Chapter 7: The Brother in the Dark
“He thinks he’s your brother.””
Daniel stared at Eleanor.
The warehouse seemed to tilt beneath his feet.
“My brother?””
Eleanor nodded once.
“He believes he is the son Thomas abandoned.””
Daniel looked at Vivian.
“Is that true?””
Vivian's expression was grim.
“Not exactly.””
“Then tell me the truth.””
She glanced at Lily, who was wrapped in Daniel's coat.
“Not in front of her.””
Daniel carried Lily toward Officer Shaw.
“Rosa is waiting outside. Take Lily to her.””
Lily tightened her arms around his neck.
“No.””
“Sweetheart—”
“I want Daddy.””
Daniel kissed her forehead.
“I'll be right here.””
Officer Shaw crouched beside them.
“Lily, your daddy needs to help us make sure nobody scares you again.””
Lily looked at Daniel.
“Promise?””
“I promise.””
She finally released him.
When Rosa took her outside, Daniel turned back to Vivian.
“Now.””
Vivian looked at the black ring on the floor.
“The man who took Lily is probably the child Jonathan Cross believed was his.””
“Probably?””
“We don't know exactly what happened after the birth.””
“You said there were twins.””
“There were.””
“One was me.””
“Yes.””
“And the other was a girl.””
“Yes.””
“Then who is this man?””
Vivian swallowed.
“Evelyn had another pregnancy.””
Daniel's eyes narrowed.
“The daughter Naomi mentioned.””
“Evelyn had three children in total. You and your twin were born first. Three years later, she gave birth to a daughter.””
“Naomi.””
“Yes.””
“Then there is no brother.””
Vivian shook her head.
“Not by blood.””
Daniel looked at Eleanor.
“Then why does this man think he's my brother?””
Eleanor finally spoke.
“Because someone told him he was.””
“Who?””
“My father.””
Daniel stared.
“Your grandfather told someone they were Thomas's son?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
Eleanor's voice broke.
“To keep the Mercer inheritance under control.””
Martin Hale stepped forward.
“This is becoming unnecessarily complicated.””
Daniel turned on him.
“You knew about this too.””
“I knew fragments.””
“You've been protecting this family for decades.””
“I've been protecting documents.””
“Same thing.””
Martin looked toward the dark warehouse.
“Your grandfather created a contingency.””
“What contingency?””
“If Thomas ever tried to expose the financial fraud, someone would inherit everything through a second line.””
Daniel's brow furrowed.
“Second line?””
Martin nodded.
“The Mercer trust contained provisions for a male heir whose identity was never publicly recorded.””
Daniel's stomach dropped.
“My grandfather created a fake heir.””
“Yes.””
“And he told this man he was that heir.””
“Yes.””
“Who is he?””
Martin hesitated.
“We believe his name is Gabriel Cross.””
Vivian closed her eyes.
Daniel remembered the voice on the phone.
The unknown man who had demanded the original birth record.
The man who had said, Someone your family forgot.
“Where is Gabriel now?””
“We don't know,” Martin said.
A police radio crackled.
Officer Miller hurried toward them.
“Detective.””
Shaw turned.
“We found a vehicle.””
“Where?””
“Behind the warehouse. Abandoned.””
Miller handed her a phone.
“There are fingerprints on the steering wheel. We're running them.””
Daniel looked at Vivian.
“Did Gabriel know about Lily?””
“Yes.””
“Why take her?””
“Because he believes the family will trade anything for you.””
Daniel frowned.
“Why me?””
Vivian stared at him.
“Because you're the legal heir.””
Daniel's eyes moved toward Martin.
“Of course.””
Martin nodded.
“Your father changed the trust before he died.””
“What did he change?””
“He transferred control of the majority of Mercer Holdings into a structure that could only be activated by you.””
Daniel felt sick.
“And my mother knew?””
“Yes.””
Eleanor whispered, “I knew.””
“You let me live my whole life without knowing.””
“I thought ignorance would keep you alive.””
“Instead, it made me easy to manipulate.””
Eleanor looked at him.
“That was never my intention.””
Daniel almost answered.
Then he noticed something on the warehouse wall.
A small security camera.
Its red light was still blinking.
“That's live.””
Miller immediately looked up.
“We're checking the feed.””
A monitor in the security office flickered to life.
Grainy footage appeared.
The camera showed the back loading area.
A man in a dark coat walked into frame.
His face was obscured by a hood.
He carried a small backpack.
Then he turned.
Daniel froze.
The man removed the hood.
His face appeared on the monitor.
Older than Daniel.
Perhaps late thirties.
Dark hair.
Gray eyes.
A narrow scar across his jaw.
Daniel had never seen him before.
Yet something about the face felt disturbingly familiar.
The man looked directly into the camera.
Then he smiled.
“Daniel.””
The speakers crackled.
Everyone in the room went silent.
“I know you're watching.””
Daniel stepped toward the monitor.
“Where is my daughter?””
Gabriel's smile disappeared.
“She was never the target.””
“Then who is?””
“You.””
Daniel's jaw tightened.
“Why?””
“Because your father lied.””
“My father is dead.””
“Exactly.””
Gabriel leaned toward the camera.
“He died believing he had saved you.””
Daniel's breath caught.
“Saved me from what?””
Gabriel laughed.
“Ask your mother what happened in the hospital on November third.””
Eleanor turned away.
Daniel saw it.
She was crying.
Gabriel continued.
“You've spent your entire life wearing my name.””
Daniel frowned.
“What does that mean?””
“My name.””
Gabriel touched his chest.
“Cross.””
He paused.
“Your father gave it to me.””
Daniel shook his head.
“You're not my brother.””
Gabriel's smile returned.
“You don't know what you are.””
The feed cut to black.
Officer Shaw immediately ordered officers to search the surrounding blocks.
Daniel remained staring at the blank screen.
Then Vivian said quietly:
“There's something else.””
Daniel turned.
“What?””
“The original birth records were never destroyed.””
“Where are they?””
Vivian looked at Martin.
He closed his eyes.
“In the hospital archives.””
“What hospital?””
“The one where you were born.””
Daniel felt a surge of hope.
“Then we go there.””
Martin shook his head.
“You can't.””
“Why?””
“Because that hospital burned twelve years ago.””
Daniel stared.
“Burned?””
“Yes.””
“And the records?””
Martin's face was grim.
“Officially, they were destroyed.””
Daniel looked at Vivian.
“Officially?””
She nodded.
“Your father didn't believe they were.””
Daniel's phone vibrated.
Another message.
*Come to the hospital basement.*
Then another.
*Bring Eleanor.*
A third arrived immediately.
*Come alone if you want the truth.*
Daniel looked toward his mother.
She was already shaking her head.
“No.””
May you like
“Why?””
“Because that building isn't empty.””
