Chapter 12 - THE BROTHER WHO CAME BACK
The call came at six forty-two on a Tuesday morning.
Nora was making coffee when her phone rang.
Detective Sloan.
"Nora."
Something in her voice made Nora sit down.
"We found someone."
Nora's heart stopped.
"Who?"
Sloan paused.
"Daniel."
The mug slipped from Nora's hand.
Coffee spread across the kitchen floor.
"Is he alive?"
"Yes."
Nora began sobbing.
Daniel had been living under another name in a small town in Wisconsin.
After receiving threats, he had fled Chicago.
He believed Marcus's associates were watching his family.
He had tried to contact Nora once.
But someone intercepted the message.
Over time, fear and shame kept him away.
He had convinced himself that staying hidden was the only way to protect his sisters.
When Nora saw him at the police station, she stopped in the doorway.
Daniel stood beside a table.
Older.
Thinner.
His hair shorter.
But alive.
"Nora."
She crossed the room.
And hit him in the chest.
Not hard.
Just enough to release four years of grief.
"You idiot."
Daniel began crying.
"I'm sorry."
She hit him again.
Then hugged him so tightly he could barely breathe.
"I thought you were dead."
He held her.
"I know."
She sobbed.
"I looked everywhere."
"I know."
For a long time, neither spoke.
Then Nora whispered:
"Don't ever disappear again."
Daniel nodded.
"I won't."
That evening, Nora called Enzo.
"He's alive."
Enzo closed his eyes.
"I'm glad."
She began crying again.
"Thank you."
Enzo shook his head.
"You don't owe me anything."
Nora smiled through tears.
"Maybe not."
May you like
Then she added:
"But I think I owe you dinner."
