Chapter 13 - The Senator at the Door)
Lily was already moving again.
Nathan's sister had taken her to a rural cabin known only to Claire and Marcus.
For the moment she was safe.
But Senator Wren had stopped hiding.
That meant time was running out.
Marcus brought Elena, Victoria and Rebecca to a warehouse owned through one of Charles Thorne's old trusts.
For the first time in four years, Marcus and Elena sat alone.
Neither knew how to begin.
Marcus finally asked:
"Did you love me when you married me?"
Elena looked at him.
"Yes."
"That wasn't my question."
She closed her eyes.
"When I met you, I wanted access to your father."
Marcus nodded slowly.
"I found the surveillance photo."
"I'm sorry."
"How long?"
"Three months."
"Three months before what?"
"Before I stopped pretending."
Marcus looked away.
Elena continued.
"I had spent years believing every Thorne was responsible for what happened to me."
"My father was involved."
"At first."
She looked at him.
"Then Charles helped me. He gave me names. He tried to shut Aurelia down."
"Why didn't he tell me?"
"He wanted you outside it."
Marcus laughed bitterly.
"That worked well."
Elena reached for his hand but stopped before touching him.
"I married you because I loved you."
Marcus looked at her.
"And Lily?"
"Our daughter was never part of any plan."
Her voice cracked.
"The day she was born, I decided I was done with all of it."
"Then why did you keep investigating?"
"Because they started watching her."
Marcus closed his eyes.
Elena continued.
"I discovered hidden reports measuring her speech, memory, emotional responses. Someone at her preschool was sending information."
Marcus's head snapped up.
"Who?"
"A teaching assistant. She disappeared before I could confront her."
He felt another wave of rage.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because one of the reports came from your office."
Marcus stared.
"Someone near you was involved. I didn't know who."
"Daniel Frost."
"I suspected him, but I had no proof."
Marcus walked to the window.
Daniel had been his friend.
His attorney.
The man who helped him survive Elena's death.
Of course.
Who better to control the grieving husband than the person handling his legal decisions?
Elena stood.
"Marcus."
He turned.
She finally touched his hand.
"I know you may never forgive me."
He stared at her.
"I buried you."
Tears filled her eyes.
"I know."
"I told our daughter her mother was in heaven."
"I know."
"I spent four years thinking I failed you."
"You didn't."
Marcus's voice broke.
"Don't tell me what I did or didn't fail."
Elena looked down.
Then Marcus pulled her into his arms.
Not forgiveness.
Not yet.
But something stronger than anger remained between them.
Something Aurelia had failed to destroy.
Behind them, Victoria stood silently in the doorway.
Marcus saw her.
"What?"
Victoria held a file.
"You need to see this."
They entered the main room.
Rebecca had decrypted part of the second ledger.
Payments to Daniel Frost.
Payments to Adrian.
Payments routed through Senator Wren.
Then one transfer caught Marcus's attention.
Twenty million dollars.
Recipient:
M.T. PROTECTION TRUST.
Marcus frowned.
"What is that?"
Victoria looked at him.
"Your trust."
"No."
"Yes."
Marcus stared.
"I never authorized this."
"It was created when you were a child."
Elena looked at Victoria.
"What was it for?"
Victoria hesitated.
Marcus's patience vanished.
"Say it."
"Charles and I were told you had inherited certain neurological markers."
Marcus stared.
"What?"
"You were monitored too."
He felt sick.
"Subject number?"
Victoria shook her head.
"You were never officially enrolled."
"Why?"
"Charles refused."
Rebecca looked up from the computer.
"Then what is the protection trust?"
Victoria whispered, "Money to ensure Marcus remained outside the program."
Marcus laughed harshly.
"Bribe money."
"Yes."
"Paid by whom?"
Victoria looked at Senator Wren's ledger entries.
"Jonathan Wren."
Marcus went still.
"Why would he pay my father to keep me out?"
Nobody answered.
Then Elena looked toward Lily's pendant.
"Because Aurelia wasn't interested in Lily only because of me."
Marcus turned.
Elena's face had gone pale.
"They were watching your bloodline too."
Before Marcus could respond, Nathan called.
"We found Frost."
"Where?"
"He returned to Thorne Tower."
"Why?"
"Looks like he's accessing the executive archive."
Marcus grabbed his coat.
Elena stopped him.
"You're not going alone."
"No."
"Marcus."
He looked at her.
Four years ago, he might have told her to stay safe.
Now he understood that Elena had survived people who terrified billionaires and senators.
"Fine."
Victoria picked up her weapon.
Marcus shook his head.
"You stay."
"Absolutely not."
"You've done enough."
Pain crossed her face.
"That's exactly why I'm coming."
They drove into Chicago as sunrise broke over the city.
At Thorne Tower, Daniel Frost waited in Marcus's office.
Alone.
He sat behind Marcus's desk.
A folder rested in front of him.
Marcus entered with Elena.
Daniel smiled.
"Welcome back, Elena."
Marcus wanted to hit him.
Instead he said:
"Where's Wren?"
Daniel's smile widened.
"With Lily."
Marcus stopped breathing.
Daniel slid the folder across the desk.
Inside was a photograph taken less than five minutes earlier.
Lily standing beside Senator Wren.
And behind them was a sign.
May you like
THORNE CHILDREN'S MEDICAL CENTER.
Marcus's own hospital.
