Chapter 6 - The Target Nobody Expected
The first thing Daniel Moretti did was lock every door.
Not because he was afraid.
Because for the first time in thirty years, he had something to lose.
Annie watched as men in dark suits moved through her grandmother’s apartment.
They checked windows.
They checked closets.
They checked every corner.
It looked like a movie.
Except Annie knew this wasn’t pretend.
People were really after them.
“Why are all these people here?” Annie asked.
Daniel looked at her.
“Because someone knows you exist.”
“That doesn’t make sense.”
“It will.”
Annie crossed her arms.
“I saved you. I didn’t do anything wrong.”
Daniel’s expression softened.
“I know.”
“Then why are people chasing me?”
Daniel looked toward Eleanor.
Because the answer was not simple.
Eleanor sat quietly in the old green chair.
The same chair where she had told Annie bedtime stories.
The same chair where she had hidden her pain for weeks.
Now she looked tired.
Not from sickness.
From carrying a secret for too many years.
“Annie,” Eleanor said softly.
“Come sit with me.”
Annie walked over.
Eleanor held her hand.
“There are things I should have told you.”
“About Daniel?”
Eleanor nodded.
“Yes.”
Annie looked at Daniel.
“He’s not a bad man, is he?”
The room became quiet.
Daniel looked surprised.
Most people asked him if he was dangerous.
Nobody asked if he was bad.
“No,” Daniel finally said.
“I’ve made mistakes.”
He paused.
“More than I can count.”
“But your grandmother believed there was still something good inside me.”
Eleanor smiled.
“I knew there was.”
Annie looked confused.
“Then why did someone try to hurt you?”
Daniel’s face hardened.
“Because someone inside my organization betrayed me.”
“Your organization?”
Daniel looked away.
“I built a company.”
Annie noticed he avoided the word.
She was young.
But she was smart.
She knew when adults were hiding something.
Before she could ask more, a loud sound came from outside.
A car engine.
Then another.
Daniel immediately stood.
Everyone in the room became alert.
“What is it?” Annie whispered.
Daniel looked toward the window.
“Someone found us.”
The lights outside suddenly went dark.
And then Eleanor’s apartment door handle started moving.
May you like
Someone was trying to get inside.
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