Chapter 8: The Choice
Everything happened at once.
Guns appeared from every doorway.
Men stepped down from the steel catwalks.
Victor shouted, “Drop it!””
Brandon spun.
Damien shoved me behind him.
My mother screamed.
Evelyn didn't move.
Brandon's gun remained against my mother's head.
“Everybody back!””
Damien raised both hands.
“Brandon.””
“Stay away.””
“You're surrounded.””
“I have her.””
“You won't get out.””
Brandon pressed the gun harder against my mother's temple.
“Then I'll make sure nobody gets what they want.””
Damien's voice remained calm.
“What do you want?””
“You know.””
“The trust?””
“The account.””
“You're wrong.””
Brandon laughed.
“You think I'm stupid?””
“No.””
Damien took one step forward.
“I think you're desperate.””
Brandon's face twisted.
“You ruined everything.””
“I didn't.””
“You took my contracts.””
“You stole them first.””
“You took my father.””
Damien paused.
“Your father chose his side.””
“You killed him.””
“No.””
Damien's voice dropped.
“He was killed because he tried to betray everyone.””
Brandon's eyes flickered.
I saw it.
He knew.
Maybe he had always known.
My mother whispered, “Brandon, let me go.””
He shook his head.
“You're part of this.””
“I'm Hannah's mother.””
“You're the woman who helped Daniel hide the trust.””
She looked at me.
“I was trying to save you.””
“You lied to me.””
“I was afraid.””
I stepped forward.
Brandon turned the gun toward me.
“Stop.””
Damien's hand moved slightly.
I shook my head.
Don't.
I could see it in his eyes.
He wanted to kill Brandon.
Maybe he could.
But I didn't want another man deciding what happened to me.
Not tonight.
I stepped forward again.
“Brandon.””
He stared at me.
“What?””
“You want the box.””
“Yes.””
“Let my mother go.””
“No.””
“You want what's inside.””
“Yes.””
“Then you need me alive.””
His expression changed.
I continued.
“So don't hurt her.””
He hesitated.
That was enough.
Damien saw it.
So did Victor.
Evelyn moved first.
She kicked the gun from Brandon's hand.
Victor lunged.
Two men grabbed Brandon.
My mother fell forward.
I caught her.
“Mom.””
She clung to me.
“I thought I'd lost you.””
“I thought I'd lost you.””
We held each other.
Then a gunshot rang out.
Brandon collapsed.
Damien stood several feet away, gun in hand.
I looked at him.
“Did you shoot him?””
“No.””
He lowered the weapon.
Victor looked toward the catwalk.
A body fell from above.
One of Brandon's men.
Damien walked toward Brandon.
“Who shot?””
Victor shook his head.
“Not ours.””
Everyone froze.
Another shot.
A man near the warehouse entrance fell.
Damien looked around.
“Sniper.””
The room erupted.
“Down!””
Damien pulled me to the ground.
My mother curled beside me.
Bullets tore through crates.
People shouted.
Glass shattered.
I heard Victor yelling orders.
Then silence.
Damien looked up.
“Everybody okay?””
Victor nodded.
“Mostly.””
I looked at Brandon.
He was gone.
“What happened to him?””
Damien stood.
“His men took him.””
“Alive?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
“Because I want answers.””
Evelyn walked toward us.
She looked exhausted.
“Damien.””
He turned.
“You have to know something.””
“What?””
“Daniel wasn't protecting Hannah from Brandon.””
Damien stared at her.
“Then who?””
“Michael.””
My heart stopped.
“My biological father?””
Evelyn nodded.
“Michael wanted you hidden because he knew what he had done.””
“What did he do?””
“He stole from his own family.””
Damien's expression hardened.
“What?””
“Your grandfather's money.””
She looked at me.
“Michael moved it into Hannah's trust.””
“Why?””
“Because he believed no one would suspect a child.””
I shook my head.
“How much money?””
Evelyn gave a sad smile.
“Enough to buy half of Chicago.””
My stomach dropped.
“And Brandon knew?””
“Yes.””
“Who else?””
“Everyone who was searching for Michael.””
I looked at Damien.
“Where is he?””
Evelyn's eyes filled with tears.
“Dead.””
Silence.
“Then why do they still want the money?””
“Because nobody believes he's dead.””
I thought about the box.
The wedding dress.
The hidden name.
Something didn't make sense.
I turned to my mother.
“Did Dad know Michael was my father?””
“Yes.””
“And he still raised me?””
“He loved you.””
“Why did he never tell me?””
“Because he promised Michael.””
I stared at her.
“What was Michael hiding?””
Evelyn answered.
“The reason he had to disappear.””
Before I could ask, my phone vibrated.
Unknown number.
A message appeared.
*You found the truth.*
Then another.
*Now find me.*
Attached was a photograph.
A man standing beside a river.
His face was partially hidden.
But I knew the watch on his wrist.
My father had owned that watch.
The message continued.
*Tell Damien his father is not dead.*
I looked at Damien.
His face drained of color.
“That's impossible.””
I handed him the phone.
He stared at the photograph.
May you like
Then whispered:
“That's my father.””
