Chapter 9 - I STOOD BESIDE THE MAN I ONCE RAN FROMBy noon, the world believed Marcus Vale was a monster.
I was out before the rotors slowed.
“Eli!”
Smoke poured from the east wing.
Security guards surrounded the property.
An SUV had crashed through the main gate.
I ran toward the house.
Marcus caught up.
“Elena, wait.”
“My son is inside.”
“So is whoever attacked.”
“I don’t care.”
“I do.”
We entered together.
Broken glass covered the foyer.
A guard lay wounded beside the stairs.
Adrian’s second team moved room by room.
“Mrs. Harper?” Marcus shouted.
A woman answered from upstairs.
“Safe!”
I ran toward the twins’ room.
Empty.
“Eli!”
Then I heard crying from the library.
I nearly tore the door from its hinges.
Chloe sat against the wall.
Blood covered her face.
Eli was curled beneath her body.
Alive.
I dropped beside them.
“Oh God.”
Eli reached for me.
“Mommy.”
I pulled him into my arms.
I kissed his cheeks, forehead, hair, hands.
“You’re okay.”
Chloe sagged against the wall.
Marcus checked her.
“Gunshot?”
“No.”
She pointed toward a bronze statue on the floor.
“Damian hit me.”
I looked at her.
“What happened?”
“They came through the kitchen. Three men.”
“Where are they?”
“One is unconscious.”
Marcus glanced at the statue.
“You?”
Chloe gave a weak smile.
“I improvise.”
“And the others?”
“Ran when your guards came.”
I held Eli tighter.
“You protected him.”
Chloe’s eyes filled.
“I told you.”
I remembered.
I’ll die first.
Something inside me softened.
Not forgiveness.
Not yet.
But the first doorway toward it.
“Thank you.”
She began crying.
“I’m so sorry.”
I reached for her hand.
“I know.”
Marcus looked away, giving us privacy.
Later, after doctors examined everyone, the twins fell asleep beside me in Marcus’s bedroom.
Neither would let go of my shirt.
Marcus sat in a chair across the room.
For once, his phone was off.
No meetings.
No calls.
No orders.
Just us.
Our sons breathed softly between us.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered.
Marcus looked up.
“For what?”
“For taking them.”
His expression changed.
“Don’t.”
“I believed what I saw, but…”
“You had every reason to believe it.”
“I could have called.”
“I could have told you the truth years earlier.”
I looked at him.
“You missed everything.”
Pain crossed his face.
“Yes.”
“I can’t give it back.”
“No.”
“But maybe…”
I stopped.
His eyes stayed on mine.
“Maybe what?”
“Maybe you don’t have to miss anything else.”
Marcus didn’t move.
“Are you saying—”
“I’m saying you’re their father.”
His throat moved.
“That isn’t what I was going to ask.”
I knew.
I wasn’t ready for the other question.
“Don’t.”
He nodded.
“Okay.”
We sat quietly.
After several minutes, Noah rolled over.
His little hand landed on Marcus’s knee.
Marcus froze.
Noah remained asleep.
Slowly, carefully, Marcus placed his hand over our son’s.
I turned away because I couldn’t watch without crying.
The next morning, Chloe told us everything.
Victor had recruited her five years earlier.
He paid her debts.
Then owned her.
“He had pictures,” she said.
“Of what?” I asked.
“Drugs. Gambling. Things I did when I was desperate.”
“You could have told me.”
“I was ashamed.”
“I’m your sister.”
“You were happy.”
Her voice broke.
“And I resented you for it.”
That honesty hurt less now.
“Did you know about the twins?”
“Not until the festival photo.”
“Then why didn’t you warn me sooner?”
“I tried.”
“When?”
Chloe looked at Marcus.
“The week after they were born.”
I stared.
“How would you know?”
“I saw medical records Victor had obtained.”
My stomach turned.
“I called June’s inn.”
I looked at her.
“What?”
“You answered.”
Memory stirred.
A call.
Someone breathing.
Then disconnecting.
“You didn’t speak.”
“I heard you say one of the babies was crying. Then Damian walked into the room.”
She rubbed her arms.
“I thought if I said anything, they’d find you.”
“So you disappeared.”
“I ran.”
“For four years?”
“Victor kept finding me.”
Marcus leaned against the desk.
“Why return now?”
“Because he found Elena.”
Chloe looked at me.
“I knew there was no point hiding anymore.”
A knock sounded.
Adrian entered carrying a folder.
“We found Damian.”
“Alive?” Marcus asked.
“Yes.”
“Where?”
“Boston General.”
Chloe’s face drained.
“How?”
“He crashed during the escape.”
Marcus looked at me.
I knew what he wanted.
“No killing.”
“I remember.”
“Police?”
“Eventually.”
“That word worries me.”
“I need information.”
I considered.
Then nodded.
“I’m coming.”
“No.”
I raised an eyebrow.
Marcus sighed.
“Fine.”
Chloe laughed softly.
“He really has changed.”
We left the twins with June, who had arrived from Bellhaven that morning and announced she was never letting any of us out of her sight again.
At Boston General, Damian was under guard.
Marcus’s people had arranged a private room.
Not technically illegal.
Probably.
Damian stared at Chloe when we entered.
“You.”
Chloe stood behind me.
Marcus closed the door.
“Where is Victor?”
Damian smiled.
“Go to hell.”
Marcus pulled a chair close and sat.
I had seen this version of him before.
Still.
Polite.
Terrifying.
“You have two choices.”
“Threatening me in a hospital?”
“I’m explaining mathematics.”
Damian laughed.
Marcus continued.
“Victor will kill you because you failed. The police will imprison you because we have evidence connecting you to attempted kidnapping and murder.”
Damian’s smile faded.
“The only scenario where your life improves is the one where you help me.”
“Why should I trust you?”
“You shouldn’t.”
Marcus nodded toward me.
“Trust her.”
Damian looked at me.
“She controls you now?”
Marcus’s mouth curved.
“She always did.”
I ignored that.
“Victor kidnapped my son.”
Damian shrugged.
Marcus moved before I did.
One second he was sitting.
The next his hand was around Damian’s throat.
“Marcus.”
He released him instantly.
Damian coughed.
I stepped closer.
“You know what Victor does to people who become inconvenient. Chloe knows too.”
Damian looked toward her.
She said quietly, “He’ll kill you.”
Fear finally appeared.
“Where is he?”
Damian closed his eyes.
“New York.”
“Where?”
“Vale Tower.”
Marcus went still.
“My building?”
Damian laughed.
“You really don’t see it.”
“See what?”
“He doesn’t want the trust anymore.”
“What does he want?”
“Your entire company.”
Marcus’s eyes narrowed.
“How?”
“Board vote tomorrow.”
I stared.
Damian continued.
“He’s been buying proxies for years. Your kidnapping scandal goes public tonight. Evidence will show you ordered the Bellhaven shooting, abducted your own children, and held their mother against her will.”
“That’s absurd.”
“Doesn’t have to be true.”
Marcus’s jaw tightened.
Damian looked at me.
“And Elena?”
“What about me?”
“You’re the star witness.”
My stomach dropped.
“What?”
“Victor has video.”
“Of what?”
“Four years ago. You leaving Marcus’s house crying.”
I understood.
“He’ll say I fled abuse.”
“Yes.”
Marcus’s face became stone.
“And if she denies it?”
Damian smiled.
“Then Victor releases the footage from your study.”
My stomach turned.
The staged betrayal.
Pictures of Chloe on top of Marcus.
Marcus looked at me.
Damian laughed.
“You can save your company or save your reputation.”
Marcus didn’t hesitate.
“Neither matters.”
Damian frowned.
Marcus stood.
“My sons matter.”
He took my hand.
“Elena matters.”
I looked at him.
“The rest can burn.”
For once, I believed every word.
But when we returned to the estate, fifty reporters were waiting outside the gates.
My face was already on every television.
The headline read:
MISSING FIANCÉE FOUND AFTER FOUR YEARS — BILLIONAIRE MARCUS VALE ACCUSED OF SECRETLY HOLDING HER AND TWO CHILDREN.
And beneath it appeared a photograph of me fleeing his townhouse the night my entire life changed.
May you like
Victor had started his war.
This time, he intended to destroy Marcus in public.
