Chapter 5 - WHAT HER MOTHER REMEMBERED
Caprice's mother recognized Diamond immediately.
That terrified Caprice more than anything else.
Evelyn Thompson had forgotten birthdays.
She sometimes forgot Caprice's name.
Yet when Diamond entered the private room at the memory-care center the following afternoon, Evelyn's cloudy eyes sharpened.
"Kelly."
Diamond stopped.
Caprice stood beside him.
"Mom?"
Evelyn stared at Diamond's wheelchair.
Then tears filled her eyes.
"Thomas couldn't save you."
Diamond's breath caught.
Caprice pulled a chair closer.
"Mom, what happened to Dad?"
Evelyn looked toward the window.
"Fire."
"What fire?"
"The first one."
Diamond exchanged a glance with Levi.
Evelyn began rocking slightly.
"Damian wasn't supposed to survive."
Diamond's entire body went still.
"Mrs. Thompson."
Her gaze found his.
"My brother survived?"
"He hated you."
The words were almost childlike.
"Your father chose you. Everyone chose you."
Diamond felt an old wound opening.
Their father had been brutal.
Diamond had been the favored heir.
Damian had been the spare.
The angry younger son forever told he lacked discipline.
Diamond had believed Damian died before any reconciliation became possible.
Evelyn suddenly reached for Caprice.
"Your father found him."
"When?"
"Before the road."
The road.
The ambush.
Diamond leaned forward.
"Thomas discovered Damian before I was shot?"
Evelyn nodded.
"He said the dead boy had become a bad man."
Caprice swallowed.
"What did Dad do?"
"Tried to warn Kelly."
Diamond closed his eyes.
Thomas had not betrayed him.
Thomas had died trying to save him.
When he opened his eyes again, Evelyn was staring at him.
"Damian wanted your legs."
Diamond frowned.
"What?"
"Not your life."
Her fingers tightened around Caprice's.
"He told Thomas death was mercy."
A chill passed through the room.
The sniper had deliberately aimed at Diamond's spine.
Not to kill him.
To imprison him.
To make him watch his empire decay.
Caprice looked at Diamond.
For the first time, she understood the cruelty behind what had happened to him.
Diamond turned his chair away.
He needed air.
Caprice followed him into the corridor.
"Diamond."
"Don't."
"Your brother did this."
"I heard her."
"You couldn't have known."
Diamond spun the chair.
"Everyone keeps telling me what I couldn't have known."
His voice rose.
"I built my entire life around knowing."
Caprice did not retreat.
"And how's that working out?"
His eyes flashed.
"Careful."
"No."
She stepped closer.
"You spent two years punishing every person around you because someone hurt you. Nurses. Therapists. Staff. Yourself."
Diamond stared.
"You don't get to use Damian as an excuse for everything you've done since."
He should have exploded.
Instead, his shoulders lowered.
"Why do you keep doing that?"
"Doing what?"
"Talking to me like I'm normal."
Caprice's expression softened.
"Because you are."
He laughed bitterly.
"Look at me."
"I am."
"No, look."
He struck his thigh.
"Half my body doesn't work."
Caprice's eyes filled with anger.
"That's your body, Diamond. It isn't your humanity."
Silence.
No doctor had ever said that.
No therapist.
No lover.
Caprice crouched until they were eye level.
"Your brother took your legs. Stop handing him everything else."
Diamond looked at her.
Something broke.
Not loudly.
No tears.
Just a fracture in the wall he had lived behind.
He reached for her hand.
Caprice allowed it.
His thumb moved across her damaged knuckles.
"You need better gloves."
She laughed softly.
"That's your response?"
"I don't know how to do this."
"Do what?"
"Whatever this is."
Their faces were close.
For one dangerous second, Caprice thought he might kiss her.
Then Levi appeared.
"We have a problem."
Diamond released her hand.
"What?"
"Damian knows we're here."
"How?"
Levi held up his phone.
A photograph had been sent anonymously.
It showed Diamond and Caprice entering the facility less than twenty minutes earlier.
Underneath were six words.
SHE LOOKS LIKE HER FATHER, DOESN'T SHE?
Caprice went pale.
Then another message appeared.
THIS TIME, KELLY, I TAKE SOMETHING YOU CAN STILL FEEL.
Diamond read it once.
His face transformed.
The vulnerable man Caprice had seen vanished.
The boss returned.
"Lock the building."
Levi reached for his phone.
Diamond looked at Caprice.
"No one touches her."
Caprice started to protest.
Diamond's voice dropped.
"No one."
But somewhere down the hallway, an alarm began screaming.
May you like
Smoke rolled beneath a doorway.
And Evelyn Thompson's room was suddenly empty.
