Chapter 8: The Promise That Destroyed My Family
I couldn't understand what I was hearing.
Damien stood in the doorway, his hands visible, his face unreadable.
My mother looked at him as if he were a loaded gun.
"Stay away from her," Elena said.
Damien swallowed.
"Elena, I never wanted this.""
"You had six years to tell her the truth.""
"I was protecting her.""
"From what? The truth?""
I turned between them.
"Stop.""
Neither listened.
My mother grabbed my hand.
"Briar, we need to leave.""
I pulled away.
"I'm not going anywhere until someone explains what's happening.""
Elena looked at me.
Tears rolled down her cheeks.
"Your father was a good man, sweetheart. He loved you.""
"Vincent?""
"No.""
She glanced at Damien.
"Not Vincent. Not the man who raised Corbin. Your biological father was Daniel Mercer.""
The name meant nothing to me.
"Who was he?""
"A lawyer. He worked for the Ashworth family before he discovered what Vincent was doing with their companies.""
Damien lowered his eyes.
Elena continued.
"Daniel found evidence of money laundering, illegal weapons shipments, and falsified property records. He wanted to turn everything over to federal investigators.""
"What happened to him?""
"He disappeared three months before you were born.""
I looked at Damien.
"Did you know him?""
"Yes.""
"Was he your friend?""
Damien nodded.
"He was like a brother to me.""
Elena laughed bitterly.
"Then tell her what you promised him.""
Damien's face tightened.
"Elena...""
"Tell her!""
He finally looked at me.
"Daniel knew Vincent was planning to have him killed. Before he disappeared, he made me promise to protect his children.""
My heart pounded.
"His children?""
"Both of you.""
I shook my head.
"Then why did you let Corbin grow up with Vincent?""
"Because Vincent believed Corbin was his son. Elena made that arrangement to keep him alive.""
My mother nodded.
"I couldn't protect both children if I kept them together. Vincent had already discovered that Corbin was connected to Daniel.""
I frowned.
"Connected how?""
Elena took a breath.
"Corbin wasn't Vincent's biological son either. Daniel was his father, too.""
Silence filled the church.
I stared at her.
"So we're twins.""
"Yes.""
"Same father. Same mother.""
"Yes.""
I pressed my hands against my temples.
"Then why did Corbin become like this?""
My mother closed her eyes.
"Because Vincent raised him to hate the truth.""
Damien moved closer.
"I tried to get Elena and the children out. The night of the accident, I arranged a safe meeting. But Vincent found out.""
Elena's expression hardened.
"You arrived too late.""
"I know.""
"You watched them take Daniel's car.""
Damien looked at the floor.
"I thought you were inside.""
"I wasn't.""
I turned sharply.
"What accident?""
My mother took a small step toward me.
"Daniel had been hiding with me after Corbin was born. He wanted to leave New York. He was driving us to a safe house when Vincent's men attacked the car.""
Her voice broke.
"I escaped through the passenger door. Daniel didn't.""
I felt sick.
"And everyone thought you died?""
"Vincent paid someone to identify another woman as me. He arranged the funeral. He wanted everyone to believe the problem had been buried.""
I looked at Damien.
"How did you know?""
His eyes glistened.
"Because I helped arrange the funeral.""
My mother stepped forward.
"And because he made me promise not to contact you.""
I turned toward him.
"Why?""
Damien's voice was barely audible.
"Because I believed Vincent would kill you if he knew you were alive.""
I stared at him.
"You let me grow up thinking my mother was dead.""
"I know.""
"You let me believe I had nobody.""
"I know.""
"Did you ever think about what that would do to me?""
He said nothing.
For the first time, the most feared man in New York looked completely powerless.
Then my mother pulled a small flash drive from her coat.
"There's something else.""
Damien stiffened.
"Elena, where did you get that?""
"From Vincent's private office.""
"What does it contain?""
"Everything.""
She placed it in my palm.
"Records proving who ordered Daniel's murder. Who falsified my death. Who arranged the attacks against you.""
I stared at the drive.
"Why didn't you give this to the police?""
"Because the police have been compromised for years.""
A sudden crash came from downstairs.
Damien immediately moved toward the door.
His security chief shouted from below.
"Mr. Ashworth! We have company!""
Gunfire erupted outside.
My mother screamed.
Damien grabbed my arm.
"Get down!""
He pushed us behind the stone pulpit as glass shattered overhead.
Two armed men entered the church.
One wore a black tactical jacket with the silver raven emblem.
The other carried a rifle.
Damien drew his weapon.
"Stay behind me!""
I held the flash drive tightly.
The first man shouted.
"Where's Elena?""
My mother went completely still.
The second man moved toward the stairs.
Damien fired once.
The man fell behind a wooden pew.
The other raised his weapon.
Before he could shoot, Shadow appeared at the church entrance.
He was limping, but his enormous body blocked the doorway.
He barked with everything he had.
The gunman turned.
That split second gave Damien enough time to disarm him.
Within moments, the church was silent.
Damien rushed toward us.
"Are you hurt?""
I shook my head.
My mother was crying.
But she wasn't looking at the gunmen.
She was staring at Shadow.
"That collar," she whispered.
I looked down.
The old leather collar was around his neck.
My mother approached slowly.
"Oh, Shadow.""
The dog made a soft sound and pressed his head against her hand.
She began crying harder.
"Daniel gave you that collar.""
Damien frowned.
"What?""
Elena looked up.
"There's a compartment inside it.""
I knelt beside Shadow.
My fingers found a small hidden clasp beneath the leather.
It opened with a click.
Inside was a tiny folded piece of paper.
I unfolded it.
Three words were written in Daniel's handwriting.
*DAMlEN ISN'T INNOCENT.*
I looked up.
Damien had gone completely pale.
May you like
My mother whispered:
"Now you know why I never trusted him.""
