Chapter 6: The Woman Who Knew My Name
My mother's face filled the screen.
Alive.
Terrified.
Standing beside Brandon.
I stared at the photograph until the edges blurred.
“No.””
Damien reached for the phone.
I pulled it away.
“That’s my mother.””
“I know.””
“She’s alive.””
“Yes.””
“She’s with him.””
“I can see that.””
My voice cracked.
“Then why are you standing there?””
Damien's expression hardened.
“Because if that photograph was taken five minutes ago, Brandon knows exactly where we are.””
Victor swore under his breath.
The driver hit the accelerator.
I looked at the photo again.
My mother was standing inside a room I didn't recognize.
Her hands were folded in front of her.
Brandon stood beside her.
He wasn't touching her.
That frightened me more.
Brandon always touched people when he wanted control.
A hand on a shoulder.
Fingers around a wrist.
A palm against the back of someone's neck.
But in this photograph, he kept his distance.
Like he was proving something.
Like he wanted me to notice.
Then I saw the third person.
A woman standing behind my mother.
Dark hair.
Elegant black coat.
The same face from my father's photograph.
My heart stopped.
“Damien.””
He leaned closer.
I pointed.
“That woman.””
He went completely still.
“That’s my mother.””
I looked at him.
“You said you didn't know if she was alive.””
“I didn't.””
“But she's there.””
“Yes.””
“Why would Brandon have your mother?””
Damien's face became unreadable.
“I don't know.””
The phone buzzed again.
Another message.
*Come alone.*
Then a second message appeared.
*Or she dies.*
My hands shook.
Damien reached for the phone.
I let him take it.
He read both messages.
“No.””
“What?””
“You're not going.””
I stared at him.
“She has my mother.””
“She wants you to think she has your mother.””
“That's a photograph.””
“It can be staged.””
“You think Brandon kidnapped a woman he barely knew just to scare me?””
Damien looked at the photograph again.
“No.””
His voice dropped.
“I think something much worse is happening.””
Victor turned around.
“Boss?””
“Find the location.””
“I'll need a minute.””
“You have thirty seconds.””
Victor grabbed his phone.
I watched Damien.
“Who is she?””
“My mother.””
“No.””
I shook my head.
“The woman in the picture.””
He looked at me.
“Her name was Evelyn Blackwood.””
“Was?””
“Twenty-five years ago, she disappeared.””
“And my father knew her.””
“Yes.””
“She knew me.””
“Yes.””
“And Brandon somehow has her.””
“Yes.””
My head spun.
There was a piece missing.
Something enormous.
Something everyone knew except me.
“Why doesn't anyone tell me the truth?””
Damien didn't answer.
I grabbed his coat.
“Why?””
He looked down at my hand.
Then back at my face.
“Because your father made me promise.””
My breath caught.
“What promise?””
“To keep you alive.””
“When?””
“Three weeks before he died.””
I stared at him.
“You knew my father?””
“I met him once.””
“And he told you to protect me?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
“He said Brandon would eventually come for you.””
I stepped back.
“You knew.””
“I suspected.””
“You knew he was dangerous.””
“Yes.””
“And you did nothing?””
His jaw tightened.
“I didn't know where you were.””
“You could have found me.””
“I tried.””
“Not hard enough.””
Silence.
He didn't defend himself.
That somehow hurt more.
Then Victor looked up.
“Got it.””
Damien turned.
“Where?””
“An abandoned textile warehouse on South Canal.””
Damien's eyes narrowed.
“That place has been empty for ten years.””
“Not anymore.””
He looked at me.
“We're going.””
“I thought you said I wasn't going.””
“I changed my mind.””
“Why?””
“Because the woman beside your mother is my mother.””
He handed the phone back.
“And I need answers too.””
The convoy turned sharply.
Twenty minutes later, we reached the warehouse.
It was dark.
No lights.
No guards.
No movement.
Too quiet.
Damien raised his hand.
Everyone stopped.
“Something's wrong.””
Victor nodded.
“I agree.””
I stared through the window.
Then I saw it.
A small red light blinking above the entrance.
“Camera.””
Damien followed my gaze.
“Good.””
“What?””
He looked at me.
“They want us to know they're watching.””
The warehouse doors opened.
Slowly.
A speaker crackled.
Brandon's voice came through.
“Come inside, Hannah.””
Damien stepped out.
I followed.
“No.””
He caught my wrist.
“Stay here.””
“I won't.””
“Hannah.””
“My mother is inside.””
He looked at me for several seconds.
Then released me.
“Stay behind me.””
We entered.
The warehouse smelled of dust and oil.
A single overhead light illuminated the center.
My mother sat on a wooden chair.
Her wrists were tied.
“MOM!””
I ran.
Damien caught me around the waist.
“Wait.””
My mother lifted her head.
“Hannah?””
Tears filled her eyes.
“Oh God.””
Brandon stepped from the shadows.
He was holding a gun.
“Hello, sweetheart.””
I froze.
My mother shook her head desperately.
“Don't come closer.””
Brandon smiled.
“You see?””
He looked at Damien.
“She really does love her mother.””
Damien stepped forward.
“You're finished.””
Brandon laughed.
“No, Damien.””
He lifted the gun.
“You are.””
Then a second figure appeared behind him.
A woman.
Older.
Elegant.
Alive.
Damien stopped breathing.
“Mother?””
Evelyn Blackwood smiled.
“Hello, son.””
I looked between them.
Damien's face had gone pale.
Evelyn looked at me.
May you like
Then she said the words that turned my blood cold.
“Hannah isn't Daniel Mitchell's daughter.””
