Chapter 11 - The Other Grandchild
Daniel sent a photograph.
A boy around nine sat tied to a chair in an office.
“His name is Caleb,” Daniel said.
Roman’s voice hardened. “Whose son?”
“Mine.”
Nora leaned closer to the phone.
Daniel continued. “Elias knew about him. Your father knew he had two grandchildren.”
“Why is your son tied up?”
“Marco took him.”
Roman looked at Helena.
She seemed genuinely shocked.
Daniel explained that Marco had learned Caleb’s identity years earlier and used the boy as leverage. Daniel cooperated with parts of the fraud to keep him safe. He also admitted trying to regain control of the trust once Roman returned.
Roman said, “So you saved me and betrayed me at the same time.”
“Yes.”
“And you shot Thomas.”
“I thought he was leading Marco to Caleb.”
“That doesn’t make it better.”
A crash sounded through Daniel’s phone.
Then another male voice appeared.
Marco.
“Touching family reunion.”
Daniel swore.
Roman’s stomach dropped.
Marco had escaped police custody during a hospital transfer less than an hour earlier.
The line went dead.
Brooks called Roman from the highway. “We’re six minutes from the depot.”
Roman reached for his coat.
Nora blocked the door.
“For three years everyone made decisions for us without asking. Don’t do it again.”
“My brother has a child in there.”
“And your child is here.”
Roman looked at Sophie asleep on the couch.
The right choice felt like cowardice.
That was how he knew it was probably the right one.
He stayed.
Seven minutes later, Brooks called again.
Gunfire cracked through the speaker.
Then she shouted, “We found Caleb.”
Roman closed his eyes in relief.
May you like
But Brooks wasn’t finished.
“The original trust document is gone.”
