Chapter 13 - DANIEL’S LAST OFFER

He looked terrible.

Unshaven.

Blood on his sleeve.

Gun in his hand.

“Don’t scream.”

I stared at him.

“You broke into my father’s house.”

“You broke my family.”

I almost laughed.

“Your family kidnapped women.”

“You don’t understand.”

“That line stopped working days ago.”

He stepped closer.

“Harold controlled everything.”

“You forged my signature.”

“He made me.”

“You threatened my father.”

“Mom forced things too far.”

“You put a gun against his back.”

Daniel flinched.

Finally.

A little truth.

“You loved me,” he said.

I stared at him.

“I loved the person you invented.”

His eyes hardened.

“We could still leave.”

“You think I’m going anywhere with you?”

“We have money.”

“You have prison.”

He raised the gun slightly.

“I don’t want to hurt you.”

“Evelyn probably heard that.”

His jaw tightened.

“Don’t say her name.”

“Rebecca?”

“Stop.”

“Andrea?”

“Stop!”

His voice cracked.

The security officers outside would have heard.

I needed time.

“Did you kill Evelyn?”

“No.”

“Did Margaret?”

“No.”

“Harold?”

Daniel’s silence answered.

“You knew.”

“I was twenty-two.”

“You helped cover it up.”

“I was scared.”

“So was Rebecca when you drugged her.”

He looked away.

“Harold said she would destroy us.”

“You mean expose you.”

“She wouldn’t stop.”

“Good for her.”

Daniel suddenly grabbed my arm.

“Enough!”

The bedroom door burst open.

Security officers shouted.

Daniel dragged me against him.

The gun pressed beneath my jaw.

Everyone froze.

“Back up!”

I could feel his heart pounding against my shoulder.

For the first time, Daniel wasn’t charming.

Wasn’t clever.

Wasn’t in control.

He was just scared.

“Daniel,” I whispered.

“What?”

“You know how this ends.”

“Shut up.”

“You don’t shoot me.”

“You don’t know that.”

“Yes, I do.”

“Why?”

“Because dead women don’t sign trust transfers.”

His grip loosened.

Just slightly.

I drove my heel into his foot.

The gun moved.

An officer tackled him.

We hit the floor.

Daniel screamed.

Handcuffs snapped around his wrists.

He looked at me as they dragged him away.

“You ruined my life!”

I stood shaking.

“No.”

I looked straight into his eyes.

“I survived your plan.”

Then his expression changed.

He smiled.

A strange, knowing smile.

“You still don’t understand, Claire.”

“Understand what?”

He leaned toward me.

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