Chapter 20 - Hannah’s Mother Disappears
Claire Moore vanished on a Thursday.
She had been attending a transplant follow-up appointment in Westchester.
Her driver waited outside.
She never came out.
Hospital security showed her leaving through a side entrance beside a woman dressed as a nurse.
Hannah’s world collapsed.
“No,” she whispered.
Victor took the phone from her trembling hand.
“Marcus.”
“I’m already moving.”
Hannah grabbed her coat.
Victor stopped her.
“Where are you going?”
“To find my mother.”
“We will.”
“I am going.”
“Hannah.”
“Don’t.”
Her eyes burned.
“Do not make me the woman who sits safely in a mansion while everyone else searches.”
Victor knew that tone.
He stepped aside.
Security traced the fake nurse.
A stolen identity.
A rental vehicle.
The car was recovered in Yonkers.
Empty.
On the passenger seat lay one red envelope.
Hannah opened it.
Bring the original ledger to Pier 61 at midnight.
Victor comes alone.
Or your mother dies.
Hannah nearly tore the paper.
“He wants you.”
“No.”
Victor looked at her.
“He wants the ledger.”
“No.”
She pointed at the message.
“He wants you alone.”
Marcus nodded.
“She’s right.”
Victor paced.
“He knows I won’t risk Claire.”
Hannah stepped closer.
“You’re not going alone.”
“I am.”
“Victor.”
He turned.
“You taught Matthew that family stays.”
“This is different.”
“No.”
She shoved the note against his chest.
“This is exactly the same.”
Victor’s face broke.
“Hannah, if something happens to you—”
“If something happens to my mother while I hide, I will never forgive myself.”
They compromised.
Victor went visibly alone.
Hannah and Marcus followed through an adjacent maintenance tunnel.
Federal agents staged farther back.
At 12:03 a.m., Victor walked onto Pier 61 carrying the ledger.
Raymond appeared beside a cargo crane.
Claire sat in a chair twenty yards behind him.
Hands bound.
Alive.
Hannah nearly cried from relief.
Raymond smiled.
“You finally look like Dominic.”
Victor stopped.
“I’m nothing like him.”
“You brought the book.”
“For Claire.”
“Of course.”
Raymond glanced toward her.
“Women always made you weak.”
Victor’s voice remained calm.
“Women made me human.”
Raymond laughed.
“Give me the ledger.”
“Release her first.”
“No.”
“Then no book.”
Raymond raised a pistol toward Claire.
Hannah’s heart stopped.
Victor did not move.
“If you kill her, the ledger goes to federal prosecutors.”
“It already has copies.”
Victor smiled faintly.
“Exactly.”
Raymond’s face changed.
For the first time, he understood.
The notebook in Victor’s hand had no value.
“You gave them everything?”
“Yes.”
“You idiot.”
“No.”
Victor took another step.
“I ended it.”
Raymond screamed.
“You ended a hundred years of power!”
“Yes.”
“You destroyed your son’s inheritance!”
“I saved my son from inheriting us.”
Raymond aimed at Victor.
Hannah moved.
She stepped from the maintenance corridor.
“Raymond!”
He turned instinctively.
Marcus fired.
The bullet struck Raymond’s weapon hand.
The pistol fell.
Federal agents surged from both ends of the pier.
Raymond ran toward Claire.
Hannah reached her first.
She threw herself between them.
Raymond grabbed Hannah by the throat.
Victor roared.
He crossed the distance like a storm.
One punch dropped Raymond.
Victor raised his fist again.
And stopped.
Raymond laughed through blood.
“Do it.”
Victor stared.
Every old instinct demanded punishment.
Then Matthew’s face flashed through his mind.
Victor lowered his hand.
“No.”
Agents handcuffed Raymond.
“You coward!” Raymond shouted.
Victor stood.
“No.”
He looked toward Hannah helping Claire breathe.
“I finally became brave enough not to be you.”
Claire sobbed into Hannah’s shoulder.
Victor knelt beside them.
Hannah grabbed him and kissed him hard enough to shock three federal agents.
Claire laughed through tears.
“Maybe save that for later.”
Hannah pulled back.
May you like
Victor smiled.
For once, nobody cared who was watching.
