Chapter 6: The Man Who Was Supposed to Be Dead
Marcus didn't blink.
He read the message again.
Then he held the phone toward Vanessa.
“Who is he?””
Vanessa stared at the name on the document.
Her breathing became shallow.
“Vanessa.””
Nothing.
“Who?””
She whispered:
“Jonathan.””
Ethan stepped forward.
“That's impossible.””
Marcus looked at him.
“You know him too?””
Ethan shook his head.
“I know the name.””
“Who is Jonathan?””
Vanessa pressed both hands against the kitchen island.
“He was your father's attorney.””
Marcus frowned.
“That's it?””
“No.””
“What else?””
“He was the person who helped create the trust.””
Marcus looked at the document.
“Then why is he listed as Liam's father?””
Vanessa shook her head.
“He isn't.””
Marcus pointed.
“His name is right here.””
“He signed it.””
“As what?””
Vanessa stared at the page.
“Guardian.””
Marcus frowned.
“Guardian?””
“Yes.””
“Not father?””
“No.””
Marcus looked toward Ethan.
“Then why did Dad's recording say not to let Vanessa see who Liam's legal father is?””
Ethan stepped closer.
“Because there are two documents.””
Marcus looked at him.
“What?””
“Two parentage records.””
“Where?””
“Your father kept the original.””
“Where?””
“I don't know.””
Marcus slammed his palm onto the counter.
“Everyone knows something except me!””
His voice echoed through the house.
Brandon and Kayden appeared at the staircase.
Marcus looked up.
“Stay upstairs.””
Brandon didn't move.
“Dad…”
“Please.””
The boy saw something in his father's face and nodded.
The brothers disappeared.
Marcus lowered his voice.
“Start from the beginning.””
Vanessa sat down.
Her hands trembled.
“Jonathan was your father's attorney for twenty-three years.””
“Why haven't I heard of him?””
“Because he disappeared.””
“When?””
“Three days before your father died.””
Marcus frowned.
“And nobody thought that was suspicious?””
“Daniel said Jonathan had stolen money and fled.””
Ethan shook his head.
“He didn't.””
Marcus looked at him.
“How do you know?””
“Because I spoke to him.””
“When?””
“Last year.””
Marcus stared.
“Where?””
“Chicago.””
“Is he alive?””
“Yes.””
Vanessa looked up sharply.
“You found him?””
Ethan nodded.
“Once.””
“Why didn't you tell me?””
“Because he made me promise.””
Marcus laughed bitterly.
“Another promise.””
Ethan ignored it.
“He said he was waiting for Marcus.””
“Me?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
“He said your father had left something with him.””
Marcus felt the pieces moving again.
“The second document.””
Ethan nodded.
“Probably.””
Marcus grabbed his coat.
“Then we go to Chicago.””
Vanessa stood.
“No.””
Marcus turned.
“Why?””
“Because Daniel knows about Jonathan.””
“How?””
“Because Jonathan contacted me two weeks ago.””
Marcus stared.
“You knew he was alive?””
“Yes.””
“You knew and said nothing?””
“He told me not to.””
Marcus shook his head.
“You have no right to keep secrets from me anymore.””
“I was trying to protect Liam.””
“And now he's been kidnapped.””
Vanessa flinched.
Marcus immediately regretted the words.
But he didn't take them back.
He grabbed the black box.
“We're going to find Jonathan.””
Ethan nodded.
Vanessa remained still.
Marcus stopped at the door.
“You're coming.””
She looked surprised.
“Why?””
“Because if Daniel is telling the truth, you know more than anyone.””
“And if I betray you?””
Marcus met her eyes.
“Then I'll know.””
They were almost outside when a car screeched around the corner.
Marcus froze.
Black SUV.
The same one from the photograph.
It stopped at the curb.
Two men stepped out.
Ethan grabbed Marcus's shoulder.
“Inside.””
The first man raised a handgun.
Marcus shoved Vanessa down.
Glass exploded behind them.
They dropped to the floor.
“Get away from the windows!”” Ethan shouted.
Marcus crawled toward the kitchen.
Another shot cracked.
The front window shattered.
Vanessa screamed.
Marcus grabbed her and pulled her behind the marble island.
“Are you hurt?””
She shook her head.
“No.””
Ethan crawled toward the hallway.
“Back door!””
Marcus looked at Vanessa.
“Can you run?””
“Yes.””
“Then run.””
They moved.
Brandon and Kayden were frozen at the staircase.
Marcus shouted:
“Basement! Now!””
The boys ran.
Ethan reached the back door first.
He opened it.
They rushed into the yard.
Another shot struck the fence.
Marcus grabbed Vanessa's hand.
They ran toward the garage.
The security lights came on.
Marcus hit the garage opener.
Nothing.
He tried again.
Nothing.
“Power's been cut,” Ethan said.
Marcus looked at him.
“Can you start the car?””
“My keys are inside.””
Marcus swore.
Vanessa pointed toward the shed.
“There.””
They ran.
Inside was an old pickup Marcus barely used.
He opened the driver's door.
“Get in.””
Vanessa climbed beside him.
Ethan jumped into the back.
Marcus turned the key.
The engine coughed.
Then started.
He slammed the truck into reverse.
The garage door was still closed.
Marcus accelerated.
The truck crashed through it.
Wood and metal exploded around them.
They tore into the street.
Marcus didn't slow down.
Vanessa looked back.
The black SUV was already moving.
“They're following us.””
“I know.””
Ethan looked over the seat.
“Take the highway.””
“No.””
“Why?””
“Because they'll expect that.””
Marcus turned sharply onto a narrow residential street.
He drove through three intersections.
Then into an alley.
The SUV disappeared behind them.
After ten minutes, Marcus pulled into an abandoned parking lot.
Everyone sat in silence.
Then Vanessa whispered:
“They know about the box.””
Marcus looked at her.
“How?””
“I don't know.””
Ethan shook his head.
“They knew exactly where we'd be.””
Marcus stared at him.
“Someone told them.””
Nobody spoke.
Then Marcus slowly looked at Vanessa.
She shook her head.
“It wasn't me.””
“I didn't say it was.””
“But you're thinking it.””
“I don't know what to think anymore.””
His phone buzzed.
Another message.
*YOU HAVE ONE HOUR.*
Marcus opened it.
A location appeared.
An abandoned warehouse.
Then another message.
*COME ALONE.*
Ethan read over his shoulder.
“No.””
Marcus looked at him.
“What?””
“You can't go.””
“They have Liam.””
“And that's exactly why you can't walk into a trap.””
Marcus looked at Vanessa.
“Do you know the location?””
She stared at the screen.
Then her face changed.
“Yes.””
“Where?””
“It's the old Cole warehouse.””
Marcus frowned.
“Your family warehouse?””
She nodded.
“Closed twelve years ago.””
“Why?””
Vanessa's voice became almost inaudible.
“Because that's where Liam was born.””
Marcus stared.
“What?””
She swallowed.
“That's where I gave birth to him.””
Ethan looked away.
Marcus's phone buzzed again.
This time it wasn't a text.
A video had been sent.
Marcus opened it.
Liam appeared on screen.
He was sitting in a chair.
His glasses were gone.
His face was pale.
But he was alive.
A man stood behind him.
His face remained outside the frame.
Liam looked directly into the camera.
“Dad…”
Marcus leaned closer.
“I'm here.””
Liam's voice shook.
“Grandpa told me something before he died.””
Marcus's heart pounded.
“What?””
“He said you weren't supposed to be my father.””
Marcus froze.
Vanessa covered her mouth.
Liam continued.
“He said…”
The boy looked toward the person behind the camera.
Then whispered:
“He said the man who raised me isn't my father.””
Marcus felt the world disappear beneath him.
Liam stared into the camera.
“But he also said the man who gave me my blood isn't my father either.””
The video ended.
Marcus slowly lowered the phone.
Ethan was staring at him.
Vanessa was crying.
Nobody spoke.
Then Marcus noticed something in the final frame.
Behind Liam, on the warehouse wall, was a faded sign.
A name.
*COLE MATERNITY CENTER.*
And beneath it, painted in red:
*ROOM 7.*
Marcus looked at Vanessa.
“Room seven.””
She nodded.
“That room doesn't exist anymore.””
Marcus's voice hardened.
“It does tonight.””
He started the truck.
Ethan grabbed his arm.
“Marcus, wait.””
Marcus looked at him.
“What?””
Ethan pointed at the black box.
“Your father didn't just leave you the trust.””
Marcus looked down.
“What else did he leave?””
Ethan's face had gone pale.
“A warning.””
“What warning?””
Ethan pointed to the underside of the box.
There was a message engraved into the metal.
Marcus turned it over.
Four words.
*THE BLOOD TEST WAS ALTERED.*
He looked at Vanessa.
She stopped breathing.
Marcus whispered:
“Whose blood test?””
Vanessa's eyes filled with terror.
“Liam's.””
The truck engine roared.
May you like
And Marcus realized the kidnapping wasn't about the seventeen million dollars.
It was about proving who Liam really was.
