Chapter 8 - THE MAN WHO STOLE HIS NAME
Grant returned to the penthouse carrying a rage so controlled it frightened everyone around him.
Sophie was drawing at the kitchen table.
Luke was eating pancakes.
Grant sat across from them.
“I need to ask you something difficult.”
Sophie nodded.
“Did Victor ever tell people he was your father?”
Luke immediately looked angry.
“He made us call him Dad when visitors came.”
Grant’s jaw tightened.
Sophie added quietly.
“I hated it.”
“He said our real dad didn’t want us.”
Grant looked down.
“He lied.”
“I know now.”
Grant met her eyes.
“I would have come for you.”
Sophie studied his face for a long moment.
Then she asked the question he had been dreading.
“Are you really our dad?”
Grant called Rachel.
The DNA test was arranged immediately.
Grant did not need the result in his heart.
But the law needed proof.
Six hours later, the preliminary analysis arrived.
Probability of paternity exceeded 99.99 percent for both children.
Grant stared at the document alone.
Father.
He had become a father seven years ago.
He had simply been robbed of the knowledge.
When he told Sophie and Luke, Luke smiled first.
Sophie cried.
Grant pulled both children into his arms.
For several minutes, nobody spoke.
Then Sophie whispered.
“We still have to find Mom.”
Grant nodded.
“We will.”
Rachel entered the room carrying new information.
Federal investigators had obtained warrants connected to Haven House.
Agents were moving in.
Grant expected relief.
Instead Rachel looked worried.
“The building is empty.”
“Empty?”
“Every child has been moved.”
“All records are gone.”
“What about Evelyn Shaw?”
“Gone.”
Grant turned to Owen.
“They knew.”
Owen nodded.
“Someone warned them.”
Grant looked toward the federal agents inside his home.
Rachel understood the implication.
The conspiracy reached beyond Victor.
Owen’s phone rang.
He answered.
His face darkened.
“What?”
Grant moved closer.
Owen ended the call.
“Calvin Rourke was found dead in a motel.”
Grant frowned.
“Killed?”
“Looks like an overdose.”
Owen did not believe it.
Neither did Grant.
Rourke had become a liability.
Someone was erasing witnesses.
Then Thomas entered.
“Sir.”
“There’s a woman downstairs asking for Sophie.”
Grant stiffened.
“Name?”
“Evelyn Shaw.”
Everyone stared.
Grant could hardly believe it.
“She came here?”
Thomas nodded.
“She says Victor is going to kill Claire tonight.”
Grant did not hesitate.
“Bring her up.”
Evelyn entered surrounded by security.
She looked nothing like the terrifying woman Sophie had described.
She looked terrified herself.
Sophie hid behind Grant.
Evelyn saw the children.
Relief crossed her face.
“They’re alive.”
Grant stepped between them.
“Where is Claire?”
Evelyn’s lips trembled.
“I’ll tell you.”
“But first you need to understand something.”
“I didn’t create Haven House.”
Grant’s voice was ice.
“You abused children.”
“I followed Victor’s orders.”
“That won’t save you.”
“I’m not trying to save myself.”
She reached into her coat.
Security raised their weapons.
Evelyn slowly removed a memory card.
“Victor keeps records.”
“Insurance.”
“I copied them.”
Grant stared at it.
Evelyn whispered.
“One recording proves Claire never abandoned you.”
“And another proves Victor wasn’t working alone.”
Grant asked who else was involved.
Evelyn looked toward Marian.
May you like
Then she said a name Grant never expected.
“Your father.”
