Chapter 9: The Secret Someone Would Kill For
By noon, the entire house felt like a place we were hiding in.
Not living in.
Hiding.
I had never thought of my home that way before.
This was where we raised our sons.
Where we celebrated birthdays.
Where Christopher and I danced in the kitchen after our twenty-fifth anniversary.
It had always been our safe place.
Now every window felt exposed.
Every sound made me look up.
Every passing car made my heart race.
Because someone knew.
Someone knew Daisy was here.
“Did they threaten you?”” I asked.
Christopher stood near the kitchen counter.
“Yes.””
“What did they say?””
He hesitated.
I hated that.
I hated every hesitation.
“Christopher.””
“They said I should have learned my lesson the first time.””
My stomach tightened.
“The first time?””
He closed his eyes.
“I think they were talking about Lauren.””
I looked toward the nursery.
“We need to call the police.””
“I agree.””
“Then why aren’t you moving?””
He looked at me.
“Because before we do that, I need to know who we’re dealing with.””
“Why?””
“Because if my father’s people are involved…”
I interrupted.
“Your father is dead.””
“I know.””
“Then who?””
He didn’t answer.
And suddenly I realized something.
Maybe Christopher wasn’t hiding because he didn’t trust me.
Maybe he was hiding because he was terrified.
That didn’t excuse it.
But it explained it.
A knock sounded at the door.
Both of us froze.
Christopher immediately stepped in front of me.
The movement was instinctive.
Protective.
The same man who had held my hand through childbirth.
The same man who had stood between our children and danger.
For a moment, I saw my husband again.
Not the stranger.
Not the man with secrets.
My husband.
He looked through the window.
Then his face changed.
“It’s Matthew.””
I released the breath I didn’t realize I was holding.
Our oldest son entered seconds later.
His expression was serious.
“Mom.””
He hugged me.
Then looked at Christopher.
“Dad.””
The tension between them was obvious.
“What did you tell him?”” I asked Christopher.
Matthew answered first.
“Everything Dad told me.””
My heart sank.
“What exactly?””
Matthew looked uncomfortable.
“He said Daisy might be my sister.””
I closed my eyes.
I couldn’t believe our family was unraveling in real time.
“Matthew…”
“I’m sorry, Mom.””
He looked toward the nursery.
“Is she inside?””
“Yes.””
He took a step.
Then stopped.
“I don’t know what to feel.””
The honesty broke my heart.
Neither did I.
“She’s just a baby,” I whispered.
Matthew nodded.
“I know.””
A moment passed.
Then his expression changed.
“Mom.””
“What?””
“Someone came to my apartment last night.””
Christopher immediately looked up.
“What?””
Matthew looked at him.
“After you called me.””
My blood ran cold.
“What did they want?””
“I don’t know.””
“Matthew.””
“They left something.””
He reached into his jacket pocket.
A folded piece of paper.
My hands went cold before I even touched it.
I opened it.
Three words were written.
LET HER GO.
Nothing else.
No name.
No explanation.
Just a warning.
Christopher took the paper.
His face changed.
“Where did you get this?””
“I told you. Someone left it.””
“When?””
“An hour ago.””
Christopher looked terrified.
Because he understood something I didn’t.
“What?””
He looked at me.
“They’re not trying to scare us.””
“Then what are they doing?””
He looked toward Daisy’s room.
“They’re testing how close they can get.””
A cold silence filled the house.
Then my phone rang.
Unknown number.
Again.
This time, I answered.
“Hello?””
A woman’s voice spoke.
Not a man.
Not the same person.
A woman crying.
“Rebecca?””
I froze.
“How do you know my name?””
The woman whispered:
“Because I’m the reason Daisy survived.””
My heart stopped.
“Who are you?””
The voice broke.
“My name is Lauren Bennett.””
I couldn’t breathe.
Christopher grabbed the phone from my hand.
“Lauren?””
A long silence.
Then the woman said:
“Christopher.””
His face turned white.
“You’re alive.””
May you like
And Lauren replied:
“I was never supposed to be.””
