Chapter 8 - The Father They Chose
Daniel wanted to go straight to Mercer’s office.
Dante stopped him.
“That is exactly what he wants,” Dante said.
“He sent someone to my son’s school.”
“And if you walk into his building angry, without evidence, he’ll turn you into the unstable hotel employee harassing a respected businessman.”
Daniel hated that Dante was right.
So they made a plan.
Detective Alvarez agreed to reopen the investigation into Thomas Bennett’s death after reviewing the documents from the locker. The files suggested Mercer had used Bennett Holdings’ charitable foundation to hide payments to city officials and private investigators.
But proving Mercer ordered Thomas’s death would take more than financial records.
They needed Victor Hale.
Or they needed Mercer to make a mistake.
Evelyn suggested a board meeting.
Mercer had scheduled an emergency vote to remove her as CEO, claiming her “personal instability” endangered the company.
“Let him think he’s winning,” she said.
Daniel stared at her. “That sounds dangerous.”
“It is.”
“You have four children.”
“And because I have four children, I cannot keep running from him.”
The next morning, Daniel took Noah to school himself.
He walked him to the classroom door and waited until the teacher locked it behind him.
Noah looked back through the small window.
“Dad?”
“Yeah?”
“Are you really their dad?”
Daniel paused.
“No,” he said honestly. “Not the way I’m your dad.”
Noah thought about that.
“But you’re going to help them?”
“Yes.”
“Then maybe you’re sort of their dad.”
Daniel smiled despite everything.
“Maybe.”
That afternoon, Evelyn’s girls came to Daniel’s apartment while she prepared for the board meeting.
Daniel’s mother volunteered to watch them, but the girls insisted on staying close to Daniel.
Ava followed him into the kitchen.
“Do you know how to make grilled cheese?”
“I know how to make excellent grilled cheese.”
“Mommy says you’re not supposed to brag.”
“Your mommy has never tasted my grilled cheese.”
Claire sat at the counter doing homework.
“You’re nervous,” she said.
Daniel looked at her. “You can tell?”
“You keep opening the fridge and not taking anything out.”
He closed the refrigerator door.
“Fair point.”
Lily sat beside Noah on the living room rug, drawing with colored pencils. Emma was building a tower out of blocks.
For one strange, peaceful hour, Daniel forgot about Mercer.
The apartment filled with noise.
Children arguing over crayons.
Noah explaining why dinosaurs would beat sharks in “basically every situation.”
Ava demanding extra cheese.
His mother laughing from the couch.
It was messy.
Loud.
Alive.
Then Evelyn called.
Daniel answered immediately.
“Evelyn?”
Her voice was tight. “Mercer moved the meeting.”
“To where?”
“The old Bennett estate.”
“Why?”
“He says the board wants privacy.”
Dante’s voice came faintly in the background. “That property is isolated.”
Daniel’s instincts screamed.
“Don’t go,” he said.
“I have to.”
“No, you don’t.”
“If I refuse, he wins.”
“He may be setting a trap.”
There was silence.
Then Evelyn said softly, “Daniel, I need you to trust me.”
He closed his eyes.
“I do,” he said. “I just don’t trust him.”
Thirty minutes later, the power went out in Daniel’s apartment.
The girls screamed.
Noah grabbed a flashlight.
Daniel went to the window.
Across the street, a black SUV sat with its lights off.
His phone rang.
Unknown number.
He answered.
Mercer’s voice came through.
“Mr. Carter. I hope the children are enjoying their afternoon.”
Daniel’s blood turned to ice.
“If you touch them—”
“I’m not touching anyone. Yet.”
“What do you want?”
“You and Mrs. Bennett have made this unnecessarily difficult. Bring the files from the locker to the Bennett estate. Alone.”
“You already have Evelyn.”
“I have a business meeting.”
“You expect me to believe that?”
“No,” Mercer said. “I expect you to come because you are a father.”
The line disconnected.
Daniel looked through the window again.
The black SUV was gone.
His mother appeared behind him. “What is it?”
Daniel turned toward the five children.
Noah was standing between the girls.
Protective.
Brave.
Too brave for eight years old.
Daniel made a decision.
He called Detective Alvarez.
Then he called Dante.
And finally, he looked at the children.
“I need all of you to listen to Grandma,” he said.
Ava’s eyes widened. “Are you leaving?”
“I’m going to bring Evelyn home.”
Claire stood. “And then?”
Daniel looked at her.
“Then we all have dinner.”
For the first time since the girls crawled beneath his café table, Claire smiled.
May you like
“Okay,” she said. “But you better not burn the grilled cheese.”
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