”

“You knew who did it.”

Jason didn’t answer.

That was enough.

I walked toward him.

“Who?”

He looked away.

“Jason.”

His shoulders dropped.

“I made mistakes.”

“What mistakes?”

He took a deep breath.

“I helped Rachel.”

My jaw tightened.

“Why?”

“Because she convinced me you were dangerous.”

I stared at him.

“You believed that?”

“I saw you angry sometimes.”

I almost couldn’t believe what I was hearing.

“So you helped destroy my family because my wife told you a story?”

Jason looked ashamed.

“I thought I was protecting Sophie.”

I shook my head.

“No.”

I pointed upstairs.

“You were protecting Rachel.”

He had no answer.

Detective Harris stepped forward.

“Jason, you need to come with us.”

Jason didn’t fight.

But before leaving, he stopped.

“Daniel.”

I looked at him.

“There’s something you need to know.”

“What?”

Jason swallowed.

“Rachel wasn’t the one who started this.”

My heart tightened.

“What are you saying?”

He looked toward the street.

“She was being pressured.”

“By who?”

Jason looked at me.

And whispered:

“Someone from your past.”

My blood ran cold.

“My past?”

He nodded.

“Someone who knows you better than anyone.”

The police took Jason away.

I stood in the broken living room.

My daughter upstairs.

My life falling apart.

And a terrifying thought entered my mind.

This was never just about Rachel.

Someone had been watching us.

Planning.

Waiting.

Then my phone buzzed.

Unknown number.

Again.

I answered.

No one spoke at first.

Then a familiar voice said:

“Hello, Daniel.”

My entire body froze.

Because I knew that voice.

I hadn’t heard it in ten years.

The voice of the person who had destroyed my family once before.

“Did you really think you could protect Sophie from me?”

I couldn’t breathe.

“Who are you?”

A quiet laugh.

Then the answer came.

“You already know.”

The call ended.

And for the first time in my life…

I was afraid.

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