Chapter 7 - THE CHAPEL BENEATH THE RUINS
Taylor wanted to move me immediately.
I refused.
“I'm not running again.”
“Alex, the FBI believes you stole millions of dollars.”
“Then we'll prove they are wrong.”
“You don't understand what Vale has done.”
I stepped closer.
“I understand perfectly. You spent three years making me part of your criminal empire. Now someone has used my name to frame me. I'm finished being the person everyone moves around like a piece on a chessboard.”
Taylor stared at me.
For a moment, I thought he would order his men to restrain me.
Instead, he nodded.
“All right.”
It was the first time he had agreed with me without an argument.
We left for Boston before sunrise.
Vincent drove.
Taylor sat beside me in the back of the SUV.
Neither of us spoke for nearly an hour.
Finally, he broke the silence.
“I owe you an explanation.”
“You owe me more than one.”
“I know.”
He looked through the window.
“When I first discovered what Vale was doing, your supervisor had already been targeted. Daniel had uncovered the connection between Vale and my father's old network.”
“Your father?”
“Before he died, my father controlled a system that moved money through legitimate businesses. Vale inherited access to it. He used that access to finance operations my father would never have approved.”
I looked at him.
“And you kept me because you needed me to uncover it?”
“Partly.”
“What was the other reason?”
He turned toward me.
“Because I knew Vale would kill you if he discovered what you had found.”
I laughed without humor.
“So you imprisoned me to protect me?”
“I thought I could control the danger.”
“You couldn't even control yourself.”
He looked down.
I continued.
“You made me believe I was worthless. You let Isabella stand beside you while everyone treated me like an embarrassment. You knew I loved you, and you used that.”
His voice was quiet.
“I know.”
“Then don't ask me to forgive you.”
“I won't.”
The vehicle entered Boston just after noon.
The old chapel had been replaced by a modern community center, but the underground foundation remained intact.
Margaret had sent us an address.
We entered through a maintenance passage behind the building.
At the bottom of the stairs, I found an iron door.
My mother had once told me never to touch its handle.
Now I pushed it open.
Inside was a narrow room filled with filing cabinets.
Dust covered everything.
There were photographs on the walls.
My mother.
Daniel Mercer.
Taylor's father.
And a man I recognized from the gala.
Richard Vale.
At the center of the room sat a wooden desk.
On it was a cassette recorder.
I pressed play.
My mother's voice filled the room.
“Alex, if you're hearing this, then I failed to keep you away from the people who destroyed our family.”
I covered my mouth.
“My husband was not the man you believed he was. He worked with Taylor's father. When he discovered what Vale was doing, he tried to expose him.”
The recording crackled.
“Your father died because of that decision. I was told you would be next. So I made a deal with Daniel and disappeared.”
Taylor stood behind me.
My mother continued.
“I left Sophie with Margaret because she was the only person I trusted. I thought keeping her away from both families would save her.”
I looked at the next document.
A birth certificate.
Sophie Rossi.
Father: Taylor Anthony Rossi.
Mother: Elena Hayes.
I looked at Taylor.
He seemed unable to breathe.
The recording continued.
“Taylor, if you are there, you need to understand that your father knew about Sophie. He arranged everything before his death.”
Taylor lowered his head.
Then my mother's voice became urgent.
“Do not trust the person who helped you find this room.”
The recording stopped.
Silence filled the chamber.
I slowly turned.
Taylor stood beside the desk.
Vincent was behind him.
And Vincent had a gun pointed at Taylor's back.
“I'm sorry,” Vincent whispered.
Taylor didn't move.
I stared at the man who had protected him for fifteen years.
“Vincent?”
His eyes were wet.
“Vale has my family.”
Taylor slowly turned his head.
“Put the gun down.”
“I can't.”
“Vincent.”
“He has my wife and my son.”
My blood turned cold.
Vincent's hand trembled.
Then he looked at me.
“Alex, I'm sorry.”
He pulled the trigger.
But the shot didn't hit Taylor.
It struck the cassette recorder.
And from somewhere behind the iron door, a woman's voice screamed:
“DON'T LET HIM LEAVE!”
It was my mother.
May you like
She was alive.
And she was standing outside.
