Chapter 8 - CHLOE’S SECRET
Dominic thought Chloe was mistaken.
She wasn’t.
“That’s my mother.”
Her voice went thin.
“Rachel Hastings.”
Elias studied the photograph.
“You’re sure?”
“I lived with her for eighteen years.”
Dominic took the photo.
Victor’s arm was around Rachel.
The date printed in the corner was twenty-three years earlier.
One year before Chloe was born.
Chloe backed away from the table.
“My mother told me she worked in accounting.”
Elias frowned.
“She did.”
“For who?”
He looked at Dominic.
“For Victor Russo.”
Chloe felt sick.
“My mother disappeared when I was eighteen.”
Dominic’s eyes sharpened.
“Disappeared?”
“She left a note saying she needed a fresh start.”
“You believed that?”
“What was I supposed to believe?”
Her voice broke.
“I was eighteen.”
Dominic softened.
“I’m sorry.”
Chloe hated the sympathy.
It made the old wound hurt again.
Elias opened another file Sofia had left.
There was Rachel’s name.
Next to it:
FINANCIAL AUDITOR — INTERNAL ACCOUNTS.
“She found something,” Chloe whispered.
Elias nodded.
“Probably the same thing Sofia found later.”
Dominic looked at Chloe.
“That might be why you were hired.”
She stared.
“What?”
“I didn’t choose you.”
“What do you mean?”
“My agency sent your name.”
“Your household agency.”
Dominic looked at Carlo.
Carlo immediately called the agency.
Nobody answered.
He tried again.
Disconnected.
“Boss.”
Dominic’s expression changed.
“We were set up.”
Chloe’s breathing quickened.
“You think Victor put me in your house?”
“Possibly.”
“To do what?”
“No idea.”
“I’m not working for him.”
“I know.”
“How?”
Dominic looked straight at her.
“Because you slapped me.”
Despite everything, Chloe almost laughed.
Then Elias’s security system beeped.
A camera showed a car parked across the street.
Nobody moved.
A woman stepped out.
Chloe stopped breathing.
“No.”
Dominic turned.
“What?”
The woman walked toward the house.
Older.
Thinner.
But unmistakable.
Chloe rushed to the window.
“Mom?”
Rachel Hastings stood at the gate.
Alive.
Chloe ran for the door.
Dominic caught her wrist.
“Wait.”
“That’s my mother!”
“She disappeared for four years and just happened to find us here.”
Chloe stared at him.
“You think she’s involved?”
“I think we don’t know.”
Rachel raised both hands toward the camera.
Then she shouted.
“Chloe!”
Chloe’s knees nearly gave out.
Her mother looked directly at the security lens.
“He knows you found Sofia’s files.”
Dominic went still.
Rachel turned toward the street.
Headlights appeared behind her.
She screamed.
“OPEN THE GATE!”
A black SUV accelerated toward her.
May you like
Chloe screamed.
“Mom!”
