Chapter 8 - MY FATHER'S SECOND LIFE
We reached San Francisco just before midnight.
Daniel had barely spoken during the drive.
I sat beside him in silence.
Gabriel followed in another vehicle.
My mother stayed behind.
She promised she would come later.
The address Daniel gave me was a small office building near the waterfront.
Nothing about it looked important.
There were no guards.
No luxury cars.
No signs.
Just an old brick building.
We entered through the side door.
Daniel used a key.
The hallway was dark.
At the end was another door.
He knocked three times.
Nothing.
He knocked again.
A voice came from inside.
“Who?”
Daniel answered:
“Daniel.”
The door opened.
A man stood there.
Older.
Gray hair.
Thin.
His face was partially covered by a beard.
I knew him immediately.
Even after four years.
Even after the funeral.
Even after convincing myself he was gone.
“Dad?”
The man froze.
Then tears filled his eyes.
“Sofia.”
I couldn't move.
He opened his arms.
I stepped forward.
Then stopped.
“You're alive.”
“Yes.”
“You let me bury you.”
“I know.”
“You let me believe you were dead.”
“I know.”
“You watched me grieve.”
He lowered his head.
“I had no choice.”
“You always had a choice.”
He looked at me.
“You're right.”
That answer made me angrier.
“Why?”
“Because someone wanted you dead.”
“Who?”
“Carmen.”
I shook my head.
“Carmen isn't the mastermind.”
“No.”
“Then who?”
My father looked at Gabriel.
Gabriel entered the room.
“It's time.”
Dad nodded.
He closed the door.
Then he showed us the vault.
It was hidden behind a false wall.
Inside were documents.
Photographs.
Passports.
Bank records.
And dozens of recordings.
I stared.
“You've been living here?”
“For almost two years.”
“Why didn't you come home?”
“Because I was building a case.”
“Against Carmen?”
“Against everyone.”
He handed me a folder.
Inside were photographs of Carmen meeting executives.
Then Daniel.
Then Elise.
Then someone else.
I didn't recognize him.
“Who is that?”
My father said:
“Victor Hale.”
“Carmen's father?”
“No.”
“Then who?”
“The man behind the entire operation.”
He placed another photograph on the table.
An older man.
White hair.
Expensive suit.
Cold expression.
I stared.
I had seen him before.
At my father's funeral.
At our wedding.
At business events.
I whispered:
“Mr. Bennett.”
My father's former business partner.
He had always been kind to me.
He had even hugged me after Dad's funeral.
I looked at my father.
“He's Victor?”
“Yes.”
I felt sick.
“Why would he do this?”
“Your father refused to sell him the company.”
“So he came after me.”
“Yes.”
“Through Carmen.”
“Yes.”
“Through Daniel.”
“Yes.”
“And through Elise.”
My father nodded.
“Elise was working undercover for me.”
I looked at Daniel.
He nodded.
“She was the one who warned me about the hotel.”
“Then why did she meet Carmen?”
“To maintain her cover.”
I sat down.
Everything had been deception.
Everyone had been pretending.
My father continued:
“Carmen wasn't supposed to hurt you.”
I stared at him.
“But she did.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because Victor ordered her to force the transfer.”
“And Daniel?”
“He was supposed to stop her if she went too far.”
I looked at Daniel.
“You failed.”
“Yes.”
My father nodded.
“He did.”
Daniel looked down.
“But he also saved you.”
“When?”
“Tonight.”
I frowned.
My father opened another file.
A surveillance photograph showed Daniel secretly meeting a police officer.
The date was the same night I escaped.
He had been arranging protection.
But Carmen discovered him.
“He knew the hotel staff were coming.”
“He didn't tell me.”
“He couldn't.”
I looked away.
My father placed one final document before me.
“This is the real reason they want your signature.”
I read it.
The apartment wasn't merely connected to the archive.
It controlled access to a dormant holding company.
A company worth hundreds of millions.
And I was the sole beneficiary.
If I signed the power of attorney, Victor would gain control.
I looked at my father.
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because I wanted you to have a normal life.”
I laughed.
“A normal life?”
He looked devastated.
“I failed.”
I softened.
“You were trying to protect me.”
“Yes.”
“But you lied.”
“Yes.”
“I don't know if I can forgive you.”
“You don't have to.”
Then the lights went out.
Everyone froze.
A phone rang.
My father's phone.
He answered.
A man's voice said:
“Richard.”
My father went pale.
“Victor.”
The voice laughed.
“You brought your daughter to me.”
Dad looked at me.
“Leave through the back.”
The building shook.
Something had hit the front door.
Daniel grabbed my arm.
“Move.”
We ran.
Behind us, men entered the building.
My father stayed behind.
“Dad!”
He shouted:
“Go!”
We reached the alley.
A black SUV was waiting.
The door opened.
Elise was inside.
“Get in!”
We climbed inside.
As the vehicle sped away, I looked back.
The building disappeared into darkness.
My father was still inside.
I screamed:
“Turn around!”
Elise shook her head.
“We can't.”
“That's my father.”
“He wanted you alive.”
“But he's trapped.”
Elise looked at me.
“He knew this would happen.”
“What?”
“He knew Victor would come.”
“Why?”
She handed me an envelope.
My father's handwriting.
Sofia, if Victor finds me, do not come back.
I opened it.
The final line said:
The person you trust most will betray you before sunrise.
I looked at Daniel.
He was sitting beside me.
May you like
Then Elise looked at him.
And Daniel slowly looked away.
