Chapter 22 - Thomas Sterling’s Real Name
Thomas Sterling had been born Thomas Mercer.
Emma sat across from him in the library two hours after finding Arthur.
For once, Thomas looked uncertain.
Not polished.
Not controlled.
Human.
“Gideon is your father.”
“Biologically.”
“You have worked for my family for how long?”
“Twenty-nine years.”
Emma laughed bitterly.
“And nobody thought this mattered?”
“Arthur knew.”
“Of course he did.”
Thomas looked down.
“My mother left Gideon when I was four. I grew up using her maiden name.”
“Sterling?”
“My stepfather’s.”
“Does Gideon know who you are?”
“Yes.”
Emma stared.
“You told me Mercer threatened your mother. You neglected to mention she was his wife.”
“I was protecting her.”
“Everybody keeps protecting everyone by lying.”
“I know.”
“And I am getting very tired of it.”
Thomas nodded.
“He tried recruiting me when I was twenty-two.”
“Gideon?”
“Yes. I refused. Three weeks later my stepfather died in what police called a hunting accident.”
Emma went quiet.
“Was it?”
“No.”
Thomas’s eyes became hard.
“That was when Arthur found me.”
“He hired you?”
“He saved me.”
Arthur had given Thomas a new career, security, and protection for Evelyn.
In return Thomas became one of the most loyal men in the Vance organization.
“My father has spent most of my life trying to prove everyone has a price,” Thomas said. “Arthur spent his trying to prove him wrong.”
“And you?”
“I’m still deciding.”
Emma studied him.
“Mercer said he has your son.”
Thomas’s expression cracked.
Emma had never seen fear on his face before.
“His name is Nicholas.”
“How old?”
“Twenty-six.”
“Where is he?”
“London.”
“Does he work for Vance?”
“No. Architecture.”
Emma stood.
“Then we get him.”
Thomas shook his head.
“Mercer wants us divided.”
“He already has Moira.”
“And possibly Nicholas.”
“Then sitting here isn’t helping.”
Liam entered.
“We traced the message sent to Evelyn.”
Thomas stood immediately.
“Where?”
“London financial district. But the device moved afterward.”
“Can you find it?”
“Maybe.”
Emma looked at Liam.
“What do you need?”
“Access to Mercer Capital’s corporate cloud.”
Thomas laughed grimly.
“Why not ask for nuclear launch codes while you’re at it?”
Liam shrugged.
“Nuclear systems might be easier.”
Emma’s phone buzzed.
A video call.
Gideon.
She answered.
His face filled the screen.
“Four hours.”
“I want proof Moira is alive.”
He turned the camera.
Moira sat in a chair.
Blood dried along one eyebrow.
Her daughter was beside her.
Alive.
Emma’s voice remained level.
“And Nicholas Sterling?”
For the first time Gideon’s smile faded.
Thomas closed his eyes.
Gideon recovered quickly.
“So Evelyn finally developed courage.”
“Where is he?”
Mercer looked toward Thomas.
“Hello, son.”
Thomas did not respond.
“You’ve become old.”
“So have you.”
Mercer smiled.
“Arthur poisoned you against me.”
“You murdered the man who raised me.”
“An unfortunate misunderstanding.”
Thomas’s fist tightened.
Emma interrupted.
“You release all three hostages.”
“In exchange for Evelyn and every recording.”
“You don’t have leverage over Evelyn.”
“I have leverage over Thomas.”
Emma stepped closer to the screen.
“No.”
Mercer raised an eyebrow.
“You don’t understand loyalty very well, Gideon.”
“I understand it perfectly. Loyalty is simply fear wearing perfume.”
“You’re wrong.”
“We’ll see.”
The call ended.
Liam stared at his laptop.
“I got it.”
“What?”
“When he connected, he exposed a relay.”
“Location?”
“Not London.”
Thomas stepped closer.
Liam rotated the screen.
A map appeared.
The signal came from a private industrial complex forty miles north of Dublin.
Emma recognized the company name.
Weston European Logistics.
One of the businesses she had acquired during Andrew’s bankruptcy.
Mercer was holding hostages inside property she owned.
Thomas grabbed his coat.
Emma stopped him.
“No.”
“That is my son.”
“And this is exactly what Mercer expects.”
Thomas stared at her.
“What would you do if it were Arthur?”
Emma’s answer came instantly.
“Burn the world down.”
Thomas nodded.
“Then don’t ask me to remain civilized.”
Emma released his arm.
“I wasn’t going to.”
She turned toward security.
“Get every floor plan for that facility.”
Liam looked at her.
“You’re going after them?”
Emma’s eyes hardened.
“No.”
May you like
She picked up her phone.
“I’m taking my building back.”
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