Chapter 6 - THE WOMAN WHO KNEW TOO MUCH|
Graham had one clear thought.
He could kill Anthony.
He could kill the men behind him.
But if he fired, Tabitha would be the first casualty.
"Let her go," he repeated.
Anthony tightened his grip.
"You should have listened to your father. Women make powerful men weak."
Graham slowly lowered his gun.
"Tell me what you want."
"The trust documents. The original papers. And the locket."
Tabitha looked at Graham.
"Don't give him anything."
Anthony struck her across the face.
Graham's eyes turned black.
"Touch her again, and I'll forget every promise I've ever made."
Anthony laughed.
"There's the man I remember."
He dragged Tabitha toward the staircase.
Then something unexpected happened.
Tabitha dropped the silver tray.
The crash startled Anthony.
She stamped on his foot, twisted sideways, and slipped from his grip.
Graham fired once.
The bullet struck Anthony's shoulder.
The other men opened fire.
Graham pulled Tabitha behind a marble column as security personnel rushed into the hallway.
Within seconds, the attackers were disarmed.
Anthony lay bleeding on the floor.
Graham approached him.
"Who sent you?"
Anthony laughed through clenched teeth.
"You still don't understand."
"Explain."
"Your father didn't just hide an inheritance. He hid a murder."
Graham crouched.
"What murder?"
Anthony looked at Tabitha.
"Ask her what her mother was doing the night your mother died."
Tabitha's face went white.
"My mother had nothing to do with her death."
Anthony smiled.
"That's what she told you?"
Before Graham could question him further, Anthony suddenly reached beneath his jacket.
Graham kicked the weapon away.
Security dragged Anthony out.
But the damage had been done.
Tabitha stood trembling.
Graham turned toward her.
"Look at me."
She raised her eyes.
"Did your mother ever mention my mother's death?"
"No."
"Did she ever tell you why she left New York?"
Tabitha shook her head.
"She said we needed a fresh start."
Graham studied her.
"Did she know who my father was?"
"I don't know."
He took a breath.
"Then we'll find out."
That evening, Graham arranged for a doctor to examine Tabitha.
She insisted she was fine.
He insisted otherwise.
When the physician left, Graham found her sitting alone in the kitchen.
A cup of untouched tea sat before her.
"Why aren't you upstairs?"
"I couldn't sleep."
He sat opposite her.
For several minutes, they said nothing.
Then Tabitha spoke.
"Do you think my mother was involved in something terrible?"
Graham considered his answer.
"I think someone wanted us to believe she was."
She looked down.
"I don't want to be part of your world."
"I know."
"I don't want money or protection or a mansion."
"I know that too."
"Then why are you keeping me here?"
Graham looked at her.
"Because somebody tried to kill you to get to me."
"That's not the only reason."
He fell silent.
Tabitha's cheeks reddened.
"Is it?"
Graham leaned forward.
"No."
For the first time, he allowed himself to say what he had been avoiding.
"When you touched my face that night, I didn't feel afraid."
Her eyes softened.
"I was terrified."
"I know."
He reached across the table, stopping just short of her hand.
"May I?"
Tabitha looked at his fingers.
Then she placed her hand in his.
Graham held it carefully.
But the moment lasted only seconds.
His phone vibrated.
A message appeared from an unknown number.
It contained a photograph of Tabitha's younger brother, Daniel, leaving his rehabilitation center.
May you like
Underneath it were eight words.
THE GIRL IS YOURS. THE BROTHER BELONGS TO US.
