Chapter 7
I had never hated a man as much as I hated Daniel Price in that moment.
He stood beside my daughter as calmly as if we were attending a business meeting.
His expensive gray suit was spotless.
His silver hair was perfectly combed.
And in his hands was a folder containing documents about Lily.
My six-year-old daughter.
"Daniel," I said.
He looked down at me.
"Marcus."
I could barely speak.
"You helped bury my wife."
His face didn't change.
"I helped you through a difficult period."
"You knew she was alive."
He glanced at Adrian.
"I advised against unnecessary complications."
I stared at him.
"Complications?"
My voice echoed through the warehouse.
"YOU STOLE FOURTEEN MONTHS OF HER LIFE!"
Lily flinched.
I immediately lowered my voice.
"Baby, look at me."
She raised her tearful eyes.
"I'm right here."
Vanessa stepped closer to the railing.
"Enough."
I looked at her.
"Please let Lily go."
She crossed her arms.
"Give Adrian the drive."
I placed it on the floor.
"There."
Adrian leaned toward Daniel.
They exchanged a few quiet words.
Then Daniel spoke.
"Marcus, there's a simple way to end this."
He opened the folder.
"You sign a temporary agreement relinquishing control of the foundation and authorizing Vanessa to administer Lily's trust."
I stared at him.
"And my daughter?"
"She goes home."
"With me?"
Daniel smiled.
"After appropriate medical evaluation."
I felt sick.
"You've planned this for months."
"Years," Vanessa said quietly.
All three of us looked at her.
She stared down at me.
"Years, Marcus."
I shook my head.
"Why?"
Her eyes filled with angry tears.
"Because Elena had everything."
I couldn't believe what I was hearing.
"She was your friend."
"She was everyone's favorite."
Vanessa's voice rose.
"Elena was brilliant. Elena was beautiful. Elena was generous. Elena married Marcus Bennett."
She laughed bitterly.
"And I was always standing beside her."
I stared at her.
"You wanted my life?"
"I wanted a chance to matter."
I felt a terrible sadness beneath my anger.
"You already mattered."
She looked away.
"Not enough."
I took a slow breath.
"Vanessa, listen to yourself."
She turned back.
"You don't understand."
"No. I don't."
I pointed toward Lily.
"Because no disappointment in this world could make me do that to a child."
Her face hardened.
Adrian stepped forward.
"Enough emotional nonsense."
He held up the remote.
"Sign the documents."
My phone vibrated once in my pocket.
A signal from Brooks.
Police were in position.
But Adrian still had the device.
And Lily was standing beside him.
I needed him away from her.
I looked toward Daniel.
"There's something you don't know."
Daniel narrowed his eyes.
"What?"
"Elena survived."
His expression flickered.
"Obviously."
"She's talking to the police."
Adrian laughed.
"She has no proof."
I looked at him.
"Then why do you want the drive?"
His smile disappeared.
I continued.
"Because she documented everything."
Daniel shifted.
"Marcus—"
"The fake charities. The stolen money. The forged medical records."
I looked directly at Adrian.
"And the woman you kept underground."
For the first time, Adrian appeared frightened.
Vanessa turned toward him.
"She was supposed to stay at the other facility."
I froze.
Other facility.
Adrian shot her a furious look.
"Shut up."
But Vanessa was shaking.
"You told me she would be treated humanely."
I stared at her.
"Humanely?"
Vanessa's eyes filled.
"I didn't know what he was doing to her."
I wanted to believe that some part of her was horrified.
But then I remembered Lily's terrified face.
"Yet you knew she was alive."
Vanessa looked down.
"Yes."
The word hit me like a fist.
I stepped backward.
"All those nights you held me while I cried."
She said nothing.
"You watched Lily mourn her mother."
Tears fell from Vanessa's eyes.
"I thought eventually—"
"Eventually what?"
I almost shouted.
"WE WOULD FORGET HER?"
Lily started sobbing.
"Daddy!"
I forced myself to focus.
"Baby, don't look at them. Look at me."
She did.
I raised one hand slowly.
"Remember what Mommy always told you?"
Lily sniffled.
"When you're scared, find your brave heart."
My throat tightened.
"That's right."
I pointed gently toward her chest.
"Your brave heart is right there."
Adrian grabbed her arm.
"Stop talking."
Lily cried out.
Something inside me snapped.
"LET HER GO!"
Adrian raised the remote.
"One more step!"
I stopped.
Then Vanessa suddenly moved.
She placed herself between Adrian and Lily.
"Don't hurt her."
Adrian stared at her.
"Move."
"She's six."
"Vanessa."
"No."
Her voice trembled.
"This wasn't supposed to happen."
Adrian shoved her aside.
She stumbled against the railing.
Lily screamed.
Daniel stepped backward.
And Adrian raised the remote higher.
"Everybody shut up!"
Then a sharp voice came from the warehouse entrance.
"ADRIAN COLE! POLICE!"
Everything happened at once.
Adrian spun.
Lily pulled away.
Vanessa grabbed Adrian's wrist.
I lunged toward the staircase.
A loud metallic crash echoed through the building.
The remote flew from Adrian's hand.
It struck the walkway.
Bounced.
And dropped toward the warehouse floor.
I watched it fall.
My heart stopped.
May you like
Because its red light was still blinking.
And the moment it hit the concrete, every overhead warning light in the warehouse turned red.
