Chapter 7 - THE NIGHT JULIAN FOUND HER
Julian Voss had spent eleven years searching for his brother.
He'd paid informants.
Questioned former business partners.
Followed rumors from New York to Montreal.
For years, he'd believed that discovering Adrian's fate would justify almost anything.
Now the truth was arriving through a nurse whose family had been damaged by the same conspiracy.
And he realized the woman he wanted to protect had every reason to despise him.
Cora left Philadelphia late Sunday afternoon.
She had spent two days with Arthur.
He was recovering and cooperating with investigators, who were arranging safeguards because of the threats against him.
The train back to New York was delayed.
By the time Cora reached Brooklyn, it was nearly midnight.
She walked the final blocks toward her apartment beneath a freezing drizzle.
Then noticed a car idling across the street.
Her stomach tightened.
She crossed toward a brightly lit convenience store.
The car moved.
Cora stepped inside and called the police.
Five minutes later, her phone rang.
Julian.
"Are you somewhere safe?"
"Inside a store."
"Good."
"How do you know where I am?"
His silence irritated her.
"Julian."
"Tomas saw an unfamiliar car near your building."
She closed her eyes.
"Are you having me followed?"
"After your father's disappearance, I asked a security team to keep an eye on the area."
"Without asking me?"
He hesitated.
"Yes."
"Then stop."
"Cora, somebody tried to—"
"I know what happened."
Her voice shook.
"But you don't get to make decisions about my life because you're frightened."
A long silence followed.
Then Julian answered quietly.
"You're right."
She blinked.
"I am?"
"Yes."
"Good."
He exhaled.
"I'll withdraw the team. The police have already been notified about the car."
Cora looked through the window.
The vehicle had disappeared.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Julian asked, "Can I come to the store?"
"Why?"
"Because I'd like to apologize in person."
She considered it.
Then said, "You can come. But don't bring Tomas."
Julian arrived fifteen minutes later.
He wore jeans and a dark jacket.
No bodyguards.
No polished shoes.
No expression of command.
He looked almost painfully ordinary.
Cora sat at a small table near the window, drinking terrible coffee.
Julian approached.
"May I sit?"
She nodded.
He sat opposite her.
For a moment, they watched delivery trucks moving through the rain.
Then he said, "I keep making the same mistake."
"What mistake?"
"Thinking that if I can control enough things, nobody I care about will disappear."
Cora studied him.
"And does it work?"
His smile was bitter.
"No."
She looked down.
"My father taught me that being afraid doesn't give us permission to treat other people badly."
Julian nodded.
"He sounds wiser than most men I know."
"He is."
For a moment, Cora thought of Arthur lying in the hospital.
Then she asked, "Why are you so desperate to find Adrian?"
Julian looked toward the street.
"Because the last thing I said to him was that he wasn't worth the trouble he caused."
Cora's expression softened.
Julian continued.
"He wanted to tell the police about the shipments. I told him he'd destroy the family."
His voice broke.
"Three days later, he vanished."
Cora was silent.
Julian lowered his eyes.
"I've spent eleven years wondering whether he died believing I hated him."
She reached across the table.
Not to excuse him.
Not to promise everything would be fine.
Simply to touch his hand.
Julian went still.
Then looked at her.
And for the first time since the auction, Cora saw something other than coldness in those black eyes.
She saw a man who had been grieving for so long that grief had become his entire personality.
Outside, the rain intensified.
Julian glanced toward the window.
"I should let you get home."
Cora nodded.
Then stopped him.
"Julian?"
He turned.
"The next time you want to kiss me..."
His eyes widened.
She took a breath.
"Ask."
For a moment, he looked completely speechless.
Then a faint smile appeared.
"I will."
That night, Cora finally slept without dreaming of the auction.
But across the city, Felix Mercer received a photograph.
It showed Julian and Cora sitting together in the convenience store.
Beneath it was a message.
THE UNDERTAKER HAS FOUND ELENA'S DAUGHTER.
Felix stared at the photograph.
Then reached for his phone.
May you like
"Move Adrian," he ordered.
"And this time, make sure nobody finds him."
