Chapter 7 - THEY CAME FOR MY SON BEFORE I COULD CALL HIM MINE
Adrian requested a meeting.
I refused.
Then he sent a photograph of Clara’s clinic.
Empty parking lot.
Timestamped ten minutes earlier.
Message beneath it:
I already know where everyone goes.
Nathan wanted to evacuate again.
Clara said no.
“We keep running, the children never feel safe anywhere.”
She was right.
But safety and feeling safe are different things.
I had spent my entire life understanding the first.
Clara understood the second.
So we stayed.
Adrian arrived alone.
That was almost more disturbing.
Nathan searched him.
No weapon.
No phone except one we could inspect.
He walked into the ranch living room and looked at Clara as if nine years had not passed.
“Hello.”
Clara didn't answer.
Then his eyes moved to Owen.
Everything inside me hardened.
“Don't.”
Adrian looked at me.
“I was only looking.”
“You've looked enough.”
Owen stood beside Clara.
Maya hid behind her skirt.
Adrian smiled.
“He does look like you.”
I moved between them.
“What do you want?”
“To correct Samuel’s version.”
Samuel stood near the fireplace.
Adrian laughed when he saw him.
“You survived.”
Samuel said:
“Disappointed?”
“Immensely.”
I stepped closer.
“Talk.”
Adrian sat.
Like this was a business meeting.
“Northstar was mine.”
“I know.”
“Dad helped hide it.”
“I know.”
“Clara overheard us.”
“I know.”
He looked irritated.
Samuel had apparently ruined his dramatic reveal.
“Then you also know she was never the target.”
Clara frowned.
“What does that mean?”
Adrian looked at me.
“You were.”
The room went silent.
“Explain.”
“Dad planned to give you control of everything.”
That wasn't news.
“He thought I was reckless.”
Also not news.
“So I needed you compromised.”
Northstar.
My name on documents.
The apparent leak.
Clara.
“You made me throw her out.”
“No.”
Adrian smiled slightly.
“I gave you information. You threw her out.”
I wanted to hit him.
Clara’s earlier words stopped me.
He was right.
That part was mine.
“What about her pregnancy?”
His smile vanished.
“That complicated things.”
“You told her I wanted nothing to do with her.”
“Yes.”
“You knew Owen was mine.”
“I suspected.”
“And you watched him.”
“I needed confirmation.”
I stepped forward.
Nathan shifted too.
Adrian raised a hand.
“I’m not here to hurt the boy.”
“Then why photograph him?”
“To protect myself.”
“How does an eight-year-old protect you?”
“If Owen is your legal heir, certain trusts change.”
Money.
Of course.
My father had created family trusts with control clauses.
If I had a biological child, some voting power that Adrian currently influenced would eventually transfer.
I laughed bitterly.
“This is about shares?”
“It’s about survival.”
“Same thing to you.”
Adrian leaned forward.
“Dad left something else.”
Samuel’s expression changed.
Adrian noticed.
“There.”
He pointed.
“That is why Samuel dragged you here.”
I looked at Samuel.
“What?”
Samuel said nothing.
“Samuel.”
He exhaled.
“Your father created a contingency file.”
“What file?”
“Northstar records. Offshore accounts. Payments. Everything.”
“Where?”
Samuel looked at Clara.
Her face went blank.
“No.”
I turned.
“What?”
Clara backed away.
“Samuel.”
He looked ashamed.
“The night I moved you out of New York, I put something inside your suitcase.”
Her eyes widened.
“What?”
“A drive.”
“You used me to hide evidence?”
“Yes.”
“Without telling me?”
“Yes.”
She slapped him.
Hard.
Nobody moved.
Samuel accepted it.
“I deserved that.”
“Where is it?” Adrian asked.
Clara stared.
“That suitcase is at the cabin.”
My blood froze.
Adrian stood.
“So we're done.”
Nathan blocked him.
“No.”
Adrian smiled.
“You think I came alone?”
Outside, an engine roared.
Then another.
Nathan’s radio exploded with voices.
“Movement west!”
“Two vehicles!”
“Gate breach!”
I grabbed Owen.
Clara grabbed Maya.
Nathan shouted:
“Safe room!”
Gunfire cracked outside.
Adrian dropped to the floor.
“You idiot,” I said.
He looked genuinely angry.
“I didn't order this.”
I believed him.
Which meant someone else knew about the drive.
Samuel whispered:
“Your father.”
I stared.
“He's dead.”
“No.”
Samuel shook his head.
“Not your father.”
“What?”
“His partner.”
Before he could explain, glass shattered.
Nathan pushed us down.
Maya screamed.
Owen grabbed my shirt.
“Dad!”
The word hit me.
First time.
Wrong moment.
Didn't matter.
I pulled him against me.
“I've got you.”
Another shot.
Then the back door blew inward.
Smoke filled the hallway.
Men entered.
Not Adrian’s people.
Samuel looked terrified.
“Caleb.”
The name meant nothing to me.
Adrian knew it.
His face drained.
“Caleb Voss is alive?”
A man stepped through the smoke.
Sixties.
Silver hair.
Long coat.
I remembered him.
My father’s oldest business partner.
Missing for eleven years.
Declared dead in a boating accident.
He smiled at Clara.
Then at Owen.
“So.”
His gaze moved to me.
“The Rourke heir finally found his father.”
I stood between him and my son.
Voss lifted his gun.
“No.”
He smiled.
“I didn't come for the boy.”
May you like
His eyes shifted toward Clara.
“I came for the woman carrying enough evidence to bury all of us.”
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