Chapter 10 - THE THIRD BABY
Julian couldn’t understand the sentence.
“What do you mean?”
Pike rubbed his face.
“Victoria delivered twins.”
“Yes.”
“No.”
Julian stared.
Pike continued.
“She delivered one child.”
Elena gasped.
“A boy.”
Julian whispered, “Which one?”
Pike closed his eyes.
“Noah.”
Julian felt dizzy.
“Then Leo…”
Pike looked at him.
“Leo was Claire’s second baby.”
Julian went completely still.
“Claire had twins?”
“Yes.”
“A boy and a girl?”
“Yes.”
Julian’s legs nearly gave out.
Leo and Lily.
Claire’s twins.
Noah.
Victoria’s son.
Three babies.
One hospital.
A nightmare built from lies.
“Why?” Julian asked.
Pike looked sick.
“Victoria’s pregnancy had complications. One twin died before delivery.”
Julian’s voice cracked.
“She told me both survived.”
“She didn’t know at first.”
“Who switched them?”
Pike looked at the floor.
“Senator Vale ordered it.”
Elena whispered, “To protect her.”
“Yes.”
Julian shook his head.
“This is insane.”
“Victoria was hemorrhaging. Sedated. Vale panicked. He knew Claire had delivered healthy twins downstairs.”
“So he stole Leo?”
Pike nodded.
Julian looked toward the motel door.
He suddenly needed to get home.
Now.
His phone rang.
Victoria.
He answered.
“What?”
Her voice was shaking.
“Julian, someone’s in the apartment.”
His blood turned cold.
“Where are the boys?”
“With me.”
“Lock the panic room.”
“I tried.”
“What?”
“It won’t open.”
Marcus was already moving.
Julian ran for the door.
Victoria whispered, “Julian…”
“What?”
“I’m sorry.”
A man’s voice sounded in the background.
“Hang up.”
Julian shouted, “Victoria!”
The line went dead.
They raced to Manhattan.
Every red light felt personal.
Julian called building security.
No answer.
Marcus tried his team.
Nothing.
“They cut communications.”
The SUV slammed to a stop.
Julian ran inside.
Lobby guard unconscious.
Elevator disabled.
They took the stairs.
Forty-two floors.
By the time Julian reached the penthouse, his lungs were burning.
The door stood open.
Inside, furniture was overturned.
Blood marked the floor.
“Noah!”
No response.
“Leo!”
Silence.
Then a small voice came from the kitchen.
“Daddy?”
Noah crawled from behind the island.
Julian dropped to his knees.
“Oh God.”
He grabbed his son.
“Where’s Leo?”
Noah cried harder.
“The bad man took him.”
“Where’s Mommy?”
Noah pointed toward Victoria’s office.
Julian ran.
Victoria lay on the floor.
Blood soaked the side of her dress.
She was conscious.
Barely.
“Julian.”
He pressed his hand against the wound.
“Who did this?”
Victoria grabbed his shirt.
“My father.”
Julian stared.
“What?”
“He took Leo.”
“Why?”
Tears filled her eyes.
“Because Leo remembers.”
May you like
“Remembers what?”
Victoria whispered, “Where we buried Claire.”
