Chapter 2: The Man Who Forgot How to Be Human
Marcus Mercer ended the call.
Then he moved.
No hesitation.
No panic.
Just control.
He opened a black secured case beside his desk. Inside was a phone no civilian network could track and a list of names that had once brought entire criminal networks to their knees.
He dialed one.
“Prepare the jet.”
A voice answered immediately. “Sir, federal clearance—”
“I don’t care,” Marcus interrupted.
Silence.
Then: “Understood.”
He hung up.
Rain hammered London as he walked toward the elevator.
Behind him, the city glowed like nothing was wrong.
But Marcus knew better.
Because for years, he had been building two lives.
One: billionaire investor, public philanthropist, controlled and legal.
The other: something darker.
Something that only appeared when peace was taken from him.
And tonight, someone had taken his daughter.
At the Beverly Hills mansion, Lily stayed frozen inside the closet.
The knock came again.
“Sweetheart,” Cassandra called gently. “We’re just checking on you.”
Lily covered her mouth.
Don’t answer.
Don’t breathe too loud.
The closet door trembled slightly as someone tested the handle.
Locked.
A pause.
Then Cassandra’s voice changed—just slightly.
Less warm.
More annoyed.
“She’s probably asleep,” Mr. Wells said nearby.
“She’s always listening,” Cassandra replied.
Lily’s heart slammed against her ribs.
“They’re robbing you…”
Her own voice echoed in her mind.
Outside, footsteps moved away.
But Lily knew it wasn’t over.
Not even close.
Because she had seen the documents once.
Forty-five million dollars transferred through shell companies.
Her name listed on travel papers she didn’t understand.
And something worse.
May you like
A schedule.
With tonight circled.
