Chapter 9 - THE DEAD NANNY
Gabriel ordered Anna Mercer’s file brought upstairs.
She had worked for the family for three years.
Loved by Lily.
Trusted by Elena.
Then eight months earlier, police reported that Anna lost control of her car on a wet highway in New Jersey.
The vehicle burned.
Dental records confirmed the body.
Gabriel stared at the old report.
Claire read over his shoulder.
“Who identified the dental records?”
“Medical examiner.”
“Who gave them Anna’s dental history?”
Gabriel looked at Vincent.
Vincent went pale.
“Sofia.”
Claire sat back.
“Well.”
Gabriel’s phone rang.
Tomas.
“We found Sofia.”
“Alive?”
“Yes.”
“Where?”
“Service stairwell.”
Gabriel stood.
“She surrendered?”
“No.”
Tomas paused.
“She’s unconscious.”
When Sofia woke twenty minutes later, she was restrained in a private office.
Claire remained with Lily.
But Lily refused to let Gabriel leave.
So they brought Sofia upstairs under guard.
Gabriel stood across from his aunt.
“Anna Mercer.”
Sofia’s expression broke.
Just slightly.
Enough.
Gabriel leaned closer.
“She’s alive.”
Sofia said nothing.
“You faked her death.”
Silence.
“Why?”
Sofia laughed weakly.
“You always were slower than your father.”
Gabriel’s fist slammed against the table.
Lily flinched in the next room.
Claire immediately looked at him.
Gabriel lowered his voice.
“Tell me.”
Sofia looked at him with tired contempt.
“Anna was Elena’s idea.”
“What?”
“Elena found out Kane was back.”
Gabriel stopped.
“She knew?”
“For months.”
“Why wouldn’t she tell me?”
“Because she knew you.”
That hurt.
Sofia leaned back.
“Elena thought you’d start a war.”
“She was right.”
“Yes.”
Sofia smiled bitterly.
“So she sent Anna to infiltrate Kane’s people.”
Claire stared.
“Anna wasn’t working for Kane?”
“Not at first.”
Gabriel’s expression darkened.
“At first?”
Sofia nodded.
“She switched sides.”
“Why?”
“Money.”
“No.”
Sofia looked at Claire.
“Everyone has a price.”
Claire thought about the seventy-five thousand dollars.
She hated that the woman had a point.
Gabriel asked, “Did Anna kill Elena?”
Sofia looked away.
“I don’t know.”
“Who took Lily?”
“Anna.”
“Why?”
“Kane offered her two million.”
Gabriel’s eyes went flat.
“To sell my child?”
Sofia nodded.
Gabriel walked toward the window.
Claire had never seen rage held so quietly.
Then Lily came into the doorway.
Barefoot.
Holding her blanket.
Everyone stopped.
She looked at Sofia.
“Aunt Sofia?”
Sofia’s face softened.
Lily whispered, “Why did Miss Anna say you helped her?”
Sofia went still.
Gabriel turned.
Claire felt the temperature in the room drop.
May you like
Sofia’s eyes filled with something that looked dangerously close to fear.
Because Lily had just exposed the one lie Sofia was still protecting.
