Chapter 6: The Father in the Shadows
I couldn't move.
Daniel Mercer looked at me as though he'd been waiting years for this exact moment.
Milo stepped in front of me.
“You're not touching her.””
Daniel smiled.
“You've grown.””
“You're dead.””
“So your mother told you.””
Milo's jaw tightened.
I stared at Daniel.
“Are you my father?””
He looked at me.
Then at Milo.
“Yes.””
The word hit harder than the gunshots.
I felt like I couldn't breathe.
“You're my father.””
Daniel nodded.
“I am.””
“Then why did you disappear?””
His smile faded.
“Because your mother made sure I couldn't come back.””
Mom's voice echoed from the alley entrance.
“That's a lie.””
I turned.
She stood there with Richard behind her.
Her coat was torn from the struggle.
She looked at Daniel.
“You promised you'd never find them.””
Daniel laughed.
“You promised you'd never lie to them.””
Mom took a step forward.
“Kate, don't listen to him.””
I looked at her.
“Why?””
She stopped.
“Why shouldn't I?””
“Because he will use you.””
Daniel's eyes narrowed.
“You're still doing it.””
Mom ignored him.
“Kate, come with me.””
“No.””
Her face crumpled.
I pointed at Daniel.
“He says he's my father.””
“He is.””
My mother finally admitted it.
I stared at her.
“You knew?””
“Yes.””
“And Milo is my twin?””
“Yes.””
“And you told me Dad died?””
“Yes.””
Every answer made me angrier.
“Why?””
She looked down.
“Because I was trying to keep you alive.””
Daniel stepped forward.
“Tell her the rest.””
Mom shook her head.
“Daniel, stop.””
“Tell her why you abandoned Milo.””
“I didn't abandon him.””
“You handed him over.””
Her eyes flashed.
“I had no choice.””
Richard suddenly spoke.
“You always had a choice, Eleanor.””
Mom turned toward him.
“You're one to talk.””
Daniel laughed.
“Still blaming your father?””
Richard's expression hardened.
“You don't know what you're talking about.””
“Oh, I know exactly what happened.””
Daniel looked at me.
“Your mother was supposed to take both children and disappear.””
Mom whispered, “Daniel.””
“She didn't.””
He continued.
“She took Kate.””
Milo looked at my mother.
“You left me.””
Mom shook her head.
“I came back for you.””
“When?””
“The next morning.””
“And I was gone.””
Her eyes filled.
“Your grandfather had taken you.””
Richard stepped backward.
“That's enough.””
“No,” I said.
Everyone went quiet.
I looked at Richard.
“You took Milo?””
He didn't answer.
“Did you?””
Richard's jaw tightened.
“I took him because I was protecting the family.””
“You kidnapped a child.””
“I protected him from Daniel.””
Daniel laughed.
“You sold him.””
My mother gasped.
“What?””
Richard looked at him.
“Careful.””
Daniel's eyes stayed on me.
“Your grandfather sold information about Milo's location.””
Milo went pale.
“To whom?””
Daniel didn't answer.
I looked at Richard.
“To whom?””
Richard's silence was answer enough.
Mom whispered,
“Richard…”
He looked at her.
“You have no idea what I did to keep this family alive.””
Then Milo suddenly pulled something from his pocket.
A small black flash drive.
Daniel's expression changed immediately.
“Where did you get that?””
Milo stepped backward.
“From your office.””
Daniel's face hardened.
“You broke into my office?””
“I needed proof.””
“Proof of what?””
Milo held up the drive.
“Everything.””
Richard lunged.
Milo threw the drive toward me.
I caught it.
Richard froze.
“Give it to me.””
“No.””
My mother stepped between us.
“Kate, don't.””
I looked at the tiny drive in my palm.
“What is on it?””
Milo answered.
“Records.””
“What records?””
“Payments. Names. Dates.””
He looked at Richard.
“And the hospital record.””
Richard's face went white.
“What hospital record?””
Milo smiled.
“The one proving why Mom took Kate and left me.””
My mother suddenly grabbed my shoulders.
“Kate, listen to me.””
I looked at her.
“What happened at the hospital?””
She couldn't speak.
Daniel answered quietly.
“The day you were born, your mother was told one of the twins wouldn't survive.””
I stared at him.
“What?””
He looked at Milo.
“They told her Milo was dying.””
Milo's expression changed.
Daniel continued.
“But he wasn't.””
Mom covered her mouth.
“And when she came back,” Daniel said, “Milo was gone.””
I looked at the drive.
Then at my mother.
Then at Milo.
“What aren't you telling me?””
My mother's tears finally fell.
She whispered,
“Milo wasn't the child they told me had died.””
May you like
She looked at me.
“It was you.””
