Chapter 4: The Enemy Who Saved Me
I had spent six months wondering where Daniel Whitmore had gone.
Six months imagining every possible explanation.
Maybe he was scared.
Maybe he was hurt.
Maybe someone had taken him away from me.
Maybe one day he would walk through my apartment door and tell me there had been some terrible misunderstanding.
I had built entire conversations in my head with a man who wasn’t there.
But now, standing in a Chicago airport with my daughter sleeping against my shoulder, I heard his voice again.
And instead of relief, I felt fear.
That scared me more than anything.
Because some part of me had been waiting for Daniel.
And now that he had finally returned, every instinct inside me was telling me to run.
Ethan watched my face carefully.
“What did he say?””
I looked at him.
The airport suddenly felt unsafe.
Every person walking past seemed like they could be watching us.
Every phone held near someone’s ear seemed suspicious.
I hated that Daniel’s voice had done this.
I hated that after everything, he still had the power to make me feel trapped.
“He said not to trust you.””
Ethan didn’t react.
Not immediately.
He simply absorbed the words.
“And?””
I hesitated.
“He said you were the reason he disappeared.””
The assistant beside Ethan went completely still.
His name was Marcus, I realized.
I had heard Ethan call him that once on the plane.
Marcus looked at Ethan.
“Sir.””
Ethan didn’t look away from me.
“Did Daniel say anything else?””
I shook my head.
“He hung up.””
“Did he threaten you?””
“No.””
“Did he mention Sophie?””
The question made my stomach tighten.
“No.””
Ethan nodded slowly.
Then he looked around the terminal.
“Marcus.””
“Yes?””
“Move the car.””
Marcus immediately pulled out his phone.
I stared at them.
“What car?””
Ethan looked at me.
“The one taking you to your sister’s house.””
I frowned.
“No.””
His expression changed slightly.
“No?””
“I’m not getting into some mysterious car with a man I met three hours ago who just told me my daughter’s father might be a criminal.””
A few people nearby glanced over.
I lowered my voice.
“I don’t know you.””
Ethan nodded.
Again.
That same frustrating acceptance.
“You’ve said that twice.””
“Because it’s true.””
“Yes.””
He paused.
“But right now, Rachel, you don’t know who else to trust either.””
I hated that he was right.
That was the worst part.
I looked down at Sophie.
Her tiny hand was curled around my jacket.
She trusted me completely.
And I felt the weight of that responsibility.
“I need answers.””
“You’ll get them.””
“When?””
“Now.””
I looked at him.
“Right here?””
“No.””
His eyes moved toward the crowded terminal.
“Somewhere safer.””
I almost argued.
Then I noticed something.
Ethan wasn’t looking at me anymore.
He was looking past me.
Toward the glass doors near baggage claim.
My body went cold.
“What?””
He didn’t answer.
“Ethan?””
His voice became quiet.
“Don’t turn around.””
That was exactly when I wanted to turn around.
“Why?””
“Because if I’m wrong, it doesn’t matter.””
“And if you’re right?””
His eyes met mine.
“Then I don’t want them knowing we noticed.””
A chill ran down my spine.
Them.
Not him.
Them.
I held Sophie tighter.
“Who are they?””
Ethan didn’t answer.
Instead, he stepped slightly closer.
Not touching me.
Just positioning himself between me and the crowd.
The movement was subtle.
But I noticed.
He was protecting me.
Or controlling the situation.
I still didn’t know which.
A minute later, Marcus returned.
“Vehicle is ready.””
Ethan nodded.
Then he looked at me.
“Stay close.””
I almost refused.
I wanted to.
But then a man near the exit lifted his phone.
Just for a second.
The screen faced our direction.
Ethan saw it.
His expression hardened.
“Now.””
We moved.
Not running.
Not panicking.
Just walking quickly.
I hated how natural Ethan looked doing this.
Like danger was something he had dealt with every day.
We reached the parking garage.
A black SUV waited near the entrance.
I stopped.
“No.””
Ethan looked back.
“Rachel.””
“I’m not getting into that.””
He sighed quietly.
Then he walked to the vehicle and opened the back door.
Inside was a car seat.
A brand-new one.
Already installed.
I stared.
“How did you know?””
“Marcus arranged it.””
“When?””
“While you were talking to Daniel.””
My eyes narrowed.
“That’s not normal.””
“No.””
The honesty surprised me again.
“It isn’t.””
I looked at him.
“Then why are you helping me?””
For several seconds, Ethan said nothing.
The garage lights reflected off the polished black vehicle.
Finally, he answered.
“Because I know what it feels like when someone powerful decides your life doesn’t matter.””
The words were quiet.
Personal.
Not something he would say casually.
Before I could ask what he meant, Marcus interrupted.
“Sir.””
Ethan looked over.
Marcus held a phone.
His face was serious.
“We have a problem.””
Ethan took it.
Read the screen.
Then his entire expression changed.
“What?””
I stepped closer.
“What is it?””
Ethan locked the phone.
“Nothing.””
I laughed once.
“No.””
He looked at me.
“That was a terrible lie.””
For the first time, I saw a flicker of amusement.
“You’re difficult.””
“I’m a mother.””
He nodded.
“Same thing.””
Despite everything, I almost smiled.
Almost.
Then he handed me the phone.
I didn’t know why.
Maybe because I wanted proof.
Maybe because I was tired of being the only person without information.
The screen showed a photograph.
A building.
An office.
I didn’t recognize it.
But the caption underneath made my blood freeze.
MORALES FAMILY RECORDS.
My family.
“What is this?””
Ethan took the phone back.
“That’s what I’m trying to find out.””
“Why would someone be looking into my family?””
He looked at me.
“Because Daniel wasn’t only hiding from me.””
A horrible feeling settled in my stomach.
“Who else?””
Ethan didn’t answer.
That was becoming his worst habit.
I stepped closer.
“Who else, Ethan?””
He looked at Sophie.
Then at me.
“Your sister.””
My heart stopped.
“Mia?””
He nodded.
“No.””
I shook my head immediately.
“No. Mia has nothing to do with this.””
“I hope you’re right.””
“You don’t know her.””
“I know enough to know she received a payment from an account connected to Daniel three weeks before her wedding.””
The words hit me like a physical blow.
I stepped back.
“No.””
Ethan watched me carefully.
“No.””
I repeated it.
Louder.
“My sister would never.””
“Rachel—”
“No.””
I shook my head.
“You don’t understand.””
I felt tears forming.
“You don’t know what happened between us.””
“Then tell me.””
The request caught me off guard.
Not an accusation.
Not a demand.
A request.
I looked away.
“Mia and I weren’t always like this.””
The garage suddenly felt quieter.
“When our mother died, she blamed me.””
Ethan stayed silent.
“She said I was the reason everything fell apart.””
“Why?””
“Because I left.””
I swallowed.
“I moved to Los Angeles. I wanted a different life. She stayed in Chicago and took care of everything.””
I looked down at Sophie.
“When I got pregnant, I was scared to call her.””
“And when you did?””
“She answered.””
My voice cracked.
“But she didn’t forgive me.””
Ethan’s expression softened.
“Yet you came to her wedding.””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
I looked at him.
“Because she’s my sister.””
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
Then Ethan quietly said:
“That’s exactly why Daniel chose you.””
I frowned.
“What?””
“He knew you valued family.””
My heart sank.
“What does that mean?””
Ethan looked toward the exit.
“It means Daniel didn’t disappear randomly.””
A cold feeling spread through me.
“He planned it.””
“Why?””
Ethan met my eyes.
“Because he needed someone innocent to carry something for him.””
I shook my head.
“I don’t understand.””
“You will.””
He reached into his coat and pulled out a small envelope.
My name was written on the front.
Rachel Morales.
My hands went numb.
“Where did you get that?””
Ethan looked at it.
“Daniel left it behind.””
“Where?””
He hesitated.
Then he said:
“In my father’s office.””
I stared at him.
“What?””
Ethan’s voice dropped.
“Rachel, there’s something Daniel never told you.””
“What?””
He handed me the envelope.
“He wasn’t running away from me.””
I looked at the name written across the paper.
My heartbeat grew louder.
“He was running because of what he did to my family.””
My fingers trembled as I opened the envelope.
Inside was a single photograph.
A photograph of Daniel.
Standing beside my sister, Mia.
Taken three weeks before Daniel disappeared.
May you like
And on the back, written in black ink, were five words:
*She knows where Sophie is.*
