Chapter 10 - THE MOTHER WHO COULDN'T SAY HER NAME
Daniel stood in the doorway.
His gun pointed toward us.
"Nobody move."
My mother stepped forward.
"Daniel."
He smiled.
"You always were terrible at keeping secrets."
I stood.
"You knew?"
He laughed.
"I knew everything."
"About Leah?"
"Especially about Leah."
"Why did you want her?"
He lowered the gun slightly.
"Because Caroline owed me."
I froze.
"What?"
"Your sister borrowed money."
"Why?"
"To escape me."
I stared.
Daniel continued.
"She got pregnant."
"With Leah."
"Yes."
"She wanted to leave you."
"Yes."
"Why didn't she?"
"Because I threatened to expose her."
My stomach turned.
"Expose what?"
"That she had been helping me."
I looked toward the door.
Caroline appeared.
She was crying.
"I was trying to stop him."
Daniel laughed.
"You were working with me."
"I was trying to protect Leah."
"You signed the papers."
"Because you forced me!"
Daniel pointed the gun at her.
"Enough."
I stepped between them.
"Put the gun down."
"No."
"Daniel."
My mother spoke.
"You don't have to do this."
He looked at her.
"You betrayed me."
"I saved Noah."
"You hid him."
"Yes."
"You ruined everything."
She looked at me.
"No."
She shook her head.
"I protected my family."
Daniel laughed.
"Family."
He looked around the room.
"You people only remember that word when it's convenient."
Then he pointed toward me.
"Give me the trust."
"No."
"Then Caroline dies."
I looked at my sister.
She was shaking.
For years, I had thought she didn't care about Leah.
Now I understood.
She had been terrified.
She had been trapped.
And she had watched me raise her daughter from a distance.
I looked at her.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
Caroline cried.
"Because I thought you would hate me."
"You should have trusted me."
"I know."
"You let Leah believe she wasn't wanted."
"I know."
"You watched Mom treat her differently."
"I know."
My voice broke.
"You were her mother."
Caroline covered her face.
"I was afraid."
I looked at Leah's photograph on the desk.
Then at Caroline.
"I would have protected you."
"I know."
"Then why?"
She whispered:
"Because Daniel told me if I ever claimed Leah, he'd kill you."
Silence.
Daniel's expression changed.
I stared at him.
"You threatened my life?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because you were the only person who could take Leah away from me."
I stepped forward.
"You never owned her."
Daniel smiled.
"Maybe not."
He raised the gun.
"But I can still destroy everyone."
A siren sounded outside.
Daniel looked toward the window.
Police.
He turned back.
"Nobody leaves."
Then he grabbed Caroline.
I moved.
Daniel pointed the gun at her head.
"One step."
I stopped.
Caroline looked at me.
She whispered:
"Don't."
Then Daniel dragged her toward the hidden passage.
Before disappearing, he looked at me.
"You want your family back?"
He smiled.
"Come find us."
The door slammed.
I stood frozen.
My mother began crying.
Emily grabbed my arm.
"We have to go."
I looked at her.
"Where?"
She pointed toward the passage.
"He's taking Caroline to the old warehouse."
I nodded.
Then I heard my phone ring.
It was Leah.
"Dad?"
My heart stopped.
"Leah?"
Her voice trembled.
"Someone is outside the house."
I stood.
"Lock the door."
"I did."
"Stay upstairs."
"Dad..."
"I'm coming."
Then she whispered:
"I think it's Grandma."
I looked at my mother.
She was standing beside me.
Confused.
Terrified.
Because she hadn't moved.
I looked back at the phone.
"Leah, don't open the door."
Too late.
I heard the front door downstairs open.
Then a man's voice.
"Hello, sweetheart."
Leah screamed.
The call went dead.
I ran.
And for the first time since Christmas...
May you like
I wasn't running away from my family.
I was running toward my daughter.
