Chapter 8
Adrian read the report twice.
The words did not change.
Probability of paternity: 99.98%.
Marcus was Lily’s biological father.
Claire turned away, sickened.
“That can’t be real.”
Adrian remembered the year Lily was conceived.
He and Rachel had separated for three months after a painful argument. She returned without explaining where she had been.
Adrian never asked.
He had loved her too much.
Officer Ruiz took the report.
“We’ll verify it independently.”
“It doesn’t matter,” Adrian said.
Claire looked at him.
“What?”
“Lily is my daughter.”
“But Marcus may use this.”
“He already has.”
Adrian finally understood why Marcus had agreed to the conspiracy.
If Lily remained part of the family trust, Marcus could someday claim control through her.
Vanessa had probably planned to reveal the paternity only after destroying Adrian.
Ruiz received a call from the jail.
Marcus wanted to negotiate.
He offered Vanessa’s location in exchange for reduced charges.
Adrian watched the interview through one-way glass.
Marcus entered in handcuffs.
He looked exhausted.
“Where is she?” Ruiz asked.
“I need a signed agreement.”
“You’ll get nothing until we know the child is safe from her.”
Marcus glanced toward the glass, as though he knew Adrian was there.
“Vanessa has been using my father’s hunting lodge.”
“We searched it.”
“Not the lodge you know about. The one in Briar County.”
Ruiz opened a map.
No property appeared under the Hale name.
“It belongs to a shell company,” Marcus explained. “Dad used it when he wanted privacy.”
Adrian entered the room.
Marcus smiled bitterly.
“You always did break rules when it suited you.”
“You are never going near Lily again.”
“I’m her father.”
“No. You share her blood. That is all.”
Marcus’s smile faded.
“Rachel came to me when you separated. She was lonely.”
“And you betrayed me.”
“She chose me.”
“She returned to me.”
“That doesn’t change what happened.”
Adrian leaned across the table.
“You helped torture your own daughter.”
“I didn’t know Vanessa would go that far.”
“You heard her on the phone.”
“I thought she was frightening Lily, not hurting her.”
“You used a seven-year-old child to steal a company.”
Marcus looked down.
For the first time, shame appeared on his face.
“Vanessa promised Lily would be safe.”
“Vanessa promises whatever people need to hear.”
Marcus gave police the coordinates.
The tactical team reached the hidden lodge that evening.
Vanessa was not there.
But they found luggage, forged passports, and enough food for several weeks.
A laptop contained a flight reservation leaving the country the next morning.
There were two tickets.
One for Vanessa.
One for Lily Hale.
Vanessa still intended to take her.
Adrian ordered Claire to remain inside the apartment while police increased security.
That night, the building’s fire alarm sounded.
Officers searched every floor.
It was a false alarm.
But during the confusion, the apartment lost power.
Adrian held Lily with one arm and Noah with the other.
“Stay close.”
A shadow moved near the kitchen.
Adrian rushed forward.
He found Eleanor standing beside the open service entrance.
Claire stared at their mother.
“How did you get out?”
“I made bail.”
Eleanor held up her empty hands.
“I came to warn you.”
“About Vanessa?” Adrian asked.
“No. About Marcus.”
“He’s in jail.”
“He has people outside. He gave Vanessa the money, the passports, and the new identities. But she no longer trusts him.”
“Why should we trust you?”
“You shouldn’t.”
Eleanor’s eyes filled with tears.
“I chose Marcus every time. Even when I knew he was cruel. He was my firstborn, and I kept telling myself I was protecting him.”
“You protected him from consequences,” Claire said.
“Yes.”
Eleanor looked at Lily.
“And children paid the price.”
A gunshot shattered the kitchen window.
Adrian pulled Lily to the floor.
Police rushed into the room.
Outside, a motorcycle sped from the alley.
Ruiz found a bullet lodged in the wall.
Wrapped around it was a strip of paper.
Tomorrow. Family court. Bring Lily alone.
Adrian looked at the message.
May you like
Vanessa was not fleeing anymore.
She was preparing for one final attack.
