Chapter 5
Nobody spoke.
The video continued playing.
Daniel couldn’t hear it anymore.
His mind was stuck on one sentence.
Lily is yours.
He turned toward Claire.
Then Michael.
Neither looked like they understood.
Daniel paused the video.
“What did she mean?”
Michael shook his head.
“I don’t know.”
Daniel stared at him.
“Don’t lie to me again.”
“I swear.”
Claire looked unsettled.
“Daniel, Lily wasn’t born until years after Charles died.”
“Exactly.”
He rewound the video.
Vanessa appeared again.
Young.
Frightened.
Angry.
“Charles, you promised Daniel would never learn that Lily is yours.”
Daniel played it three times.
The words didn’t change.
Michael whispered, “Maybe she said something else.”
“She said Lily.”
“Maybe there was another Lily.”
Daniel looked toward his daughter’s stuffed rabbit on the bed.
“No.”
His mother had always loved that name.
But Charles couldn’t be Lily’s father.
He died three years before Lily was born.
Unless—
Daniel’s stomach twisted.
“No.”
Claire understood the possibility at the same time.
“Stored embryos?”
Michael asked.
Daniel shook his head.
“Vanessa and I conceived naturally.”
“Are you sure?”
Daniel looked at him sharply.
“What kind of question is that?”
“A necessary one.”
Daniel remembered the months before Vanessa became pregnant.
They had struggled.
Tests.
A fertility specialist.
Vanessa had insisted on handling appointments privately because Daniel was traveling constantly.
She told him his test results were normal.
She told him hers were complicated.
Then suddenly—
pregnant.
He had never questioned it.
Not once.
Daniel’s face went white.
“She lied.”
Claire stepped closer.
“We don’t know that yet.”
Daniel looked at the screen.
His father.
Vanessa.
Victor.
All connected before Daniel had even met Vanessa.
“How could my father be Lily’s biological father if he was dead?”
Michael sat down heavily.
“Sperm storage.”
Daniel glared.
Michael continued.
“Dad had cancer treatment years before Mom died.”
Daniel remembered.
Charles had undergone radiation.
He recovered.
“You think he stored samples?”
“It’s possible.”
Daniel wanted to vomit.
Claire looked back at the paused video.
“But why would Vanessa say ‘Lily’ years before Lily existed?”
Michael frowned.
“Unless Lily was already planned.”
Daniel felt his chest tighten.
Planned.
His marriage.
His daughter.
His whole life.
His phone rang.
Victor.
Daniel answered.
“You found it.”
Not a question.
Daniel looked around the room.
“How are you watching us?”
Victor laughed.
“You still don’t understand your own house.”
Daniel grabbed the nearest lamp and ripped it apart, searching for a camera.
“Where is Lily?”
“Bring the drive.”
“We need proof she’s alive.”
Victor sighed.
Then Lily’s voice came through.
“Daddy?”
Daniel’s knees nearly gave out.
“I’m here, sweetheart.”
“I’m scared.”
“I know. Listen to me. Are you hurt?”
“No.”
“Is Vanessa with you?”
“Yes.”
“Is she hurt?”
Lily hesitated.
“She’s crying.”
Daniel closed his eyes.
“Lily, I’m coming for you.”
Victor returned.
“Touching.”
“Where?”
“Old Ridgeway property.”
Daniel looked at Michael.
Michael went pale.
“The cabin?”
“Yes.”
“Thirty minutes?”
“Twenty-two now.”
“You’re more than thirty minutes away.”
Victor laughed.
“Then drive fast.”
The call ended.
Daniel pulled the flash drive from the laptop.
Claire blocked him.
“You can’t give him the only evidence.”
“My daughter is there.”
“Make a copy.”
Daniel stared at her.
She was right.
He grabbed another drive from his desk and copied everything.
Michael checked the window.
“We need police.”
“No,” Daniel said.
“Daniel—”
“Victor threatened Lily.”
“He’ll kill us anyway.”
“We need leverage.”
Claire held up the copied drive.
“This is leverage.”
Daniel looked at her.
“You’re staying here.”
“No.”
“You spent seven years in that room.”
“And Victor put me there.”
“That’s exactly why you’re staying.”
Claire stepped closer.
“If he wants the drive, he expects me.”
Michael said, “She’s right.”
Daniel snapped, “You don’t get a vote.”
Michael flinched.
Daniel grabbed his keys.
Claire took the original drive from his hand.
“I know the cabin. I know Victor. And I know Vanessa.”
Daniel stopped.
“What do you know about Vanessa that I don’t?”
Claire looked toward Lily’s bedroom door.
“She tried to let me out once.”
Daniel stared.
“What?”
“Three years ago.”
“Why?”
“She came downstairs crying. Said she couldn’t do it anymore.”
“Do what?”
“Keep me hidden.”
Daniel’s anger shifted.
“What stopped her?”
“Victor.”
“He was here?”
“He arrived before she opened the final lock.”
“What happened?”
“He beat her.”
Daniel remembered Vanessa returning from a supposed weekend trip with a bruise near her ribs.
She said she fell in the hotel shower.
“She told you?”
“No.”
“Why?”
Claire gave him a tired look.
“Because you never asked the right questions.”
That hurt.
Because it was true.
Daniel had spent years working.
Building the company.
Flying across the country.
He loved Lily.
He thought he loved Vanessa.
But he had accepted too many easy explanations.
Michael headed toward the door.
“I’m coming.”
Daniel blocked him.
“You’re part of this.”
“I know.”
“You drugged Mom.”
“I know.”
“You stayed quiet while Claire disappeared.”
Michael’s face collapsed.
“I know.”
“And now my daughter is paying for it.”
Michael nodded.
“That’s why I’m coming.”
Daniel wanted to hit him.
Instead he said, “Get in the car.”
They left through the garage.
Claire sat in front.
Michael in back.
Daniel drove.
Fast.
The old Ridgeway property was twenty-six miles away.
Rain began halfway there.
Of course it did.
The road looked exactly like Daniel remembered from the night his mother died.
Dark.
Wet.
Dangerous.
Claire held the flash drive tightly.
“What if Victor asks for the password?”
“He probably knows it.”
“No. If he knew it, he wouldn’t need me.”
Michael leaned forward.
“Then don’t give it to him until Lily is free.”
Daniel glanced in the mirror.
“You think he’ll negotiate?”
“No.”
“Then what?”
Michael reached into his jacket.
A small handgun.
Daniel swore.
“Where did you get that?”
“I’ve carried it since Victor started threatening me.”
“Are you insane?”
“Probably.”
“Give it to me.”
“No.”
“You’re an addict with a gun.”
“I’ve been sober fourteen months.”
Daniel looked at him.
That was the longest Michael had ever claimed.
Michael met his eyes.
“I’m not asking you to trust me.”
“Good.”
“I’m asking you to let me help.”
Daniel looked back at the road.
The cabin appeared through the rain.
Lights on.
One black SUV outside.
Daniel parked fifty yards away.
His phone buzzed.
A message.
COME ALONE WITH CLAIRE.
Daniel showed them.
Michael shook his head.
“I’m not staying.”
“You are.”
“No.”
Daniel turned.
“If Lily dies because you wanted to prove something—”
Michael went silent.
Daniel looked at Claire.
“Ready?”
“No.”
“Me neither.”
They walked toward the cabin.
The front door opened before they reached it.
Vanessa stumbled out.
Her hands were tied.
Tape across her mouth.
Daniel ran forward.
“Vanessa!”
She shook her head violently.
Behind her, Victor appeared.
Gun pressed to Lily’s shoulder.
Daniel stopped.
Every muscle in his body went rigid.
Lily was crying.
“Daddy!”
“I’m here.”
Victor looked older.
Gray hair.
Sharp eyes.
Same cold face Daniel remembered.
“Drive.”
Claire raised it.
Victor smiled.
“Seven years for something that fits in your hand.”
“Release Lily.”
Victor shook his head.
“Password first.”
“You release her first.”
Victor laughed.
“Claire, prison has made you brave.”
“It made me stop caring whether you scare me.”
Victor’s smile disappeared.
Daniel focused on Lily.
“Sweetheart, look at me.”
She did.
“Everything is going to be okay.”
Victor pushed the gun closer.
“Don’t promise things you can’t control.”
Daniel’s eyes darkened.
“You want the drive. Take it.”
He held out his hand to Claire.
She hesitated.
Then passed it to him.
Daniel stepped forward.
Victor said, “Stop.”
Daniel stopped.
“Put it on the ground.”
Daniel crouched.
Placed the drive on the wet gravel.
“Now Lily.”
Victor nodded toward Vanessa.
“Move.”
Vanessa shuffled toward Daniel.
Daniel frowned.
“I said Lily.”
“One hostage at a time.”
Vanessa reached Daniel.
He pulled the tape from her mouth.
She gasped.
“Daniel, don’t give him the drive!”
Victor pointed the gun at her.
“Quiet.”
Vanessa shouted, “He doesn’t care about the evidence!”
Daniel looked at her.
“What?”
“He wants what’s underneath it!”
Victor fired.
BANG!
The bullet hit the ground inches from Vanessa.
Lily screamed.
Daniel grabbed Vanessa and pulled her behind him.
Claire shouted, “What is underneath it?”
Vanessa was shaking.
“The account key.”
Victor’s face turned cold.
Daniel looked down at the flash drive.
“What account?”
Vanessa cried.
“Your father didn’t hide millions.”
She stared at Daniel.
“He hid over four hundred million dollars.”
Daniel froze.
Victor smiled.
“And that drive tells me where.”
Behind Daniel—
a second gun clicked.
Michael’s voice cut through the rain.
“Let Lily go.”
Victor’s eyes shifted.
For the first time—
fear.
Michael stepped from the darkness.
Gun aimed directly at Victor.
Lily stood between them.
Daniel shouted, “Michael, don’t!”
Victor grabbed Lily and pulled her against his chest.
Gun at her head.
Michael’s hand shook.
Victor smiled again.
“There he is.”
“Let her go.”
“Still trying to save everyone seven years too late?”
Michael’s jaw tightened.
Victor continued.
“Tell Daniel the truth.”
“Shut up.”
“You think Claire was taken because of your father?”
Michael’s face changed.
Claire saw it.
“What is he talking about?”
Victor laughed.
“Oh, Claire.”
Michael whispered, “Don’t.”
May you like
Victor looked at her.
“Michael is the one who told me where you were.”
