Chapter 5 - The Choice
Daniel could have killed Victor.
Everyone in that room knew it.
Victor knew it too.
"Do it," Victor whispered.
Daniel stared at him.
"That's what you want?"
"You think handing me to prosecutors makes you righteous?"
"No."
Daniel stepped closer.
"It makes you powerless."
Victor's expression shifted.
Daniel continued.
"You'll lose the company shares. The properties. The accounts. The people who fear you."
"You don't have enough evidence."
Daniel held up the phone.
"I do now."
Police and federal investigators arrived two hours later.
Victor Mercer left Daniel's house in handcuffs.
But the danger wasn't over.
Victor's organization began collapsing immediately.
Men were arrested.
Warehouses were searched.
Company executives resigned.
News crews surrounded Mercer Home and Living locations.
And my face somehow ended up online.
MYSTERY WOMAN CONNECTED TO MERCER FAMILY WAR.
I threw my phone onto the couch.
"This is ridiculous."
Daniel stood near the window.
"I'm sorry."
"You didn't publish it."
"No. But I'm the reason they're interested."
I looked at him.
"You keep doing that."
"Doing what?"
"Taking responsibility for everything."
He said nothing.
"Your wife made her own choice."
His jaw tightened.
"Clare."
"She chose to expose Victor."
"She died."
"Because Victor murdered her. Not because she loved you."
Daniel looked away.
I stepped closer.
"You've spent three years punishing yourself for surviving."
"Don't."
"Why?"
"Because you don't understand."
"Then explain it."
His voice rose for the first time.
"I was supposed to protect her!"
The room went silent.
Lily appeared in the hallway.
Daniel immediately lowered his voice.
"I'm sorry."
Lily walked toward him.
"You promised to protect us too."
"I know."
"You did."
Daniel looked at her.
"What?"
"The bad man is gone."
"Victor still has people."
"But he's gone."
Daniel crouched.
"Yes."
"So stop looking sad."
"Lily—" I warned.
She ignored me.
"You looked like that at Thanksgiving."
Daniel's expression softened.
"You noticed?"
"Obviously."
She reached into her pocket.
Another orange card.
Daniel stared.
This one said:
DANIEL — STILL OUR TABLE.
He laughed quietly.
Then his eyes became suspiciously bright.
"You carry construction paper around?"
"I came prepared."
He took it.
"Thank you."
Lily went upstairs.
I smiled.
"She's subtle."
"Terrifyingly."
Then his expression changed.
"Clare."
"What?"
"When this is finished, I want you and Lily to leave."
The smile disappeared from my face.
"Excuse me?"
"I'll arrange another job. Another city if necessary."
"You don't get to decide that."
"It's safer."
"For whom?"
"For you."
"No. Try again."
He looked at me.
I suddenly understood.
"For you."
Daniel said nothing.
"You're pushing us away because you're afraid."
"I'm being realistic."
"You're hiding."
His jaw tightened.
"Clare."
"Three years ago, you lost someone. Now you've decided never letting anyone close is safer."
"Yes."
The answer surprised me.
At least it was honest.
I stepped closer.
"Then you shouldn't have sat at our table."
"You invited me."
"And you stayed."
His eyes dropped toward my mouth before returning to mine.
"That may have been my mistake."
"No."
I touched his hand.
"Maybe it was the first good decision you'd made in three years."
May you like
For once, Daniel Mercer had no answer.
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