Chapter 7: The Sister Nobody Buried
The photograph shook in Damian's hand.
He had spent thirty-four years believing he was an only child.
Now, in the space of one night, he had discovered that his dead brother was alive, his father had faked his death, his mother might still be living, and somewhere in the world there was a sister whose existence had been erased from his childhood.
He looked at Ethan.
"Who is she?""
Ethan's expression changed.
"Damian...""
"Don't.""
"I was going to tell you.""
"When? Another six years from now?""
Ethan looked down.
Sofia stood beside the desk, watching the brothers argue without interfering.
Damian held up the photograph.
"Who is this woman?""
Ethan finally answered.
"Her name is Isabella.""
"Isabella what?""
"Cross.""
Damian stared at him.
"She's our sister?""
"Half sister.""
"From whom?""
"Our mother.""
Damian looked at the photograph again.
The young woman standing beside their mother had dark hair, a familiar smile, and a small silver necklace shaped like a crescent moon.
He had seen that necklace before.
In a photograph hidden inside his mother's jewelry box.
"Why didn't anyone tell me?""
"Because Father didn't want you to know.""
Ethan pulled a chair closer and lowered himself into it, wincing as his injured shoulder moved.
"Isabella was born before you and me. Father had an affair when he was young. When the woman died, Mother took Isabella in. She raised her as her own.""
Damian frowned.
"Then why did I never meet her?""
"You did. You were three years old.""
Damian tried to remember.
Nothing came.
Ethan continued.
"Father took her away when she was seven. He said she was a threat to the family reputation. Mother fought him, but he threatened to take you and me too.""
"Where did he send her?""
"To a boarding school in Switzerland. Then he arranged for her to live with a family under another name.""
Damian looked toward the photograph.
"What's her name now?""
"Isabella Voss.""
Sofia suddenly lifted her head.
"Voss?""
Ethan nodded.
"She used your mother's surname.""
Sofia stepped closer.
"Then she might know about Elena.""
Damian turned.
"Why?""
"My mother used to mention a girl named Isabella. She said she was the only person who knew where the original ledger was hidden.""
Ethan looked at Sofia sharply.
"Your mother told you that?""
"Not directly. She wrote it in a letter.""
"Where is the letter?""
Sofia hesitated.
"I don't have it.""
"Where is it?""
"At my mother's old apartment.""
Damian immediately reached for his phone.
"Marcus.""
His head of security appeared from the adjoining corridor.
"Boss?""
"Get a vehicle ready. We're going to Boston.""
Marcus looked at Ethan's wound.
"You're not traveling anywhere tonight.""
"That's not your decision.""
"Doctor's orders.""
Ethan glared at him.
"Since when do you follow doctors?""
"Since my employer started collecting bullet wounds.""
Damian almost smiled.
Almost.
Then he looked at Sofia.
"You're coming with me.""
She nodded.
But before they could leave, Vivian stirred.
Her eyes opened slowly.
"Damian...""
He turned.
The doctor was kneeling beside her, checking her pulse.
"Don't move," the doctor ordered.
Vivian ignored him.
"Damian, listen.""
He approached.
"What?""
She swallowed painfully.
"Victor wasn't the only one working with your father.""
Damian's face hardened.
"Who else?""
Vivian looked at Ethan.
Then back at Damian.
"Your uncle had someone inside the police department. Someone who has been protecting the family for years.""
"Name.""
She closed her eyes.
"Detective Robert Hale.""
Marcus swore under his breath.
Damian knew the name.
Hale had investigated Ethan's accident. He had personally signed the final report declaring the death accidental.
He had also attended Damian's father's funeral.
"Why would a detective help my father?""
Vivian gave a weak laugh.
"Because your father paid him.""
"With what?""
"With the one thing he wanted more than money.""
Damian leaned closer.
"What?""
Vivian's eyes filled with tears.
"His daughter.""
The room went silent.
"Your father has been keeping her somewhere for eleven years," Vivian whispered.
"Hale has been doing whatever Alexander asks because he believes his daughter is still alive.""
Damian straightened.
"Where is she?""
Vivian shook her head.
"I don't know.""
"Who does?""
She looked toward Sofia.
"Elena.""
Sofia froze.
"My mother?""
Vivian nodded.
"She helped hide the girl.""
Damian turned to Sofia.
"Did you know?""
"No.""
"Are you sure?""
Sofia's eyes filled.
"My mother never told me anything about a detective's daughter.""
Vivian tried to lift her hand.
"There's something else.""
Damian waited.
"Your mother didn't disappear alone. She took someone with her.""
"Who?""
Vivian looked directly at him.
"Alexander's real heir.""
Damian frowned.
"What are you talking about?""
Before she could answer, the medical room door opened.
Marcus entered, holding his phone.
"Boss, we have a situation.""
"What?""
"The house has been surrounded.""
Damian's hand moved toward his weapon.
"By whom?""
Marcus turned the phone around.
A live news broadcast filled the screen.
*CROSS FAMILY MURDER INVESTIGATION — MAFIA BOSS DAMIAN CROSS WANTED FOR QUESTIONING.*
Below the headline was a photograph of Damian standing over Victor's body.
The reporter continued.
"Authorities confirm that multiple witnesses have identified Damian Cross as the individual responsible for the fatal shooting of his uncle, Victor Cross, earlier tonight.""
Damian stared.
"How did they get that photograph?""
Marcus shook his head.
"Someone sent it to every major news outlet.""
Then his phone rang.
He answered.
His expression changed.
"Boss...""
"What?""
Marcus swallowed.
"Detective Hale is at the front gate.""
Damian looked at Sofia.
She was staring at the television.
Because the photograph being displayed behind the reporter had changed.
It showed another man standing beside Damian.
A man who had supposedly died six years earlier.
Ethan Cross.
And beneath the image was a second headline.
*POLICE SEEK SECOND SUSPECT IN CROSS FAMILY MURDERS.*
Ethan slowly stood.
"He's coming for us.""
Damian checked his weapon.
"Then he'll have to come through me.""
But Sofia suddenly grabbed his wrist.
"Don't.""
He looked at her.
"Why?""
She pointed at the television.
A new photograph had appeared.
It showed Elena Voss.
Alive.
Standing outside a police station.
May you like
And beneath it were five words.
*MOTHER OF DAMIAN CROSS ARRESTED.*
