CHAPTER 3 A NAME FROM HER MOTHER’S PAST
The police sirens grew louder.
Then, just as quickly, they faded into the distance.
Julian remained motionless.
Maya was still standing against him, her fingers gripping the front of his coat.
Broken glass covered the bakery floor.
One bullet had lodged in the wooden frame beside the counter.
Another had shattered the front window.
A third had gone through the wall behind them.
No one had been hit.
That should have been enough to make Julian feel relieved.
It wasn't.
Because he knew something the others didn't.
The shots had not been random.
The shooter had been sending a message.
And the message was simple.
Stop asking questions.
Julian looked at Derek.
"Did you get him?"
Derek shook his head.
"He disappeared before my men reached the alley."
"Vehicle?"
"Nothing."
"Camera footage?"
"Already being pulled."
Julian nodded.
Then he looked at the two men Derek's security team had restrained.
"Take them."
One of the men struggled.
"You can't—"
Julian's eyes turned toward him.
The man stopped speaking.
Julian didn't raise his voice.
He didn't need to.
"Take them downstairs."
Derek understood.
"Where?"
Julian looked at the darkness outside.
"Somewhere they won't be interrupted."
The men were dragged away.
Maya watched them disappear.
Her breathing was uneven.
Julian noticed.
"Are you hurt?"
She shook her head.
"Glass."
"Did it cut you?"
"No."
"Show me your hands."
She hesitated.
"Maya."
Slowly, she held out her hands.
Julian examined them.
A tiny cut crossed her palm.
His jaw tightened.
"It's bleeding."
"It's nothing."
He took a clean handkerchief from his pocket.
Maya watched as he wrapped it around her palm.
His fingers were careful.
Almost impossibly gentle.
She stared at him.
"Why are you doing this?"
Julian didn't look up.
"Because you're bleeding."
"That's not what I mean."
His hands stopped.
"What do you mean?"
"Why do you care?"
Julian lifted his eyes.
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Then he said:
"I don't know how not to anymore."
Maya's heart twisted.
She looked away.
"Julian..."
"Not here."
He finished tying the cloth.
"You're coming home."
She swallowed.
"I need to finish my shift."
He stared at her.
"Maya."
"I can't just leave."
"You almost got killed."
"But Rosa—"
"I'll pay her."
Maya immediately shook her head.
"No."
"Why?"
"Because I don't want your money."
His expression hardened.
"This isn't charity."
"It doesn't matter."
"It matters to me."
She stepped back.
"Everything with you becomes about money."
Julian went silent.
Maya regretted the words instantly.
She lowered her voice.
"I'm sorry."
He looked at her.
"Don't apologize."
"I didn't mean—"
"I know what you meant."
He walked toward the window.
Outside, Chicago continued as if nothing had happened.
Cars moved through the intersection.
People walked beneath umbrellas.
A couple laughed outside a restaurant.
Normal life.
Meanwhile, Maya's entire world had been turned upside down.
Julian stared at the street.
"Your mother."
Maya stiffened.
"What about her?"
"Where is she?"
"St. Vincent's."
"Still?"
"Yes."
"How long has she been there?"
"Three weeks."
"Why?"
Maya hesitated.
"Complications."
"What kind?"
"I don't know exactly."
Julian turned.
"You don't know?"
"The doctors use words I don't understand."
"You should have told me."
"I didn't want you involved."
"You keep saying that."
"Because it's true."
Julian studied her.
"You're going to take me to her."
Maya's eyes widened.
"No."
"Why?"
"Because she doesn't want anyone to know."
"Anyone?"
"Especially people connected to the Crofts."
Julian's expression changed.
"Why?"
"I don't know."
"Then ask her."
Maya shook her head.
"She won't tell me."
"She might tell me."
"No."
"Why?"
"Because your family is the reason she ran."
The words stopped him.
Julian stared at her.
"What did you say?"
Maya swallowed.
"My mother didn't leave because she wanted a new life."
"Then why?"
"She was running."
"From whom?"
Maya looked directly into his eyes.
"Your father."
Three hours later, the penthouse was silent.
Maya sat on the edge of the sofa.
Julian stood by the fireplace.
Neither had spoken for several minutes.
Derek had left them alone.
Security had been doubled.
Every entrance was monitored.
But none of that changed what had been said.
Your father.
Julian's father had been dead for eight years.
Victor Croft.
The man who had built the foundation of the Croft empire.
The man Julian had spent his childhood trying to impress.
The man who had taught him that mercy was a luxury.
The man who had supposedly been responsible for destroying Rafael Mendoza.
And the man who had always told Julian one thing about his older brother.
"Daniel died because Mendoza betrayed us."
Julian had believed it.
For twelve years.
Now a stranger had claimed Mendoza didn't kill Daniel.
And Maya's mother had apparently been running from Victor.
Julian finally spoke.
"What did your mother tell you about my father?"
Maya looked down.
"Not much."
"Everything."
She shook her head.
"I don't know everything."
"Then tell me what you know."
Maya hesitated.
"When I was little, she used to wake up screaming."
Julian's expression tightened.
"Nightmares?"
"Yes."
"What did she say?"
"Sometimes names."
"Which names?"
"Daniel."
Julian froze.
Maya continued.
"Rafael."
His jaw tightened.
"And Victor."
Silence.
"She would repeat those three names."
Julian slowly sat across from her.
"Did she ever mention me?"
Maya shook her head.
"No."
"Why?"
"I don't know."
"Did she know who I was?"
"Not at first."
"At first?"
Maya looked up.
"She recognized your name when I told her where I worked."
Julian's eyes narrowed.
"What did she say?"
"She told me to quit."
"Immediately?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
Maya's voice became quiet.
"She said the Croft name brings death."
Julian leaned back.
"That's what she said?"
Maya nodded.
"Exactly."
He stared at the floor.
For years, Julian had heard variations of that phrase.
Enemies called the Crofts monsters.
Politicians called them dangerous.
Businessmen called them ruthless.
But never had anyone from outside his world said the name with genuine fear.
Maya's mother had.
And she had known his father.
Julian stood.
"Get dressed."
Maya looked confused.
"Why?"
"We're going to the hospital."
Her eyes widened.
"No."
"Yes."
"Julian, she won't talk to you."
"Then I'll wait."
"You don't understand."
"I understand enough."
He grabbed his coat.
Maya remained seated.
"She could panic."
"Then I'll stay outside."
"She doesn't want anyone from your family near her."
"Then I won't bring my family."
Maya stared at him.
"What are you planning?"
Julian looked at her.
"To find out why my father was chasing your mother."
St. Vincent's Hospital was nearly empty when they arrived.
Julian's security detail stayed outside.
He walked beside Maya through the quiet corridor.
The fluorescent lights made her look even paler.
She stopped outside room 614.
Her hand rested on the door handle.
Julian noticed the hesitation.
"Do you want me to stay here?"
Maya nodded.
"Yes."
He nodded.
"Okay."
She opened the door.
Julian remained in the hallway.
For the first time that night, he was forced to wait.
Five minutes passed.
Then ten.
Then fifteen.
He heard nothing.
Finally, Maya stepped out.
Her face was wet with tears.
Julian immediately moved toward her.
"What happened?"
"My mother knows you."
His entire body went still.
"What?"
"She knew your name before I said it."
Julian's expression hardened.
"What did she say?"
Maya wiped her cheek.
"She asked if you had your father's eyes."
Julian's breath caught.
"What did you tell her?"
"That I didn't know."
"What did she say?"
Maya looked at him.
"She said..."
Her voice broke.
"She said, 'Then he doesn't know the truth.'"
Julian stared at the closed hospital door.
"What truth?"
Maya shook her head.
"She wouldn't tell me."
"Why?"
"She said it would get us killed."
Julian's expression became cold.
"Did she mention Daniel?"
Maya nodded.
"Yes."
"What did she say?"
"She said Daniel didn't die the way you were told."
Julian's fists clenched.
"What else?"
Maya hesitated.
"She said Daniel was trying to protect someone."
"Who?"
"I don't know."
"Did she give you anything?"
Maya went still.
Julian noticed.
"What?"
"Nothing."
"Maya."
She looked away.
"What did she give you?"
Maya slowly reached into her coat.
She pulled out a small envelope.
Old.
Yellowed.
The edges were worn.
Julian stared at it.
"What's that?"
"My mother gave it to me."
"When?"
"Tonight."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because she told me not to."
Julian's eyes hardened.
"What did she say?"
"She said I should open it only when I was with someone I trusted."
He looked at her.
"And you chose me?"
Maya's eyes filled with tears.
"I don't know if I trust you."
Julian's face fell slightly.
"But I know I don't want to face this alone."
He looked at the envelope.
Then at her.
"Open it."
Maya's fingers trembled.
She broke the seal.
Inside was a photograph.
Old.
Black and white.
A younger Victor Croft stood beside Rafael Mendoza.
Both men were smiling.
But that wasn't what stopped Julian's heart.
There was another person in the photograph.
A young woman.
Maya's mother.
And standing beside her was Daniel Croft.
Julian's dead brother.
His face went pale.
"No."
Maya stared at the photograph.
"What?"
Julian took it from her.
His hands trembled.
Again.
Maya noticed.
"Julian?"
He couldn't answer.
Daniel wasn't supposed to know Maya's mother.
Daniel wasn't supposed to have any connection to Mendoza beyond the war.
Yet there he was.
Standing beside them.
And written on the back of the photograph, in handwriting Julian recognized immediately, were seven words.
She knows what happened to Daniel.
Julian turned the photograph over again.
His breathing became uneven.
"Who wrote this?"
Maya shook her head.
"I don't know."
He stared at the handwriting.
He knew it.
He had seen it hundreds of times.
On birthday cards.
Business documents.
Notes left on his desk.
Letters written years ago.
It belonged to his father.
Victor Croft.
Julian whispered:
"My father wrote this."
Maya stared at him.
"Then your father knew my mother."
"Yes."
"And Daniel?"
"Yes."
"Then why did he tell everyone Mendoza killed him?"
Julian had no answer.
The corridor seemed to narrow around him.
Every memory from his childhood suddenly felt unstable.
Every lesson.
Every warning.
Every story.
Every funeral.
A lie.
Possibly all of it.
Then the hospital room door opened.
Maya's mother stood there.
She was pale and weak.
But her eyes were wide with terror.
She looked at Julian.
For several seconds, she didn't speak.
Then she whispered:
"You're his son."
Julian nodded.
"Yes."
Her eyes filled with tears.
"I prayed I would never see those eyes again."
Julian stepped closer.
"Why?"
She shook her head.
"You need to leave."
"No."
"Please."
"Tell me about Daniel."
She looked at Maya.
Then at Julian.
"I can't."
"You knew him."
She closed her eyes.
"I loved him."
Julian stopped breathing.
Maya looked at her mother in shock.
"What?"
Her mother opened her eyes.
"Daniel was not your enemy."
Julian's voice was barely audible.
"Then what was he?"
She stared directly at him.
"Your brother was trying to save your life."
Julian's face hardened.
"From whom?"
Her lips trembled.
"Your father."
Silence.
Maya stepped forward.
"Mom..."
Her mother began to cry.
"Victor ordered Daniel to disappear."
Julian's eyes darkened.
"Why?"
"Because Daniel found out."
"Found out what?"
She looked at Julian.
"The truth about your birth."
Julian froze.
Maya's mother whispered:
"You're not the heir your father claimed you were."
The hallway went silent.
Julian stared at her.
"What?"
She shook her head.
"I can't tell you here."
"Then where?"
She looked toward the hospital window.
"Because there are people watching this hospital."
Julian immediately turned.
At the far end of the corridor, a man stood near the elevators.
Dark coat.
Baseball cap.
Motionless.
Julian recognized him.
One of the men from the bakery.
The man who had escaped.
Julian's voice dropped.
"Derek."
Derek appeared from the stairwell.
"Yes?"
"Lock down the floor."
The man near the elevator suddenly turned.
Then ran.
Derek's security team chased him.
Maya's mother grabbed Julian's wrist.
"Don't let him leave."
Julian looked at her.
"Who is he?"
Her eyes filled with terror.
"Someone who knows where the proof is."
"What proof?"
She whispered:
"The proof that Daniel Croft is still alive."
Julian's world stopped.
Maya stared at her mother.
"Mom..."
Her mother looked at Julian.
And spoke the words that destroyed everything he thought he knew.
"Your brother didn't die twelve years ago."
Julian's face went completely white.
"He's alive."
May you like
Then the hospital lights went out.
And somewhere downstairs, a gunshot echoed through the building.
