Chapter 14 - THE FALL
“ETHAN!”
I ran.
Richard grabbed for him.
Too late.
Ethan disappeared over the edge.
My heart stopped.
Then a voice shouted from below.
“Got him!”
Daniel.
I couldn’t believe it.
He stood on a lower maintenance platform, one arm wrapped around Ethan.
Blood soaked through his bandage.
But he had caught him.
“How—?”
“Hospital transport got delayed.”
Daniel grimaced.
“I left.”
Even Marcus looked furious.
“You left an ambulance?”
Daniel smiled weakly.
“I’ve made worse decisions.”
Ethan clung to him.
I started down the metal staircase.
Richard raised his gun.
“Stop!”
Everyone froze.
Police entered from both sides.
Weapons raised.
Marcus shouted, “Richard! Put it down!”
Richard pointed the gun at Daniel.
“This is your fault!”
Daniel looked up.
“You tried to kill me five years ago.”
“I should’ve finished it!”
Vivian’s voice suddenly echoed from the entrance.
“No, Richard.”
Everyone turned.
She stood between two detectives.
A bandage covered her shoulder.
She looked pale.
Richard stared.
“Mother?”
Vivian swallowed.
“It’s over.”
“You told them?”
“I told them everything.”
His face twisted.
“You betrayed me?”
“You kidnapped a child.”
“You started this!”
Vivian flinched.
Richard laughed wildly.
“You paid Brooke’s father.”
Vivian lowered her eyes.
“Yes.”
“You ordered Daniel scared.”
“Yes.”
“You taught me how this works.”
“Yes.”
Tears filled her eyes.
“And I created a monster.”
Richard lifted the gun toward her.
Marcus shouted.
“DROP IT!”
Richard’s finger moved.
A shot exploded.
Then another.
Richard fell backward.
His gun clattered across the platform.
A police marksman had fired.
Richard screamed and grabbed his shoulder.
Officers rushed him.
Within seconds, he was handcuffed.
I ran to Ethan.
Daniel handed him to me.
“Mommy!”
I crushed my son against my chest.
“You’re okay.”
“I was scared.”
“I know.”
“Daddy said he doesn’t want me.”
I closed my eyes.
Daniel stood beside us.
Weak.
Bleeding.
Alive.
I looked at Ethan.
“Richard was wrong about one thing.”
“What?”
“You are wanted.”
Daniel’s face broke.
“You are loved.”
Ethan looked at him.
“Who are you?”
Daniel started crying.
He knelt carefully.
“My name is Daniel.”
Ethan stared.
I held my breath.
Daniel smiled through tears.
“And I’m your dad.”
Ethan looked at me.
“Mommy?”
I nodded.
“That’s your biological daddy.”
Ethan looked back at Daniel.
Then he whispered—
“Did you come back for me?”
Daniel covered his mouth.
“Yes.”
He nodded again.
“Yes, buddy.”
Then Ethan stepped forward and hugged him.
But while everyone watched father and son hold each other for the first time, Marcus’s phone rang.
His face changed.
“Amanda.”
“What?”
He looked toward Vivian.
“We found something at the Whitman estate.”
“What?”
“A body.”
My blood went cold.
“Whose?”
May you like
Marcus stared at Vivian.
“Brooke’s father.”
