Chapter 12 - HER FATHER’S CONFESSION
The church was dark except for candles near the altar.
Ivy walked slowly down the aisle.
“Hello?”
No answer.
Then a man stepped from the confessional.
Father Patrick O’Donnell.
He had baptized Ivy.
Buried her father.
Held Eleanor’s hand through cancer treatment.
“Ivy.”
She exhaled.
“You scared me.”
His expression was sad.
“I’ve been waiting twelve years.”
Her stomach tightened.
“For what?”
“For you.”
He led her into the sacristy.
From a locked cabinet, he removed a package wrapped in brown paper.
“Your father gave me this the week he died.”
Ivy’s hands shook.
“Why didn’t you give it to my mother?”
“He told me not to.”
“Why?”
“Because he believed someone was watching your family.”
She opened the package.
Another cassette.
Documents.
Photographs.
A handwritten confession.
This time, Daniel Lancaster told the whole story.
Michael Blackwood had ordered his death.
But Victor had created the lie that caused it.
Daniel had discovered Victor’s plan to use the Crown List to control politicians, cops, businessmen, even rival crime families.
Michael believed Daniel was the traitor.
By the time he learned the truth, Daniel was already dead.
Ronan arrived at the church forty minutes later against every medical recommendation.
He had stitches.
A fresh shirt.
And fury in his eyes.
“You came here alone.”
Ivy stared.
“You just had surgery.”
“Minor surgery.”
“You got shot.”
“Still minor.”
Father Patrick looked between them.
“I’ll leave you two.”
Ronan watched the priest go.
“He knows?”
“Everything.”
Ivy handed Ronan Daniel’s confession.
He read it slowly.
Then sat down in a pew.
For a long time, he said nothing.
Finally:
“My father knew.”
Ivy nodded.
“He found out after.”
“He never told me.”
“He was ashamed.”
“He let me spend twelve years believing Daniel betrayed us.”
Ivy sat beside him.
“Powerful men hate admitting they destroyed innocent people.”
Ronan stared at the altar.
“My entire life is built on his mistakes.”
“Then stop building.”
He looked at her.
She held his gaze.
“You keep talking like you’re trapped inside your father’s life.”
“I inherited it.”
“You still choose what you do with it.”
Ronan gave a tired laugh.
“You make everything sound simple.”
“No. I make choices sound like choices.”
That hit him.
Hard.
Then Marcus entered.
His face was grim.
“We have another problem.”
Ronan stood.
“What?”
“Victor found out about the church.”
Ivy grabbed the documents.
“How?”
Marcus hesitated.
Ronan understood first.
“Father Patrick.”
The priest was gone.
A back door stood open.
Ivy felt sick.
“No.”
Marcus checked his phone.
“We received a message.”
He showed them.
A photograph of Father Patrick tied to a chair.
Victor’s message beneath it read:
Bring me the Crown List.
Midnight.
Blackwood Tower.
Come alone.
Ronan looked at Ivy.
She looked at him.
Neither said the obvious truth.
May you like
Victor no longer wanted just the list.
He wanted all the witnesses dead.
