Chapter 10: The Child My Mother Left Behind
I read the message three times.
Then I turned the phone toward my mother.
"Why does this photograph show a little boy who looks like me?""
Elena stared at the screen.
Her lips parted.
No sound came out.
"Mom?""
She looked away.
"Where did you get that photograph?""
"Someone sent it to me. They said I should ask why you only brought one baby home.""
My mother's hands began trembling.
Damien stepped closer.
"Elena, what aren't you telling us?""
She closed her eyes.
For several seconds, the only sound was Shadow breathing beside the SUV.
Then she whispered:
"Because I didn't.""
I felt my stomach drop.
"Didn't what?""
"Bring only one baby home.""
I stared at her.
"Then where is the other child?""
Elena covered her mouth.
"Daniel and I had three children.""
The world seemed to stop.
"Three?""
She nodded through her tears.
"You, Corbin, and another little boy.""
I looked at the photograph again.
The boy beside the puppy couldn't have been more than four years old.
"What's his name?""
"Julian.""
Damien stepped backward.
"Julian Mercer?""
My mother looked at him.
"You know him?""
Damien's face became expressionless.
"He's been missing for eighteen years.""
I couldn't breathe.
"How can he be missing for eighteen years?""
Elena wiped her cheeks.
"After Daniel disappeared, Vincent discovered where we were hiding. He took Julian. He threatened to kill him unless I surrendered the documents Daniel had collected.""
"Did you give them to him?""
"No. I escaped with you and Corbin. But I couldn't get Julian out.""
Her voice broke.
"I spent years searching for him. Every lead disappeared. Every person who claimed to know where he was ended up dead or missing.""
I looked at the photograph.
"Was that why you stayed away from me?""
She nodded.
"Vincent made me believe he would hurt you if I tried to contact you.""
"And you never thought to tell me?""
"I thought you were safe.""
"Mom, I changed apartments because someone was following me! I worked nights because I couldn't afford anything else! I spent my birthday alone every year because I thought everyone I'd ever loved was gone!""
She reached for my hand.
I stepped away.
"Don't.""
My mother lowered her head.
Damien watched us silently.
Then his phone rang.
He answered.
"What?""
A man's voice came through the speaker.
"Sir, we've identified the person in the penthouse footage.""
"Who?""
"Julian Mercer.""
My mother gasped.
Damien looked at me.
"The boy in the photograph is the man who entered the penthouse pretending to be Vincent.""
I shook my head.
"He's alive?""
"Yes.""
My mother started crying again.
"Where is he?""
The voice on the phone continued.
"We traced the message to the old Ashworth estate. There's something else, sir.""
"What?""
"Corbin is already there.""
Damien ended the call.
I looked at my mother.
"He's going after Julian?""
"No," she whispered.
"He's going to help him.""
I frowned.
"Why would Corbin help the man who kidnapped his brother?""
Elena looked directly at me.
"Because Corbin has always known Julian was alive.""
I turned toward Damien.
He looked furious.
"How long?""
My mother swallowed.
"Since he was sixteen.""
I felt sick.
My twin brother had known about another brother all along.
He'd known Julian was alive.
And he'd allowed me to believe I was alone.
"Why?"" I asked.
Elena's voice became quiet.
"Because Julian promised him something.""
"What?""
"Control of the family.""
Damien stepped toward the SUV.
"We're going to the estate.""
My mother grabbed his arm.
"You're not taking her there.""
Damien looked at her.
"Corbin has already found Julian. If we wait, we may lose both of them.""
I opened my hand.
The silver necklace rested against my palm.
"Then I'm going.""
Damien shook his head.
"Absolutely not.""
I met his eyes.
"That man has been controlling my life since before I was born. I'm finished hiding.""
He studied my face.
Then he nodded.
"Stay beside me.""
As we climbed into the SUV, Shadow suddenly refused to enter.
He stood in the driveway, staring at the road behind us.
His ears lifted.
A black motorcycle had stopped across the street.
The rider removed his helmet.
It was Corbin.
He looked directly at me.
Then he raised one hand.
Not a greeting.
A warning.
He pointed toward the SUV.
Then drew a finger across his throat.
The motorcycle disappeared around the corner.
My phone vibrated.
Another message.
*JULIAN ISN'T THE ONE YOU SHOULD FEAR. ASK DAMIEN WHAT HAPPENED TO THE THIRD CHILD.*
I looked at Damien.
May you like
He was already staring at my phone.
And for the first time, I saw genuine terror in his eyes.
