Chapter 8: The Blood Test
Jordan stared at the phone.
His face had gone completely blank.
“No.””
Maya immediately locked the screen.
“Jordan, don't watch it.””
“Give it to me.””
“No.””
“Give me the phone!””
He reached for it.
Maya pulled away.
Marcus stepped between them.
“Everybody calm down.””
Jordan looked at his father.
“Am I your son?””
Marcus couldn't answer.
That silence destroyed him.
Jordan's eyes filled.
“Dad?””
Marcus swallowed.
“Yes.””
Calvin laughed.
“That isn't what I asked.””
Marcus turned toward him.
“You've said enough.””
Calvin's expression hardened.
“Then take the test.””
Jordan looked at Marcus.
“Take what test?””
Calvin reached into his jacket and removed a folded envelope.
He held it out.
“Your DNA test.””
Denise whispered, “No.””
Calvin dropped the envelope onto the table.
Marcus didn't touch it.
Jordan did.
He opened it.
His eyes moved across the page.
Then stopped.
“Twenty-three percent?””
Maya stepped closer.
“Let me see.””
Jordan handed it to her.
Maya read the report.
Her expression changed.
“This isn't a parentage report.””
Calvin's smile faded slightly.
Darius took the paper.
“It's incomplete.””
Marcus looked at him.
“What does that mean?””
“It means somebody deliberately removed the comparison section.””
Calvin's eyes narrowed.
“You're wasting time.””
Darius looked up.
“Because you didn't expect us to notice.””
Calvin said nothing.
Marcus grabbed the envelope.
“You forged this.””
Calvin smiled.
“Maybe.””
“Why?””
“To make you question everything.””
Jordan stared at the report.
“My whole life…”
Marcus turned toward him.
“Jordan, look at me.””
Jordan didn't.
“Dad…”
“I don't care what this paper says.””
“But you don't know if it's true.””
Marcus stepped closer.
“I know you're my son.””
Jordan finally looked at him.
“Then why did you hesitate?””
Marcus had no answer.
Denise suddenly spoke.
“Because he knows.””
Everyone turned.
Denise was staring at Calvin.
“You know who Jordan's father is.””
Calvin's face became still.
Marcus looked at her.
“Denise?””
She wiped her cheeks.
“I was nineteen.””
Calvin said quietly, “Don't.””
“I was nineteen when we met.””
Marcus's eyes widened.
“Who?””
Denise looked at him.
“Your brother.””
Marcus stopped breathing.
“My brother?””
Calvin shook his head.
“She's confused.””
“No,” Denise whispered.
“I'm not.””
Marcus backed away.
“You and my brother?””
“It was before you and I were married.””
Jordan looked sick.
“So I'm…”
Denise rushed toward him.
“Jordan, listen to me.””
He stepped away.
“Don't touch me.””
Her hand froze in the air.
Calvin's voice cut through the room.
“That's why she agreed to help me.””
Marcus turned.
“What did you promise her?””
Calvin smiled.
“She wanted Jordan protected.””
“From what?””
“From you.””
Marcus stared.
Darius suddenly looked at Maya.
“Your phone.””
“What?””
“Give it to me.””
Maya hesitated.
He pointed toward the red case.
“There's a second SIM card under the case.””
Maya looked confused.
She removed the case.
A tiny black chip fell into her palm.
Her eyes widened.
“I've never seen this.””
Darius took it.
“This is what they've been looking for.””
Calvin's expression changed.
For the first time, genuine fear crossed his face.
“Give me that.””
Darius stepped backward.
“No.””
Calvin moved.
Marcus blocked him.
“Stay away.””
Calvin shoved Marcus.
Marcus stumbled into the table.
Jordan rushed forward.
“Dad!””
Calvin reached for Darius.
Darius swung the flash drive toward him.
Calvin ducked.
Denise screamed.
The penthouse erupted into chaos.
Maya ran toward Jordan.
“Get back!””
Then a sharp crack echoed through the room.
Everyone froze.
A bullet struck the wall beside Calvin.
Nobody had seen where it came from.
Calvin looked toward the windows.
Darius immediately pulled Maya down.
“Get on the floor!””
Marcus grabbed Denise.
Jordan dropped behind the sofa.
Another shot shattered a decorative glass panel.
No one could see the shooter.
Calvin's confidence vanished.
“That's not my man.””
Darius stared at him.
“Whose is it?””
Calvin looked at Marcus.
Then at Denise.
Then at Jordan.
His face went pale.
“He found us.””
Marcus whispered, “Who?””
Calvin backed toward the hallway.
“The person I've been hiding from.””
A third shot rang out.
The lights flickered.
Then the penthouse went completely dark.
When the emergency lights returned—
Calvin was gone.
So was the flash drive.
And on the floor beside the broken glass lay a single photograph.
Maya picked it up.
It showed her mother, Denise, standing beside a hospital crib twenty-two years earlier.
May you like
Written across the back in black ink were six words:
*YOU WERE NEVER SUPPOSED TO KEEP HIM.*
