Chapter 2 - THE WOMAN WHO WAS SUPPOSED TO BE DEAD
Ava stared at Marcus.
“What do you mean I wasn’t supposed to survive?”
Nobody answered fast enough.
She stepped backward.
“You know what? Forget it.”
She reached for Noah.
“I’m leaving.”
Victor blocked the door.
Ava stiffened.
“Move.”
“I’m not keeping you prisoner.”
“It feels a lot like it.”
Victor looked toward Crowe.
“Everyone except Marcus leaves.”
The room cleared within seconds.
Crowe hesitated.
Victor looked at him once.
That was enough.
When the door shut, only Victor, Marcus, Ava, and Noah remained.
Ava lifted Noah against her chest.
The baby’s crying softened.
Victor stared at the child longer than Ava liked.
“Don’t look at my son like that.”
His eyes lifted.
“I’m trying to understand.”
“Understand what?”
Victor opened his hand.
The medallion rested in his palm.
“My father gave me this when I was twelve.”
Ava frowned.
“My mother said mine belonged to my father.”
Marcus closed his eyes.
Ava saw it.
That tiny reaction.
“Say something,” she snapped.
Marcus looked toward Victor.
“I need to know whether Elena ever told you about a man named Daniel Hale.”
Ava’s stomach tightened.
“My mother never talked about my father.”
Victor became still.
Marcus continued.
“Did she ever mention Boston? Harbor Point? Saint Matthew’s?”
“No.”
“Did she ever tell you why she left Massachusetts?”
Ava stared.
“How do you know we lived in Massachusetts?”
Marcus looked down.
That told her enough.
“You knew my mother.”
“Yes.”
“How?”
Marcus struggled for the words.
“She worked for Victor’s family.”
Victor turned sharply.
“That’s not what you told me.”
Marcus didn’t respond.
Victor’s jaw tightened.
“My brother disappeared twenty-seven years ago.”
Ava frowned.
“Your brother?”
“Daniel.”
The name landed heavily.
Victor looked toward her medallion.
“He wore one exactly like mine.”
Ava suddenly felt sick.
“No.”
Victor said nothing.
“No,” she repeated. “My mom would’ve told me.”
Marcus spoke softly.
“Elena was protecting you.”
“From what?”
His answer came after a long silence.
“From us.”
Ava’s expression hardened.
“That sounds insane.”
“It should.”
She adjusted Noah against her shoulder.
“So let me understand this. You’re saying your missing brother might have been my father?”
Victor replied carefully.
“I’m saying we need proof.”
Marcus interrupted.
“We need more than proof.”
Victor looked at him.
Marcus stepped closer and lowered his voice.
“If Ava is Daniel’s daughter, then someone has known about her for years.”
Ava laughed bitterly.
“Who?”
Marcus glanced at the door.
“Someone who will not want her identity confirmed.”
A knock sounded.
Crowe opened the door.
“Mr. Hale, there’s someone downstairs asking for Miss Bennett.”
Ava frowned.
“Who?”
Crowe looked uncomfortable.
“A man who says he’s her father.”
Ava stopped breathing.
“My father is dead.”
Crowe’s eyes shifted toward Victor.
“That’s not what he says.”
Victor’s voice hardened.
“Name?”
May you like
Crowe swallowed.
“He says his name is Daniel Hale.”
