Chapter 7 - The Deal Julian Made
Julian knew everything.
That became clear when investigators intercepted a financial transfer.
Twenty-five million dollars.
Paid to a numbered account in Luxembourg.
The originating entity belonged to Conrad.
The recipient beneficiary was Julian Carter.
Emily stared at the transaction.
"He sold the baby."
Ross nodded.
"Or delivered her."
Garrison stood at the window.
Since learning about his granddaughter, he had barely slept.
"We take him tonight."
Ross shook his head.
"We take Julian without the child, Conrad moves her forever."
"Then follow the money."
"We are."
Emily looked at Julian's photograph.
"There is another way."
Both men turned.
"Julian thinks I'm afraid of him."
Garrison immediately understood.
"No."
"He thinks I disappeared because I broke."
"Absolutely not."
"If I contact him, he'll come."
"And if he learns you're pregnant?"
"He'll panic."
"Exactly."
Emily met Garrison's gaze.
"Good."
The call happened the next evening.
Julian answered on the first ring.
Silence.
Then, softly, "Emily?"
She said nothing for three seconds.
"You sound disappointed."
He exhaled.
"Where are you?"
"Safe."
"Everyone has been worried."
"Especially Chloe?"
Another silence.
"Emily, I don't know what you've been told."
"I know enough."
"Then you know there are dangerous people involved."
"Like you?"
"I protected you."
She nearly laughed.
"By poisoning my pregnancies?"
His breathing changed.
That reaction was enough.
Emily closed her eyes.
"You did."
"No."
"You didn't even deny it quickly."
"Emily, listen to me."
"I've been listening for twelve years."
"You don't understand what Conrad is capable of."
"Apparently you did."
Julian whispered, "I made choices."
"For money."
"For survival."
"You had a mansion before you met Conrad."
"You think money is what he offered me?"
Emily frowned.
"What did he offer?"
Julian's voice became strained.
"A future."
"What does that mean?"
"You were never supposed to survive the program."
Garrison stepped closer to the speaker.
Emily's heart hammered.
"What program?"
Julian realized he had said too much.
"Where are you?"
"Answer me."
"I need to see you."
"Why?"
"Because if Conrad learns what you are carrying, he'll come himself."
Emily looked at Garrison.
Julian knew she was pregnant.
"How?"
No response.
"How do you know I'm pregnant?"
Julian whispered, "Because the twins were planned before you ever met me."
Emily dropped the phone.
Garrison caught it.
"Julian."
The line disconnected.
Emily's hands went protectively around her belly.
"No."
Garrison knelt in front of her.
"Look at me."
"No."
"Emily."
"They're mine."
"Yes."
"He said they were planned."
"They're yours."
"What does that mean?"
Ross was already searching genetic records.
Four hours later, the answer appeared.
Emily's eggs had been retrieved during one of her earlier fertility procedures.
She had never been told.
Several had been fertilized.
Stored.
Two embryos were later implanted during what Emily believed was a routine diagnostic procedure performed shortly before she left Julian.
The biological father was not Julian.
Emily stared at the report.
"Who?"
Ross looked at Garrison before answering.
"An anonymous donor coded B-17."
Garrison's face changed.
"What?"
Ross opened a second record.
B-17 had been used repeatedly throughout Conrad's private program.
The donor's identity had been sealed.
But one biometric marker remained.
A rare hereditary blood trait.
Garrison had the same trait.
Emily stared at him.
"No."
Garrison immediately shook his head.
"I have never donated genetic material."
"Then how?"
Ross looked uneasy.
"Your medical files from thirty years ago show tissue samples collected after your military injury."
Garrison slowly sat down.
Conrad had taken them.
The twins growing inside Emily might be genetically related to Garrison.
Not as their father.
The age of the preserved samples and fragmented documentation made the relationship unclear.
But someone had deliberately chosen Garrison's genetic line.
Emily looked at her stomach.
For the first time, fear replaced joy.
"Why?"
Garrison answered with terrible certainty.
"Because Conrad isn't trying to create children."
May you like
"What is he trying to create?"
"Heirs."
