Chapter 8
“And the promise?”
“The symbol on the locket represented a private trust. Four families placed documents, ownership records, and emergency funds into it. The idea was simple. If one family fell into trouble, the others would protect its children.”
“That sounds like something from another century.”
“In some ways, our world was.”
He looked toward the hidden stairs.
“My father believed loyalty mattered more than law. Daniel believed the opposite. He discovered money was being moved through our companies without proper records. He intended to expose it.”
“Your father’s money?”
“Among others.”
“And Sofia?”
“She agreed to help him.”
“Your sister betrayed your family?”
“My sister tried to stop men she loved from destroying one another.”
His voice carried no anger. Only weariness.
“Elena was supposed to meet them at the ferry terminal. She had documents hidden inside that locket. Sofia wore an identical one to confuse anyone watching them.”
I looked down at the silver pendant.
“Two lockets.”
“Yes.”
“What happened?”
“Daniel was found in his car near the river. There had been an accident.”
“You don’t believe it was an accident.”
“No.”
“And Sofia?”
“She vanished before sunrise.”
“What about my mother?”
“Elena came to me the next morning. She was terrified. She gave me a location and asked me to bring Sofia home.”
“Did you?”
“I was twenty-four and convinced I could solve everything with one conversation.”
A bitter smile touched his mouth.
“I went to my father first.”
The rest of the sentence did not need to be spoken.
May you like
“You told him where they were.”
“I thought he would protect Sofia.”
