Chapter 9 - THE HEIR
Adrian kept his hands visible.
“Daniel, listen to me. Emma has nothing to do with Father’s business.”
Daniel’s expression tightened. “She has everything to do with it.”
Claire stepped forward. “Put her down.”
“Stay back.”
Emma’s lower lip trembled. “Uncle Daniel, Mommy says guns are bad.”
Daniel flinched.
For one second, the hatred left his face.
Adrian saw it.
“You know she’s not your enemy,” he said. “You helped save her life.”
“I saved her for a reason.”
“What reason?”
Daniel looked at the child. “The original ledger was encoded into her birth records. Father designed the system so only his bloodline could open the accounts.”
Claire’s face went pale. “That’s impossible.”
“Your father knew she was pregnant,” Daniel said. “He wanted the child born alive.”
Adrian’s heart pounded. “My father knew about Emma?”
“He knew before you did.”
Daniel explained that Evelyn had ordered Claire’s death after discovering she had found the hidden accounts. Daniel faked his own death to protect himself and secretly helped Claire escape.
“But you never contacted me,” Adrian said.
“Because Mother placed a tracker in your company. Every person who came near you was watched.”
“Then why are you taking Emma now?”
Daniel’s eyes filled with pain. “Because if I don’t, Evelyn will kill her.”
“Give her to me.”
“I can’t.”
A gunshot cracked through the tunnel.
Daniel jerked.
Blood appeared on his shoulder.
Evelyn’s men had found them.
Daniel dropped to one knee, still holding Emma.
Adrian rushed forward, grabbed Emma, and pulled her behind him. Claire pressed a hand against Daniel’s wound.
“Why did you save us?” Adrian demanded.
Daniel coughed. “Because you were right about one thing.”
“What?”
“I should have come home.”
The tunnel filled with footsteps.
Adrian carried Emma while Claire helped Daniel move toward the exit.
They reached an old service platform as a train thundered past. The wind knocked everyone against the wall.
On the other side of the tracks, Evelyn watched them escape.
She held a small device in her hand.
A red light blinked.
Claire’s phone began ringing.
She answered.
A video appeared.
Emma, asleep in a bedroom.
Adrian’s face hardened.
“That isn’t possible,” Claire whispered.
Evelyn’s voice came through the speaker.
“You ran from the station with the wrong child.”
Claire looked down.
The girl Adrian was carrying opened her eyes.
They were not brown-hazel.
May you like
They were gray.
Cliffhanger: The real Emma was still in Evelyn’s hands.
