Chapter 10 - THE OTHER BRIDE
Police reached Brooke’s apartment before we did.
Her front door was broken.
The living room had been torn apart.
Brooke was gone.
So was her phone.
Daniel shouldn’t have left the hospital.
He did anyway.
His shoulder was bandaged beneath a clean shirt, and he looked ready to punch through concrete.
Detective Mara Owens met us in the lobby.
“You two attract trouble.”
“I’d prefer a refund,” I said.
She almost smiled.
Brooke’s security system had recorded two men entering.
The same black SUV from the diner appeared outside.
One camera caught Brooke being pushed into the back seat.
Her father’s attorney claimed Victor Mercer was at a golf retreat in Wisconsin.
Nobody believed that either.
At 4:00 p.m., Brooke’s missing phone came online.
One text reached Daniel.
BRING THE DRIVE.
A location followed.
An unfinished Vale-Mercer development site near the river.
Police told us not to go.
Obviously, we went.
Not alone.
Owens had officers nearby.
Daniel carried an identical flash drive loaded with family photos and tax returns.
“Seriously?” I asked.
“They wanted a drive.”
I looked at him.
“Ten years later and you’re still impossible.”
“You liked that once.”
“I was young.”
For the first time since the salon, we both smiled.
It lasted three seconds.
Then we entered the empty construction site.
Brooke sat on a metal chair.
Her hands were tied.
Victor Mercer stood behind her.
He was sixty-eight, tall, expensive, and calm enough to make me more afraid.
“Daniel.”
Daniel stopped.
“Let her go.”
Victor looked at me.
“Elena Morales.”
“You remember me.”
“I remember the problem you caused.”
“I categorized receipts.”
“You asked questions.”
“Terrifying.”
His expression hardened.
Daniel held up the drive.
“You want this?”
“Yes.”
“Release Brooke.”
Victor laughed softly.
“My daughter was always sentimental.”
Brooke shouted, “Dad, stop!”
He ignored her.
“You think Vivian was cruel?” Victor said. “She was weak. She wanted you separated because she hated Elena. I wanted Elena gone because your father was ready to turn over evidence.”
I stared at him.
“You stole the foundation money.”
“Borrowed.”
Daniel said, “Two point four million?”
“That was the beginning.”
Brooke started crying.
“Daniel, don’t give him anything.”
Victor looked at her.
“You’ve embarrassed me enough.”
He raised his hand.
For the first time, Brooke looked genuinely terrified.
Something changed in me.
I had hated her.
She had hit me.
Humiliated me.
Stayed silent after learning part of the truth.
But no woman deserved the look her father was giving her.
I stepped forward.
“Victor.”
His eyes came to me.
“You wanted me ten years ago.”
Daniel whispered, “Elena, don’t.”
I kept walking.
“Here I am.”
Victor smiled.
That was exactly what I wanted.
His attention moved from Brooke.
Behind him, I saw movement.
Detective Owens.
Two officers.
Daniel saw them too.
I threw the fake drive across the floor.
Victor turned instinctively.
Brooke kicked backward.
Her chair slammed into his knees.
Police rushed in.
Everything happened at once.
Victor grabbed Brooke.
Daniel moved.
A gun appeared.
I screamed.
One shot exploded through the concrete shell.
Then Victor fell.
Not dead.
A bullet from Owens had hit his leg.
Brooke crawled away.
Daniel pulled me behind a pillar.
Within seconds, officers were on Victor.
Handcuffs clicked.
Brooke sat on the floor sobbing.
I thought it was over.
Then Victor looked straight at Daniel and laughed.
“You still don’t know what your mother did to Robert.”
Daniel froze.
May you like
Victor smiled through the pain.
“Ask Vivian why your father died two weeks before he could testify.”
