CHAPTER 7 THE HOUSE ON HALSTED STREET
Daniel's eyes closed.
For one horrifying second, Julian thought his brother was dead again.
Not twelve years ago.
Not in memory.
Right there.
In his arms.
"Daniel."
Nothing.
Julian pressed harder against the wound.
"Daniel!"
His brother finally inhaled.
A weak, ragged breath.
Maya was crying beside them.
"He's alive."
Julian looked at her.
"Yes."
Derek returned from the balcony.
"He's gone."
Julian's eyes hardened.
"Did you see him?"
"Only a shadow."
"How?"
"Roof access."
Julian looked toward the ceiling.
The sniper had known exactly where to stand.
Exactly when to fire.
Exactly how to disappear.
This wasn't an amateur.
It was someone who understood their movements.
Someone who had known they would come to the church.
Someone who knew Daniel was alive.
Julian's voice became cold.
"We have a leak."
Derek nodded.
"I know."
Maya looked between them.
"What does that mean?"
"It means," Julian said, "someone knew where we were going before we did."
Her face went pale.
"Someone inside your organization?"
"Possibly."
Daniel stirred.
Julian immediately looked down.
His brother's eyes opened halfway.
"Julian."
"I'm here."
"Don't trust..."
He coughed.
"Anyone."
Julian leaned closer.
"Who?"
Daniel's eyes moved toward Maya.
"Halsted."
Julian frowned.
"What about Halsted?"
Daniel's breathing became shallow.
"The house."
"What house?"
"Fourteen thirty-two."
Julian's expression changed.
"Halsted Street."
Daniel nodded.
"Your father used it."
"For what?"
Daniel closed his eyes again.
"That's where everything started."
The house stood between two newer buildings on Halsted Street.
From the outside, it looked abandoned.
Paint peeling.
Windows covered with grime.
A rusted mailbox hanging crookedly beside the door.
No lights.
No cars.
Nothing to suggest anyone had entered the building in years.
Julian parked half a block away.
Derek stayed in the vehicle with two men.
Julian and Maya approached on foot.
Snow fell lightly.
Maya pulled her coat tighter.
"Why are we here?"
"Daniel gave us an address."
"That's not an explanation."
"No."
He glanced at her.
"It's the best one I have."
She stopped.
"Julian."
He turned.
"Yes?"
"Your brother almost died."
"I know."
"And you're walking into a house your father used."
"Yes."
"Without knowing what's inside."
"Yes."
Maya stared at him.
"You have a terrible habit of saying yes when the answer should obviously be no."
Julian almost smiled.
"You noticed."
"I notice everything you do."
His smile disappeared.
The words affected him.
He stepped closer.
"Stay behind me."
Maya rolled her eyes.
"Again?"
"Again."
She sighed.
"Fine."
They entered.
The smell hit them first.
Dust.
Moisture.
Old wood.
The foyer was almost completely empty.
Julian closed the door.
Maya looked around.
"This place feels wrong."
"Because it is."
He moved toward the staircase.
A floorboard creaked.
Both stopped.
Julian drew his weapon.
Nothing.
He waited.
Silence.
Then he continued.
At the top of the stairs was a narrow hallway.
Three doors.
Julian opened the first.
Empty.
Second.
Empty.
Third.
Locked.
He looked at Maya.
"Your necklace."
She frowned.
"What?"
"The pendant."
She touched it.
"Why?"
"I don't know."
She removed it.
Julian inserted the pendant into the lock.
Click.
The door opened.
Maya stared.
"That thing really is a key."
Julian nodded.
Inside was a small bedroom.
A child's room.
The walls were covered with faded drawings.
Maya stepped inside.
She stopped breathing.
A drawing showed a little girl holding hands with a teenage boy.
Underneath, written in uneven handwriting:
MAYA AND DANIEL.
She touched the paper.
"I drew this."
Julian looked at her.
"Do you remember?"
"No."
She moved to another drawing.
A house.
Three people standing outside.
A little girl.
A woman.
A man.
The man's face had been scratched away.
Maya whispered:
"My father."
Julian said nothing.
Another drawing.
A black car.
A man holding a gun.
A woman falling.
Maya stepped backward.
Her breathing became rapid.
"I've seen this."
Julian caught her shoulders.
"Where?"
"In my dreams."
She closed her eyes.
"I've been dreaming about this house for years."
Julian looked around.
"Your mother brought you here."
Maya nodded.
"I think so."
Then she noticed a small wooden box beneath the bed.
She knelt.
Pulled it out.
The box was locked.
The same three-circle symbol was carved into the lid.
Maya looked at Julian.
"Another key."
She touched the pendant.
The box opened.
Inside were children's photographs.
A bracelet.
A small red ribbon.
And a cassette tape.
Maya stared.
"A cassette?"
Julian picked it up.
There was a handwritten label.
FOR MAYA — WHEN SHE IS OLD ENOUGH TO KNOW.
Maya's eyes filled with tears.
"That's my mother's handwriting."
Julian looked at the old cassette player on the shelf.
It still worked.
He inserted the tape.
Static filled the room.
Then a woman's voice.
Maya's mother.
You could hear the fear in it.
"My little girl..."
Maya covered her mouth.
The recording continued.
"If you're hearing this, I failed to protect you."
Maya began crying.
Julian stood beside her.
"I need you to know one thing."
A pause.
"Your father loved you."
Maya's shoulders shook.
"His name wasn't Mendoza."
Julian looked at her.
The recording continued.
"Rafael Mendoza was your protector."
Maya's eyes widened.
"Your father was a man I was forbidden to love."
The tape crackled.
"His name was..."
The recording suddenly stopped.
Maya stared at the player.
"No."
Julian checked it.
The tape had been damaged.
Only static remained.
Maya hit the machine.
"No!"
Julian grabbed her hands.
"Maya."
"We need the rest."
"I know."
"My mother knew."
"I know."
"Why would someone destroy it?"
Julian looked toward the window.
"Because someone doesn't want you to know your father's name."
A sound came from downstairs.
Both froze.
Footsteps.
Julian drew his weapon.
He motioned for Maya to stay behind him.
The footsteps climbed.
One step.
Two.
Three.
Julian waited.
A shadow appeared beneath the door.
Then—
"Julian?"
Derek.
Julian lowered his weapon.
Derek entered.
"Found something."
"What?"
Derek held up a photograph.
"There's a second entrance."
"Where?"
"Basement."
Julian looked at Maya.
"Stay here."
"No."
He frowned.
"Not this time."
She took his hand.
"I'm coming."
The basement was colder.
Damp.
A single light bulb hung from the ceiling.
Derek led them toward the far wall.
"There."
Behind a stack of old boxes was a metal door.
Julian touched it.
"Locked."
Derek shook his head.
"Not exactly."
He pointed.
There were fingerprints on the handle.
Fresh.
Julian's expression changed.
"Someone's been here."
Derek nodded.
"Recently."
Julian opened the door.
Inside was a narrow room.
One table.
Two chairs.
A computer.
And a wall covered in photographs.
Maya stepped inside.
Her breath caught.
Every photograph showed her.
At the bakery.
Leaving Julian's penthouse.
Walking home.
Entering the hospital.
Getting into the car.
Sleeping.
Working.
Every stage of her life.
Someone had been watching her for years.
Julian's face became terrifyingly calm.
"How long?"
Derek checked the dates.
"At least five years."
Maya stared at the wall.
"Why?"
Julian didn't answer.
He was too angry.
Not the explosive anger that made people afraid.
Something colder.
More dangerous.
He walked toward the computer.
The screen was still active.
A file was open.
PROJECT TORRES.
He clicked it.
A document appeared.
Subject: Maya Torres.
Age: 23.
Status: Unaware.
Julian's jaw tightened.
Another line:
Protection level: Croft.
Maya read it.
"What does that mean?"
Julian stared.
"I don't know."
Then another document opened automatically.
PRIMARY OBJECTIVE: KEEP MAYA ALIVE UNTIL HER 24TH BIRTHDAY.
Maya's face went pale.
"Why twenty-four?"
Julian looked at the date.
"How old were you when your mother disappeared?"
"Eleven."
"When did the surveillance start?"
She looked at the photographs.
"Five years ago."
Julian's eyes narrowed.
"Why five years?"
Derek scrolled.
A note appeared.
At age nineteen, subject began remembering fragments of the night of October 17.
Maya stopped breathing.
"I was having nightmares."
Julian nodded.
"That's when they started watching you."
Another line appeared.
If subject remembers the identity of the shooter, retrieval team is authorized.
Maya's voice trembled.
"The shooter."
Julian looked at her.
"You saw him."
"I don't remember."
"But your mind does."
Maya stared at the screen.
Then a memory flashed.
A man's hand.
A gold ring.
A scar across one knuckle.
And a voice.
Don't let the girl see me.
Maya gasped.
Julian caught her.
"What did you see?"
"A ring."
"What kind?"
"I don't know."
"Symbol?"
She closed her eyes.
"A snake."
Derek went completely still.
Julian looked at him.
"You know it."
Derek hesitated.
"Yes."
"Where?"
"Your father's old security unit."
Julian's eyes narrowed.
"Explain."
"The ring belonged to a man named Thomas Reed."
"Who?"
"Victor Croft's chief security officer."
Julian stared.
"Reed died."
Derek shook his head.
"Officially."
Maya looked at him.
"Meaning?"
Derek lowered his voice.
"His body was never found."
Julian's expression darkened.
"So he's alive."
"Possibly."
"Where?"
Derek pointed at the computer.
"I think we can find out."
He opened another file.
A bank transfer.
Then another.
Then another.
All going to the same account.
The account holder name was hidden.
But the routing information led somewhere.
Julian read the destination.
His face changed.
"No."
Maya looked at him.
"What?"
Julian slowly turned the monitor toward her.
The account was registered to:
CROFT FAMILY FOUNDATION.
Maya stared.
"Your family?"
Julian nodded.
"Yes."
"But you're not involved."
"No."
"Then someone in your family is paying them."
Julian's eyes hardened.
"Yes."
Derek whispered:
"Someone inside the empire."
The next morning, Julian returned to the penthouse.
Daniel was still unconscious in a private medical suite.
Maya sat beside him.
Julian stood near the window.
He had not slept.
Neither had she.
He looked at her.
"You should rest."
"So should you."
"I'll sleep later."
"You always say that."
He almost smiled.
Then his phone rang.
Unknown number.
Julian answered.
"Who is this?"
A man's voice came through.
"You found the house."
Julian's expression changed.
"Thomas Reed."
Silence.
Then a low laugh.
"You remember me."
"I remember everything."
"No."
Reed's voice became colder.
"You remember what your father wanted you to remember."
Julian's grip tightened.
"What do you want?"
"Maya."
"You won't get her."
"You're making this harder than it needs to be."
"You've been watching her."
"Protecting her."
Julian laughed once.
"You call stalking protection?"
"You don't understand."
"Then explain."
"I was ordered to keep her alive."
"By whom?"
Silence.
Julian waited.
Finally:
"Daniel."
Julian's eyes narrowed.
"You're lying."
"Ask him."
The line went dead.
Julian immediately looked toward the bedroom.
Maya stood in the doorway.
"What happened?"
Julian didn't answer.
She walked closer.
"Who was it?"
"Thomas Reed."
Her face went pale.
"The man from the house?"
"Yes."
"What did he say?"
"He claims Daniel ordered him to protect you."
Maya stared.
"Why would Daniel do that?"
"I don't know."
Then another phone rang.
Not Julian's.
Maya's.
She looked at the screen.
Unknown number.
Julian shook his head.
"Don't answer."
Maya did.
A child's voice came through.
"Hello?"
Maya froze.
The voice whispered:
"Do you remember the church?"
Maya's heart stopped.
"Who are you?"
"I remember you."
"Who are you?"
The child whispered:
"You gave me the necklace."
Maya looked at Julian.
"What necklace?"
The child continued:
"Your father told me to hide it."
Maya's voice trembled.
"Where?"
"Inside the church."
"What church?"
"The one where your mother died."
The call ended.
Maya stared at her phone.
Julian looked at her.
"Did you recognize the voice?"
She shook her head.
"No."
Then her face changed.
"Wait."
"What?"
"I remember."
"What?"
She touched her necklace.
"Someone else wore this before me."
Julian frowned.
"Who?"
Maya whispered:
"A boy."
Daniel's face appeared in her memory.
A little boy.
Maybe eight.
Standing beside Isabella.
Holding the same pendant.
And a man behind him.
A man wearing a ring.
A snake.
Maya suddenly gasped.
"Julian."
"What?"
"I know who the boy was."
"Who?"
She looked at him.
"Daniel."
Julian froze.
"That doesn't make sense."
"I know."
"He was seventeen."
"No."
Maya shook her head.
"The boy wasn't Daniel."
"Then who?"
She whispered:
"Someone who looked exactly like him."
Julian's expression changed.
"An identical twin?"
Maya shook her head.
"I don't know."
Then the elevator chimed.
Both turned.
The doors opened.
Nobody stepped out.
Only a small package sat on the floor.
Julian approached cautiously.
He opened it.
Inside was an old photograph.
Maya and Daniel.
Five years old.
Beside them stood another boy.
Same face.
Same eyes.
Same scar.
On the back were four words:
DANIEL HAD A BROTHER.
Julian stared at the photograph.
His entire understanding of his family collapsed again.
Because his father had always told him Daniel was his only older brother.
Always.
No other son.
No twin.
No secret child.
But the photograph proved otherwise.
Maya looked at Julian.
"Who is he?"
Julian couldn't answer.
Then he saw the name written beneath the photograph.
A name his father had erased from every family record.
MICHAEL CROFT.
Julian's blood ran cold.
Michael.
The son nobody remembered.
The brother nobody knew existed.
And suddenly Julian understood why someone had spent twelve years hiding the truth.
Because the man who had been hunting Maya...
might not have been hunting her at all.
May you like
He might have been protecting his own claim to the Croft empire.
And somewhere in Chicago, Michael Croft was alive.
