Chapter 5 - THE GRAVE WITH NO BODY
I thought I had misheard him.
“My father is dead.”
“No.”
“I went to his funeral.”
“There was no viewing.”
“He was burned in a car accident.”
“That was the story.”
I backed away from Luka.
“You’re lying.”
“I wish I were.”
Tears burned behind my eyes.
“My mother identified his body.”
“No.”
The word landed like a slap.
“She identified his wedding ring.”
My memories came back in pieces.
A closed coffin.
My mother shaking.
Adults whispering.
A police officer telling me the damage was too severe.
Luka stood.
“Michael staged his death because Meridian had already tried to kill him twice.”
“Then why didn’t he come back for me?”
Pain moved across Luka’s face.
“Because they threatened you.”
I hated him for sounding compassionate.
I hated my father for being alive.
I hated Daniel most of all.
“Where is he?”
“I don’t know.”
“That’s convenient.”
“I lost contact with him thirteen years ago.”
“After he abandoned me.”
“He didn’t abandon you.”
“Stop defending him.”
Luka’s jaw tightened.
“He made me promise that if Meridian ever moved against you directly, I would protect you.”
I laughed bitterly.
“You did a wonderful job.”
He accepted the insult.
Then Marcus entered.
“We have company.”
Luka moved immediately.
A monitor showed a sedan parked across the street.
Daniel stepped out.
Vanessa remained in the passenger seat.
My pulse jumped.
“How did he find us?”
Marcus held up my hospital bracelet.
“There’s an RFID tag embedded inside.”
Luka ripped it from my wrist.
Daniel walked toward the townhouse.
I handed the baby to Marcus.
“Hold her.”
Luka blocked me.
“No.”
“He is my husband.”
“Not anymore.”
“He doesn’t know that yet.”
I went downstairs anyway.
Daniel was pounding on the door when I opened it.
His anger disappeared when he saw Luka behind me.
“You.”
Luka’s expression turned cold.
“You remember me.”
I looked between them.
Daniel stepped backward.
For the first time since I had known him, I saw real fear on his face.
“You’re supposed to be dead.”
My stomach dropped.
Luka smiled without warmth.
“Wrong Moretti.”
Daniel stared at him.
Then he looked at me.
“Elena, get your daughter and come with me.”
“Our daughter.”
Something strange passed over his face.
May you like
Then he said the sentence that destroyed the last piece of our marriage.
“She was never supposed to be mine.”
