CHAPTER 6: THE FATHER WHO LIED
CHAPTER 6: THE FATHER WHO LIED
Evelyn stepped from behind the altar.
“Put the gun down.”
Marcus looked exhausted rather than threatening.
“I came alone.”
“You helped kidnap my child.”
“No. I discovered the truth two years ago.”
“And you said nothing?”
“She threatened my daughter.”
Evelyn’s expression hardened.
“You don’t have a daughter.”
Marcus looked toward Noah.
“Yes, I do.”
He reached into his pocket and removed a photograph.
It showed a teenage girl with dark hair and frightened eyes.
“Her name is Clara. Cassandra told the world she died at birth. She was raised in the same network that kept your son.”
Noah slowly emerged.
“I know her.”
Marcus stared at him.
“She brought me food,” Noah said. “She told me stories when Aunt Cass locked me in the basement.”
Marcus closed his eyes.
For one brief moment, he looked like a father instead of a politician.
“Is she alive?”
“She was when I escaped.”
Marcus lowered the gun.
“Cassandra inherited the network from her father. They have spent decades placing stolen children inside powerful families. Those children grow up loyal to the organization.”
Evelyn held up the journal.
“What is Project Heir?”
Marcus looked at Noah.
“Your son was supposed to return when he was older.”
“Return?”
“As the perfect heir. Grateful to the people who ‘rescued’ him. Loyal to them instead of you.”
Evelyn felt sick.
“They wanted control of the royal family.”
“They wanted control of the nation.”
A loud blast shook dust from the chapel ceiling.
Marcus turned toward the tunnel.
“They’ve breached the west corridor.”
“Where is Cassandra?”
“In the palace broadcast room. She plans to release fabricated evidence that your father ordered Oliver’s kidnapping.”
“Why?”
“To trigger a constitutional crisis. By morning, the monarchy will be accused of trafficking children.”
Evelyn looked at Noah.
“Can you lead us back to the house where they kept you?”
The boy swallowed.
“Yes.”
Marcus picked up his gun.
“Then we need to survive the next ten minutes.”
A voice suddenly came from the tunnel.
“You won’t.”
May you like
Cassandra stepped into the chapel, holding Clara by the hair.
A pistol was pressed against the girl’s temple.
