Chapter 18 - THE BETRAYAL OF NICHOLAS MORETTI
The drive contained one file.
Only one.
PALERMO_2001.
Claire stared at Nicholas.
His face had gone pale.
“What happened in Palermo?”
He didn't answer.
Claire's voice became cold.
“You promised you would never lie to me.”
“I didn't lie.”
“You withheld.”
“Yes.”
“That's still a betrayal.”
Nicholas looked down.
The file opened.
A video appeared.
Nicholas was nineteen.
Bloodied.
Standing beside a warehouse.
Jonathan Bennett approached him.
Behind Jonathan was Eleanor.
And a young girl.
Eva.
Claire stared.
Nicholas was crying in the video.
Eleanor placed a hand on his shoulder.
Then Jonathan spoke.
“If you survive tonight, you owe me one thing.”
Young Nicholas nodded.
“Protect my daughter.”
The video changed.
Nicholas was shown carrying Eva away from the warehouse.
Then another scene.
Eden agents followed.
Nicholas escaped.
But Eva was taken again.
Claire looked at Nicholas.
“You failed.”
His eyes filled.
“Yes.”
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because I promised your father.”
“To protect me.”
“Yes.”
“From what?”
Nicholas looked at the screen.
“From the truth.”
Claire shook her head.
“You all keep saying that.”
She turned away.
Then noticed something.
The video continued.
Jonathan had left the warehouse.
But Eleanor remained.
She was speaking to Daniel Vale.
Claire leaned closer.
Eleanor said:
“You can have Eva.”
Claire froze.
Nicholas looked away.
“But you leave Claire alone.”
Vale agreed.
Claire's heart shattered.
Her mother had traded Eva.
To protect her.
She looked at Eva.
Eva stood completely still.
She had seen the video too.
Her expression was empty.
“So that's it.”
Claire stepped toward her.
“Eva…”
“No.”
Eva shook her head.
“Don't.”
“She was trying to save us.”
“She chose you.”
Claire couldn't answer.
Eva walked away.
Claire followed.
“Eva.”
Her sister stopped.
“You were the child they sacrificed.”
Eva turned.
“And you were the child they protected.”
Tears filled her eyes.
“Do you understand what that feels like?”
Claire whispered:
“No.”
Eva nodded.
“Exactly.”
She disappeared into the darkness.
Claire stood alone.
Nicholas approached.
“Give her time.”
Claire turned.
“And you?”
“What about me?”
“You made a promise to my father.”
“Yes.”
“Do you love me?”
Nicholas froze.
The question seemed to hurt more than a bullet.
“Yes.”
Claire's eyes filled.
“Or am I another promise?”
He stepped closer.
“You were never a promise.”
“Then what am I?”
“You.”
Claire looked away.
Before he could say more, gunfire erupted.
Sloane appeared at the barn door.
“Claire!”
She was bleeding.
“Vale found us.”
Nicholas rushed toward her.
“Where?”
“Chicago.”
“What?”
Sloane handed Claire a phone.
“Your company.”
Claire looked at the screen.
Bennett Global's headquarters had been seized.
Every board member was being held.
Banks had frozen the company's assets.
News networks were reporting that Claire Bennett was wanted for financial crimes.
Claire stared.
Vale had made his move.
And it was bigger than Eden.
It was public.
She looked at Nicholas.
“We have to go.”
He nodded.
Claire looked toward Eva.
But Eva was gone.
Then Claire saw a note on the table.
Three words.
Find our mother.
Claire picked it up.
She knew exactly what Eva meant.
Eleanor.
If they wanted to stop Eden, they needed the one person who knew its original architecture.
Her mother.
May you like
Claire turned toward the road.
“Let's go.”
