Chapter 6 - THE DAUGHTER NO ONE KNEW EXISTED -Adrian stared at the photograph.
The little girl appeared to be four years old.
A hospital identification band circled her wrist.
Her name had been replaced by a number.
He looked at Claire.
“Our daughter?”
Claire’s hands began to shake.
“The baby I was carrying when the car crashed survived.”
Adrian could barely process the words.
Doctors had told him Claire lost the pregnancy weeks before her death.
He had believed grief over the miscarriage contributed to her mental collapse.
Claire continued.
“They lied about everything.”
“When I woke after the crash, Julian told me the baby had died.”
“Months later, I heard nurses discussing an infant being transferred.”
“I searched the records after I escaped.”
“The baby was alive.”
“She was born early.”
“Julian kept her.”
“Why?”
“To control me.”
Claire’s voice broke.
“He sent photographs every few months.”
“If I approached you, he threatened to kill her.”
Lily looked at the image.
“Do you know where she is?”
“The files contained a location code.”
“It changed six weeks ago.”
Marcus searched the drive.
The code led to a company called Northstar Pediatric Research.
Its public records described a private rehabilitation center for children with rare neurological conditions.
The address was in northern Vermont.
Adrian recognized the company.
Blackwood Industries had invested in Northstar through a subsidiary two years earlier.
He had approved the transaction after Julian’s old friend, Dr. Samuel Voss, recommended it.
Adrian felt sick.
His own money may have financed the facility holding his daughter.
Claire looked at Ethan.
“I wanted to tell you about Grace.”
“I couldn’t risk it.”
Ethan stared at the photograph.
“I have a sister?”
Claire nodded.
“She looks like you.”
“Is she scared?”
“Yes.”
“Then we have to get her.”
The simplicity of his answer silenced the adults.
Adrian turned to Marcus.
“Prepare the plane.”
Marcus shook his head.
“Julian will expect that.”
“Then we drive.”
“The police should handle the rescue.”
“We have no idea how many officers Julian controls.”
Claire agreed.
“He moved me every time I trusted someone.”
Adrian’s phone rang.
The number was hidden.
He answered.
Julian’s voice came through.
“Welcome back to the family, brother.”
Adrian’s hand tightened around the phone.
“Where is Grace?”
“Safe for the moment.”
“If you touch her—”
“You always make threats after the damage is done.”
Julian sounded amused.
“That was your problem with Claire.”
“You never listened until it was too late.”
“What do you want?”
“Control of Blackwood Industries.”
“You’ll transfer your voting shares to me.”
“You’ll resign as chairman.”
“You’ll release a statement admitting financial misconduct.”
“In exchange, I will provide Grace’s location.”
Claire stood.
“He is lying.”
Julian heard her.
“Claire.”
“You look remarkably well for a dead woman.”
“You will never control him,” she said.
“Perhaps not.”
“But I control your daughter.”
A child cried faintly in the background.
Claire covered her mouth.
“Grace!”
The crying stopped abruptly.
Adrian’s voice turned lethal.
“Let me speak to her.”
“No.”
“You have six hours.”
Julian ended the call.
Marcus traced the connection.
It bounced through several countries, but the final signal originated near Lake Champlain.
The Northstar facility was close to that region.
Claire wanted to leave immediately.
Adrian insisted she rest and receive medical attention.
She refused.
“I lost three years with Ethan.”
“I will not lose another minute with Grace.”
Lily packed supplies.
Ethan watched her from the doorway.
“You’re going too?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because your sister may need someone she can trust.”
Ethan looked down.
“Are you coming back?”
Lily knelt in front of him.
“I promise.”
“You promised Vanessa would never hurt me again.”
“She won’t.”
“But bad people keep coming.”
Lily placed his hand over her heart.
“Being safe does not mean nothing frightening will ever happen.”
“It means you will not face it alone.”
Ethan hugged her.
Adrian entered.
He had changed into dark clothes and concealed a pistol beneath his jacket.
Claire stood behind him.
Ethan ran to his mother.
She held him tightly.
Adrian arranged for the boy to remain at a protected residence with Marcus’s most trusted officers.
Ethan refused at first.
Then Lily gave him a small silver whistle.
“Use this if you feel afraid.”
He placed it around his neck.
The rescue team left the manor in two unmarked vehicles.
Adrian, Claire, Lily, Marcus, and four former military security officers traveled north.
Rain followed them across the state line.
During the drive, Claire explained everything she knew about Northstar.
The facility contained an underground medical wing.
The children were registered under false names.
Several came from wealthy families.
Some had inherited shares or trust funds.
Julian’s operation extended beyond the Blackwoods.
He had created a system for controlling vulnerable heirs.
Lily looked at Claire.
“How many children?”
“I don’t know.”
“Then we cannot rescue only Grace.”
Adrian met her eyes in the rearview mirror.
“We won’t.”
Three hours into the journey, one of the escort vehicles disappeared behind them.
Marcus called the driver.
No answer.
Seconds later, headlights appeared from a side road.
A truck accelerated toward their vehicle.
The driver swerved.
Metal screamed against metal.
Their SUV spun across the wet pavement and crashed through a barrier.
Lily’s shoulder struck the window.
The vehicle stopped at the edge of a ravine.
Claire was bleeding from her forehead.
Marcus’s driver was unconscious.
Adrian kicked open the rear door.
Armed men approached through the rain.
He pulled Claire and Lily into the trees.
Marcus fired toward the road.
One attacker fell.
The others spread out.
Adrian’s phone rang again.
Julian’s voice came through.
“You should have accepted my offer.”
A gunshot sounded.
Adrian dropped the phone and pulled Lily behind a tree.
The bullet struck the bark beside her head.
Then they heard a child screaming from the wrecked SUV.
Lily’s blood froze.
Ethan climbed from the rear door.
May you like
He had hidden beneath the luggage before they left the manor.
Now Julian’s men were running directly toward him.
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