Chapter 7 - The Husband I Never Knew
Daniel pulled me into a service corridor.
I fought him immediately.
My body was still weak.
But fear can create strength where none exists.
“Let me go!”
Daniel shoved me against the wall.
“You should have stayed under that bridge.”
The words destroyed the final piece of the husband I thought I once knew.
“You knew where I was?”
He stared at me.
Then smiled.
“I had someone follow you.”
My blood froze.
“You watched us?”
“I needed proof.”
“Proof of what?”
“That you didn’t make it.”
I slapped him.
The sound cracked through the corridor.
Daniel looked stunned.
I had never struck him before.
For five years, I had learned how not to provoke him.
That woman was gone.
“You left your daughters to freeze.”
“They aren’t my daughters.”
I stared at him.
“What?”
Daniel laughed bitterly.
“That’s what Mercer told me.”
My mind spun.
“What are you talking about?”
“He said the babies might not be mine.”
“That’s insane.”
“I know.”
For the first time, something like panic entered Daniel’s expression.
“I know now.”
Footsteps echoed somewhere nearby.
Daniel grabbed my shoulders.
“Listen to me.”
“Don’t touch me.”
He released me.
“Mercer lied about everything.”
I stared at him.
“You helped him.”
“I thought the trust would become mine.”
My disgust deepened.
“So you were willing to let us die for money.”
Daniel looked away.
“I didn’t know what they planned to do with the babies.”
“You threw us out.”
“I thought Mercer’s men were taking you somewhere.”
“You told me daughters weren’t worth feeding.”
Daniel winced.
“I was angry.”
“Angry?”
My voice shook.
“They were hours old.”
Footsteps grew louder.
Daniel leaned closer.
“There’s something you don’t know.”
“I don’t want anything from you.”
“You need this.”
He pulled a small key from his pocket.
“Mercer kept records.”
“Of what?”
“Everything.”
“He blackmailed people.”
“Judges.”
“Police.”
“Politicians.”
“Me.”
He pressed the key into my palm.
“There’s a storage vault beneath Bennett Terminal Three.”
I stared at it.
“Why are you telling me?”
“Because he’s going to kill me.”
A distant gunshot cracked.
Daniel flinched.
I almost laughed at the irony.
“You’re afraid now?”
“Yes.”
At least that answer was truthful.
Daniel suddenly looked behind me.
His face changed.
Elias stood at the far end of the corridor.
His expression was terrifyingly calm.
Daniel slowly raised his hands.
“I can explain.”
Elias walked toward us.
“You can explain to Ava.”
Daniel looked at me desperately.
I closed my fingers around the key.
“Tell me where my mother is.”
Daniel went completely still.
Elias stopped walking.
My heartbeat thundered.
“You know, don’t you?”
Daniel whispered.
“Mercer said she was dead.”
“That isn’t what I asked.”
Daniel swallowed.
“He keeps someone at a private facility outside Albany.”
My knees nearly failed.
“A woman?”
“Yes.”
May you like
Daniel looked at the key in my hand.
“And her name is Catherine Bennett.”
