Chapter 16 - VICTOR HEARS THE TRUTH
They met in Dr. Cole’s office.
Neutral territory.
Finn was not present.
Victor looked at Anthony.
“I remember you.”
“I assumed.”
“You lied on your employment file.”
“Yes.”
“You entered my security operation under a false name.”
“Yes.”
“You watched my wife.”
“With her permission.”
Victor’s jaw tightened.
The old reflex rose.
Then faded.
“And without mine.”
“Yes.”
“You should have told me.”
Anthony answered:
“Elena should have been able to tell you.”
Silence.
That landed.
Victor lowered his eyes.
“Yes.”
Then Anthony told him about the post-funeral convoy.
Police sirens.
Finn screaming.
Calling for his father.
The anchor.
Victor went completely still.
“I didn’t know.”
“No.”
“Why didn’t anyone tell me?”
Anthony looked at him.
“I tried.”
“When?”
“The next morning.”
Victor frowned.
“I don’t remember.”
“You threw me out.”
His face changed.
“What did I say?”
Anthony hesitated.
Then:
“‘My son doesn’t need another stranger telling me how to raise him.’”
Victor closed his eyes.
That sounded exactly like him.
“I’m sorry.”
Anthony studied him.
“For what?”
Victor answered:
“For making my fear everybody else’s problem.”
Good.
Then Dr. Cole asked:
“What changes for Finn?”
Victor answered first.
“When sirens happen, I stay.”
“Yes.”
“I tell him where I am.”
“Yes.”
“I don’t move him without explaining.”
“Yes.”
“I stop changing security around him without preparing him.”
Anthony added:
“And eventually tell him the truth about that convoy.”
Dr. Cole nodded.
“In language appropriate for his age.”
A week later came the test.
Police vehicles passed near the estate.
Traffic accident.
Finn froze.
“Dad?”
Victor appeared from the study.
Not running.
Walking quickly.
“I’m here.”
“Are we leaving?”
“No.”
“Are you?”
“No.”
“Promise?”
Victor hesitated.
Then gave the promise reality could keep.
“If I ever have to leave, I will tell you first.”
Finn nodded.
“Anchor?”
Victor held out his hand.
Finn took it.
In.
Out.
This time Victor matched him immediately.
“You practiced,” Finn whispered afterward.
Victor smiled.
“Yes.”
That night he sat beside his son’s bed until he fell asleep.
Not in the hallway.
Beside him.
May you like
Then Anthony told us there was another notebook.
And Elena had been planning something Victor never knew.
