Chapter 2 - The Secret My Father Took to His Grave
I couldn't hear anything after Gabriel said those words.
My father was killed.
Not gone.
Not missing.
Killed.
For twenty years, my mother had told me the same story.
He left one night.
He promised to come back.
He never did.
She told us not to hate him.
She told us to accept that some people left when life became difficult.
I had spent half my childhood believing my father abandoned us.
Now a stranger had placed a photograph in front of me and told me that story was a lie.
“Why would you know this?”
Gabriel sat opposite me.
“Because my father ordered the investigation.”
I stared at him.
“Your father killed mine?”
“No.”
“Then who?”
“We don't know.”
“You just said he was there.”
“My father witnessed the aftermath.”
I closed the folder.
“You expect me to believe this?”
“No.”
He pushed another envelope toward me.
Inside was a letter.
My father's handwriting.
My breath caught.
Dear Emily,
If you ever read this, I have failed to come home.
My hands shook.
I continued reading.
There are people who believe they can control my work by taking my life. They may succeed.
But if they do, remember this:
Never trust the person who tells you I abandoned you.
I stopped.
That was exactly what my mother had told me.
I looked at Gabriel.
“This is impossible.”
“It isn't.”
“How did you get this?”
“My father kept it.”
“Why?”
“Because he promised yours he'd protect your family.”
I laughed bitterly.
“He failed.”
Gabriel lowered his eyes.
“Yes.”
The word carried pain.
Then he looked back at me.
“And I won't.”
I didn't know what to say.
He continued.
“Your father worked for my family.”
“As what?”
“Financial strategist.”
“That doesn't sound illegal.”
“It wasn't.”
“What changed?”
“My father discovered someone was moving money through our legitimate companies.”
“Who?”
“We don't know.”
“Then how does this involve me?”
“Because your father hid the evidence.”
I felt a chill.
“Where?”
“We haven't found it.”
“Then why tell me?”
“Because someone believes you know.”
“I don't.”
“I believe you.”
I stared at him.
“Why?”
“Because if you knew, you would have used it years ago.”
His eyes held mine.
“I've spent a long time trying to find the person who killed my father.”
“Your father?”
He nodded.
“He died six months after yours.”
I didn't know that.
“Same people?”
“We believe so.”
Silence stretched between us.
Then Gabriel stood.
“Your life is no longer safe.”
“My life has never been safe.”
He walked closer.
“Not like this.”
“What are you asking me to do?”
“Move.”
“Where?”
“Somewhere protected.”
“No.”
“Emily.”
“No.”
I stood.
“You can't suddenly appear in my life, tell me my father was murdered, and expect me to hand over my freedom.”
His expression softened.
“I don't want your freedom.”
“Then what do you want?”
“I want you alive.”
I looked away.
That was the problem.
He didn't sound like he was threatening me.
He sounded like he genuinely meant it.
Then the office door opened.
Mateo stepped inside.
“Boss.”
“What?”
“We have a problem.”
Gabriel turned.
“Speak.”
“The old Reyes warehouse was broken into.”
Gabriel's expression hardened.
“What was taken?”
“Nothing.”
“Then why are you here?”
Mateo looked at me.
“Because someone left a message.”
He handed Gabriel a photograph.
I couldn't see it.
Gabriel looked at it.
His jaw tightened.
“What?”
He handed it to me.
My blood froze.
It showed me leaving Laurel Corner Café.
Underneath it was one sentence.
SHE LOOKS JUST LIKE HIM.
Gabriel took the photograph back.
“Now you understand.”
I swallowed.
“Who took this?”
“We'll find out.”
That night, he moved me to a secured guest residence.
I hated it.
But I couldn't deny that being there felt safer.
The next morning, my mother called.
“Emily?”
“Mom.”
Her voice trembled.
“Are you with Gabriel Reyes?”
I froze.
“How do you know him?”
“Because your father trusted his father.”
I closed my eyes.
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because I promised your father.”
“You lied to me.”
“I protected you.”
“From what?”
She started crying.
“From the same people who are looking for you now.”
I heard a noise behind her.
“Mom?”
Silence.
“Mom?”
The line went dead.
I called again.
No answer.
I looked at Gabriel.
“She knows.”
He immediately stood.
“Where does she live?”
I told him.
Within minutes, three cars were on the road.
We arrived at my mother's apartment.
The door was open.
Furniture overturned.
Papers scattered across the floor.
My mother's purse lay near the stairs.
“Mom!”
No answer.
Gabriel searched every room.
Then he stopped.
On the kitchen wall was a message written in black marker.
COME FIND THE TRUTH.
I felt sick.
“She took her,” I whispered.
Gabriel stepped toward me.
“We're going to find her.”
“You promised to protect me.”
“I will.”
“Then find my mother.”
His eyes hardened.
“I swear.”
May you like
That was the first promise he made to me.
It wouldn't be the last.
Related Stories
