Chapter 13 - CHOOSE YOUR SON
“Celeste.”
Daniel raised his hands.
“Let him go.”
“Recorder.”
“You don’t need him.”
“I need insurance.”
Noah’s eyes were wide, but he wasn’t crying.
Daniel saw something in his son’s hand.
The recorder.
Noah had taken it from the desk.
Celeste saw Daniel looking.
“Give it to me, Noah.”
The boy shook his head.
Celeste pressed the gun harder against his temple.
“Don’t make me ask again.”
Daniel’s voice broke.
“He’s seven years old!”
“And he’s smarter than every adult in this house.”
Noah whispered, “You told me Dad hated me.”
Celeste’s expression flickered.
“Give me the recorder.”
“You said he forgot me.”
“Noah.”
“You lied.”
“Everybody lies.”
“My mom didn’t.”
Celeste’s face changed.
Daniel saw it.
Noah did too.
“You killed her.”
Celeste slapped him.
Daniel lunged forward.
“DON’T TOUCH HIM!”
A second gun clicked behind Daniel.
Andrew Mercer stepped from the doorway.
Gray suit.
Silver hair.
Calm smile.
Like he had arrived for a board meeting.
“Still emotional, Danny.”
Daniel slowly turned.
Andrew looked older than he had that morning.
But not guilty.
Not afraid.
Just irritated.
Daniel stared at the brother he had spent his whole life admiring.
“You took my son.”
Andrew shrugged.
“You were going to lose everything.”
“So you stole him?”
“I preserved leverage.”
“He was four.”
“He was an asset worth billions.”
Daniel’s eyes filled with disgust.
“You’re sick.”
“No. I’m practical.”
Andrew glanced at Noah.
“His trust couldn’t be touched while he was alive. It couldn’t be redirected without court problems if he died under suspicious circumstances. So we created a simpler reality.”
“You let me mourn him.”
“You became focused after he was gone.”
Daniel stared.
Andrew smiled.
“Mercer Global doubled in value.”
That did it.
Daniel stepped forward.
Andrew pointed the gun at his chest.
“Careful.”
Daniel didn’t stop.
“Shoot me.”
“Daniel,” Hannah whispered.
Daniel took another step.
“You want the company? Take it.”
Andrew frowned.
Daniel spread his arms.
“Take the buildings. Take the stock. Take my homes. Take every account.”
He looked at Noah.
“But you do not get one more second of my son’s life.”
Andrew’s smile disappeared.
“Still dramatic.”
“No.”
Daniel looked at Celeste.
“I’m finally clear.”
Celeste’s eyes watered unexpectedly.
For one second, she looked human.
Then Andrew said:
“Move.”
Celeste hesitated.
Andrew’s tone sharpened.
“Take Noah to the car.”
She began pulling the boy away.
Noah dropped the recorder.
It hit the carpet.
Andrew looked down.
Daniel looked down.
Noah kicked it.
The recorder slid across the floor.
Straight to Hannah.
She grabbed it.
Andrew fired.
The bullet hit the wall beside her.
Hannah ran.
“GET HER!” Andrew shouted.
Ruiz appeared from the side hall.
“POLICE! DROP YOUR WEAPONS!”
Chaos exploded.
Celeste dragged Noah through the rear door.
Andrew fired toward Ruiz.
Daniel ran after Noah.
Outside, Celeste shoved the child into an SUV.
Daniel reached the driveway just as the vehicle roared away.
“NOAH!”
A second car pulled out behind it.
Andrew.
Ruiz ran toward a police vehicle.
Daniel jumped into the passenger seat.
“Where are they going?”
Hannah climbed into the back, still holding the recorder.
She looked at Noah’s old hospital documents scattered in her hands.
Then she understood.
“St. Catherine’s.”
Daniel turned.
“Why?”
Hannah held up a photograph.
On the back, Evelyn had written one final note.
THE ORIGINAL FILES ARE STILL IN PIKE’S OLD OPERATING ROOM.
Daniel looked at the disappearing taillights.
Andrew wasn’t only running with Noah.
He was going back to the place where the nightmare began.
May you like
To destroy the last proof.
And this time, he planned to leave no witnesses.
