CHAPTER 14 — THE WOMAN WHO KNEW EVERYTHING
The lake was black beneath the moon.
We arrived just before midnight.
Gabriel drove.
Dominic sat beside me.
Neither had spoken for almost an hour.
Finally, I asked:
“Why did you bring me here?”
Gabriel didn't look at me.
“Because your father left something here.”
“What?”
“The truth.”
“That word is getting old.”
He smiled faintly.
“Truth always does.”
The car stopped.
We walked toward the water.
An old boathouse stood at the edge.
Gabriel opened the door.
Inside was a wooden table.
On it sat a single chair.
And my mother.
She was alive.
Bruised.
Exhausted.
But alive.
I ran to her.
“Mom.”
She hugged me.
I held her tightly.
“I thought I lost you.”
“I know.”
“Who took you?”
She looked at Gabriel.
“He did.”
I stepped backward.
“You?”
Gabriel shook his head.
“Not me.”
My mother nodded.
“He saved me.”
“From whom?”
She looked toward the doorway.
“Your father.”
I froze.
“What?”
“He found me first.”
“Why?”
“Because I knew where the ledger was.”
Gabriel looked away.
My mother continued.
“And because I knew what really happened the night your father died.”
I swallowed.
“Tell me.”
She sat down.
“I lied to you for eight years.”
“I know.”
“But I didn't lie because I wanted to.”
“Then why?”
“Because your father made me swear.”
“Swear what?”
“That I would never tell you who killed him.”
“Why?”
“Because the truth would put you in danger.”
“It already has.”
She nodded.
“I know.”
I sat beside her.
“Tell me everything.”
My mother looked at Dominic.
“Your father didn't kill Avery's father.”
Dominic's expression tightened.
“Then who?”
“Elias.”
Silence.
I shook my head.
“Elias is dead.”
“No.”
“Then who is Elias?”
My mother stared at Dominic.
“Your brother.”
Dominic stepped backward.
“No.”
“Yes.”
“Where?”
She pointed toward the lake.
“Underneath us.”
I didn't understand.
“The lake?”
“There's an underground facility beneath the boathouse.”
Gabriel nodded.
“That's where they kept him.”
“Who?”
“The Circle.”
“Why?”
“He was their weapon.”
My blood went cold.
“A child?”
“He was trained from the age of six.”
“For what?”
“To kill.”
I looked at Dominic.
He was staring at the floor.
“Does he have the scar?”
My mother nodded.
“No.”
I frowned.
“Then who has the scar?”
“Gabriel.”
“Then who was the man at the station?”
My mother looked at me.
“Elias.”
My stomach dropped.
“But Elias doesn't have a scar.”
“He does now.”
I remembered the photograph.
The scar.
The ring.
The confusion.
Everything was beginning to connect.
My mother continued.
“Elias was trained to become Dominic.”
I stared.
“What?”
“He was taught Dominic's habits.”
“Why?”
“To replace him.”
Dominic looked up.
“Replace me?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because your father was supposed to die.”
I felt cold.
“Who was the replacement?”
My mother whispered:
“Elias.”
Dominic shook his head.
“No.”
“Your father discovered the plan.”
“And stopped it?”
“No.”
She looked at him.
“He helped it happen.”
Dominic's face went blank.
“Why?”
“Because he believed one of his sons had to die.”
I whispered:
“Which one?”
My mother didn't answer.
Gabriel did.
“Me.”
Silence.
My eyes widened.
“You?”
“Yes.”
“Your father wanted you dead?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because I refused to become a killer.”
I stared at him.
“So he chose Elias.”
Gabriel nodded.
“He wanted Elias to replace Dominic.”
“And Dominic?”
“Was supposed to disappear.”
I looked at Dominic.
“Then who were you?”
He looked at me.
“I don't know anymore.”
My mother reached into her coat.
She pulled out a small envelope.
“Avery.”
I took it.
“What's this?”
“Your father's final letter.”
I opened it.
Avery,
I know you will eventually discover the truth.
When you do, you will hate me.
You should.
My hands trembled.
I made terrible choices.
I believed I could control the Circle.
I believed I could protect you by controlling your life.
I was wrong.
I continued.
There is one person you must never blame.
I looked at Dominic.
Dominic.
My breath caught.
He was innocent.
He was a child when we brought him into this world.
He never chose the Circle.
He never chose violence.
And he never killed anyone.
Dominic looked away.
I kept reading.
But there is something else you must know.
The next sentence was underlined.
Dominic is not the person you think he is.
I stopped.
“What?”
My mother closed her eyes.
The letter continued.
His name was never Dominic.
I looked at him.
“What does that mean?”
Dominic stared at the floor.
“I don't know.”
My mother whispered:
“He was given that name.”
“By whom?”
“Your father.”
“Then what was his real name?”
She looked at him.
“Daniel.”
Dominic's face changed.
A memory hit him.
He staggered backward.
“Daniel…”
Gabriel stepped forward.
“That's it.”
Dominic grabbed his head.
“I remember.”
“What?”
“A woman.”
“Who?”
“My mother.”
“What did she call me?”
He looked at me.
“Daniel.”
His eyes filled with tears.
“She called me Daniel.”
I moved toward him.
He shook his head.
“No.”
“What?”
“My mother wasn't Sofia.”
Silence.
“Then who?”
He whispered:
“Linda.”
My mother froze.
I stared at her.
“Mom?”
She couldn't speak.
Dominic looked at her.
“You were my mother.”
My mother began crying.
“I tried to protect you.”
“From what?”
“From your father.”
Dominic's breathing became ragged.
“You knew me.”
“Yes.”
“Before Avery.”
“Yes.”
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because you were six.”
“Where did you take me?”
“To your father.”
Dominic shook his head.
“I don't remember.”
“You were drugged.”
“Why?”
“Because they were coming.”
“Who?”
“The Circle.”
Gabriel looked toward the lake.
“They're here.”
A distant engine approached.
Then another.
Then another.
My mother stood.
“They found us.”
Dominic raised his weapon.
“How many?”
Gabriel looked outside.
“Too many.”
My phone vibrated.
Unknown number.
A message appeared.
YOU WANTED THE TRUTH.
Another message.
NOW PAY FOR IT.
Then a third.
LOOK AT THE WATER.
I turned.
Across the lake, lights appeared.
A boat.
Then another.
Then a third.
On the first boat stood Vanessa.
She raised a loudspeaker.
“Avery Carter.”
My mother grabbed my arm.
“Don't answer.”
Vanessa smiled.
“Your father is waiting.”
My blood froze.
Then a second figure appeared beside Vanessa.
An older man.
Gray hair.
My father's face.
Alive.
Vanessa pointed toward him.
“Ask him why he abandoned you.”
My father looked directly at me.
And even from across the water...
I could see tears in his eyes.
He lifted a hand.
Then pointed behind me.
I turned.
A man stood inside the boathouse.
Black coat.
Dark eyes.
Scar beneath his eye.
I froze.
Gabriel was standing beside me.
So who was that?
The stranger smiled.
“Hello, Avery.”
Dominic raised his weapon.
The stranger looked at him.
“Daniel.”
Dominic froze.
The man's smile widened.
“You really don't remember me.”
I stared.
“Who are you?”
He stepped into the light.
“I'm the reason your father is still alive.”
Gabriel whispered:
“Elias.”
The man smiled.
“No.”
He looked at me.
“My name is Dominic.”
The world went silent.
He pointed his gun at the real Dominic.
“That's the replacement.”
Dominic's face went white.
And I suddenly understood the final warning.
There weren't three brothers.
May you like
There were four.
And one of them had spent twenty years pretending to be someone else.
