Chapter 8
William sent men to find Rachel.
No official search.
No authorities.
Parker eyes.
Parker streets.
Every favor Vincent once demanded was turned around and used for the children he tried to erase.
While they searched, Emma asked for the photograph back.
William crouched beside her.
“Can I keep it a little longer?”
She looked uncertain.
“It’s Mommy.”
“I know.”
“You knew her?”
William swallowed.
“Yes.”
Emma studied his face.
“Did she like you?”
That question nearly broke him.
“Yes.”
“Then why didn’t you come?”
William did not lie.
“I didn’t know where she was.”
Emma frowned.
“My mom said grown-ups always know things if they really want to.”
William almost smiled.
“That sounds like her.”
Emma’s eyes softened.
For the first time, she looked less afraid of him.
Then she asked:
“Did Grandpa Vincent hate me?”
William went still.
Who had taught her that name?
“Why would you ask?”
“Aunt Rachel said he wanted Mommy to pretend I wasn’t Parker.”
William closed his eyes briefly.
Children should not inherit hatred before they learn multiplication.
He sat beside her.
“My father was wrong about many things.”
“Me too?”
“No.”
Emma looked at Noah.
“What about him?”
“No.”
She nodded.
Simple answer.
Accepted.
Adults needed speeches.
Children often needed certainty.
Salvatore entered quietly.
William looked up.
“Rachel?”
“Alive.”
Emma heard.
She stood so fast the chair scraped.
“Where?”
Salvatore looked at William.
That hesitation frightened him.
“Private clinic.”
“Condition?”
“Beaten. Weak.”
Emma started crying.
William reached for her.
She came to him without thinking.
That trust hit harder than he expected.
Salvatore continued softly.
“She keeps asking whether the children reached Laurent’s.”
William held Emma closer.
“Yes.”
Then Salvatore added:
“She also says Victor wasn’t the one in charge last night.”
William looked up.
“Who was?”
Salvatore’s face tightened.
“Someone she calls Mr. Parker.”
William’s arms went still around Emma.
There was only one adult Parker man left alive besides William.
May you like
His uncle Thomas.
A man William had trusted since childhood.
