Chapter 4: The Name in the Message
The question hung in the living room like smoke.
“Who is Marcus?””
Sophia stared at Ethan’s phone.
Then at Gloria.
Then at the door.
Her fingers tightened around the strap of her purse.
“I can explain.””
Ethan’s jaw clenched.
“That’s what you said before.””
“I know.””
“You lied before.””
“I know.””
“You staged an attack on my mother.””
“I know.””
“You knew my father was alive.””
Sophia’s eyes filled.
“I know.””
Ethan took another step toward her.
“Then start talking.””
Sophia swallowed.
“Marcus is your father.””
“I know his name.””
“He changed it.””
Ethan frowned.
“What?””
“He changed his name years ago.””
Gloria stepped forward.
“That's enough.””
Ethan turned toward her.
“No, Mom. It isn't.””
“Ethan—”
“You told me he was dead.””
“I told you what I needed you to believe.””
The words landed harder than the slap had.
Ethan stared at her.
“You needed me to believe my father was dead?””
Gloria looked toward the framed photograph above the fireplace.
“I needed you alive.””
Sophia suddenly whispered, “Gloria was protecting you.””
Ethan snapped his head toward her.
“You don't get to defend my mother.””
“I’m not defending her. I’m telling you what happened.””
“Then tell me everything.””
Sophia hesitated.
Gloria walked to the sofa and sat down.
Her hand trembled slightly as she folded it over her lap.
“Your father owed people money,” she said.
Ethan's expression hardened.
“How much?””
“A lot.””
“How much?””
Gloria looked at him.
“Enough to put a gun on our front porch.””
Ethan went still.
Sophia lowered her eyes.
Gloria continued.
“Marcus had borrowed money to keep his business alive. When it failed, the people he owed didn't care about bankruptcy or excuses. They wanted cash.””
“Why didn't you tell me?””
“You were seventeen.””
“I wasn't a child.””
“You were my child.””
Ethan shook his head.
“So Dad ran?””
“He disappeared.””
“And you let me think he was dead.””
“Yes.””
“For twelve years.””
“Yes.””
Ethan looked toward the photograph.
“What happened after he disappeared?””
Gloria's eyes moved to Sophia.
“That is where she comes in.””
Sophia flinched.
Ethan stared at her.
“How?””
Sophia slowly sat in the armchair.
“I met Marcus when I was younger.””
“How young?””
“Twenty-six.””
“And you knew he was your future father-in-law?””
“No.””
“When did you find out?””
“After I met you.””
Ethan's face tightened.
“You met my father before you met me?””
Sophia nodded.
“Once.””
“Where?””
“In a hotel.””
Ethan laughed bitterly.
“A hotel?””
“He asked me to meet him.””
“Why?””
“He wanted information about you.””
Gloria stood abruptly.
“He wanted access to Ethan.””
Sophia shook her head.
“He said he wanted to make sure Ethan was safe.””
“And you believed him?”” Gloria asked.
“At first.””
“What changed?””
Sophia looked down at her hands.
“He offered me money.””
Ethan's eyes hardened.
“How much?””
“Fifty thousand.””
Gloria closed her eyes.
Ethan stared at Sophia.
“You took it.””
“Yes.””
“What did you have to do?””
Sophia whispered, “Nothing at first.””
The phone on the coffee table vibrated again.
Everyone looked at it.
Another message.
Ethan picked it up.
*YOU'RE ASKING THE WRONG WOMAN.*
His eyes narrowed.
A second message appeared.
*ASK GLORIA WHAT SHE SIGNED.*
Ethan slowly lowered the phone.
“Mom.””
Gloria didn't move.
“What did you sign?””
Her silence answered before her mouth did.
Sophia whispered, “I told you.””
Ethan looked at his mother.
“What did you sign?””
Gloria's breathing became uneven.
“A protection agreement.””
“With who?””
“Marcus.””
“You signed something with Dad?””
“Yes.””
“What did it say?””
“I don't remember every word.””
“You signed a document and don't remember what it said?””
“It was twelve years ago.””
“You remembered enough to tell me he was dead.””
Gloria's eyes flashed.
“Because he told me that if you ever learned the truth, you'd be in danger.””
Ethan shook his head.
“Then why is he asking for money now?””
Gloria had no answer.
The security monitor suddenly flickered.
The frozen image disappeared.
A live camera feed appeared.
The front porch.
Empty.
Ethan stared at it.
“Did someone access the system?””
Gloria looked frightened.
“I don't know.””
Sophia stood.
“We need to leave.””
Ethan turned.
“No one is leaving.””
“Ethan, listen to me.””
“No.””
“Someone is inside the system.””
He looked at the monitor.
“Then let them watch.””
Sophia's face changed.
“What?””
Ethan stepped toward the screen.
“If you're watching this, come out.””
Nothing.
Then the monitor changed.
A single image appeared.
A photograph.
Marcus.
Older now.
Standing outside the house.
Taken only minutes earlier.
Gloria covered her mouth.
Ethan stared at the image.
Sophia whispered, “Oh God.””
Another message appeared beneath the photograph.
May you like
*OPEN THE DOOR, ETHAN.*
Then the doorbell rang.
