CHAPTER7 — ELENA
Chapter 07 - CHAPTER7 — ELENA
Jodi had imagined meeting her mother a thousand different ways.
None involved a secure elevator, armed guards, or Hector Richie standing beside her like a warning.
The woman waiting downstairs was older than Jodi expected.
Beautiful, but in a severe way.
Dark hair threaded with silver. Black dress. No jewelry except a wedding ring.
She stood when Jodi entered.
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Then Elena said, "You have your father's eyes."
Jodi almost laughed.
"Everyone keeps telling me that."
"They're wrong."
Jodi stopped.
Elena's voice softened.
"You have mine."
That hurt more than Jodi expected.
"Why did you leave me?"
Elena looked at Hector.
"Because Daniel stole you."
Jodi's face hardened.
"You kidnapped me?"
"No."
"Then why did I grow up believing my mother was dead?"
"Because your father told me that if I came near you, he would kill you."
Jodi shook her head.
"My father loved me."
"He did."
"Then he wouldn't have said that."
Elena's eyes filled.
"Daniel loved you more than he loved anything."
"Then explain."
Elena sat.
"Your father discovered that the organization had been infiltrated. Someone close to us was selling names, routes, accounts. People were dying."
"Who?"
Elena looked at Hector.
"His father."
Hector's face became unreadable.
"My father?"
"Yes."
Jodi looked between them.
Elena continued.
"Daniel discovered that your father was being framed."
Hector's voice was low.
"By whom?"
"By the person who wanted both families destroyed."
"Who?"
Elena hesitated.
"Your uncle."
Hector went completely still.
"My uncle died."
"No."
Elena looked at Jodi.
"He disappeared."
Jodi remembered the man in the ballroom.
The smile.
The waiter.
"Is he alive?"
Elena didn't answer.
Hector stepped closer.
"Where is he?"
Elena whispered a name.
"Victor."
The room went silent.
Hector's phone rang.
He answered.
His lieutenant spoke.
Hector's expression changed.
"What happened?"
He listened.
Then looked at Jodi.
"Your apartment wasn't burned by an enemy."
Jodi frowned.
"Then who did it?"
Hector's voice was quiet.
"Someone inside my organization."
Jodi felt the same cold sensation she had felt when she saw her father's handwriting.
Someone close.
Someone trusted.
Someone who knew where she was.
Elena stood.
"You need to leave."
Jodi looked at her.
"Why?"
"Because Victor knows you're here."
A gunshot exploded through the ceiling.
May you like
The lights went out.
And in the darkness, someone whispered Jodi's name.
