Chapter 15 - THE SISTER IN THE SNOW
The drive from Chicago to Milwaukee felt longer than any journey I had ever taken.
Not because of the distance.
Because of the silence.
Evelyn sat in the passenger seat.
Dominic drove.
Mercer followed in an unmarked federal SUV.
Victoria stayed behind with Chloe and Grace at the safe house.
My father remained in federal custody.
For the first time in thirty years, the Thorne family was scattered across the Midwest instead of gathered around a table.
And somehow, that felt like progress.
I stared through the windshield.
Snow covered the highway.
“Vincent.”
Evelyn's voice pulled me back.
“Yeah?”
“You're thinking too loudly.”
I smiled faintly.
“You've known me for less than twenty-four hours.”
“I've known you my entire life.”
She looked at me.
“I just didn't know where you were.”
I didn't answer.
After a moment, she said:
“Are you scared?”
“Yes.”
“Good.”
I looked at her.
She smiled.
“People who aren't afraid make stupid decisions.”
“I've made plenty of those.”
“So have I.”
She looked down.
“That's what family does.”
I almost laughed.
“Family makes stupid decisions?”
“Family gives you someone to blame when you make them.”
For the first time that night, I laughed.
It felt strange.
Almost foreign.
But good.
Then my phone rang.
Mercer.
“Talk to me.”
“We have movement.”
“Where?”
“Two vehicles approaching the farmhouse.”
My hand tightened around the phone.
“Anna?”
“We don't know.”
“How far?”
“Eight minutes.”
I looked at Dominic.
He stepped harder on the gas.
“Then we're going now.”
The farmhouse appeared through the snow.
One-story.
White siding.
Red barn.
A single porch light.
It looked ordinary.
That was what frightened me.
Nothing about the place looked like a kidnapping site.
Dominic stopped the car fifty yards away.
Mercer pulled alongside.
He raised his rifle.
“Wait for my signal.”
I opened the door.
“I'm going in.”
Mercer grabbed my arm.
“No.”
“They have my sister.”
“They have an entire tactical team.”
“I don't care.”
“You'll get her killed.”
I stopped.
He looked at me.
“Let us do this properly.”
I hated that he was right.
We waited.
Three minutes.
Then the farmhouse lights went out.
Mercer raised his hand.
Agents moved.
The front door exploded inward.
We rushed inside.
“Federal agents!”
No answer.
The living room was empty.
A chair sat in the center.
Rope hung from it.
Blood covered the floor.
My heart stopped.
“Anna!”
Nothing.
Then I heard crying.
Upstairs.
I ran.
“Vincent!”
Mercer shouted behind me.
I reached the second floor.
A bedroom door stood open.
Inside, a young woman sat against the wall.
Dark blonde hair.
Pale skin.
Blue eyes.
She was shaking.
I stopped.
The crescent-shaped birthmark was visible on her shoulder.
I knew instantly.
Anna.
She looked at me.
“Who are you?”
I couldn't speak.
Then Evelyn appeared behind me.
Anna stared at her.
Evelyn's eyes filled with tears.
“I'm your sister.”
Anna shook her head.
“No.”
“I know.”
“No.”
“You don't know me.”
“Neither do you.”
Evelyn stepped closer.
“Our mother was Eleanor Thorne.”
Anna froze.
“What?”
Evelyn knelt.
“She loved you.”
Anna began crying.
“Who is she?”
“Our mother.”
Anna looked at me.
“Who are you?”
I swallowed.
“I'm Vincent.”
Her face changed.
“The man from the video?”
“Yes.”
She looked terrified.
“I don't understand.”
“I know.”
I crouched several feet away.
“You don't have to understand everything tonight.”
She stared at me.
“Why are you here?”
“Because you're my sister.”
She began crying harder.
“I don't have a brother.”
“You do now.”
She looked at Evelyn.
Then me.
Then whispered:
“I want to go home.”
The words broke something inside me.
“Okay.”
I extended my hand.
“We'll take you home.”
She hesitated.
Then took it.
Her fingers were freezing.
I pulled off my coat and wrapped it around her.
Evelyn smiled through tears.
“Welcome home.”
We never made it back to the safe house.
Halfway to Chicago, Mercer received a call.
He listened.
Then looked at me.
“What's wrong?”
He hesitated.
“The safe house was attacked.”
My heart stopped.
“Chloe?”
“She escaped.”
I stared at him.
“What?”
“Victoria got her out.”
“And Grace?”
“Missing.”
I closed my eyes.
Another person.
Another target.
Another piece of my family being pulled into a war they never asked for.
Then Anna spoke from the back seat.
“They took Grace.”
Everyone turned.
“How do you know?”
Anna looked down.
“She was the one who helped me escape.”
“When?”
“Before you came.”
My blood ran cold.
“Did she tell you anything?”
Anna nodded.
“She said the people after us weren't trying to kill us.”
“Then what do they want?”
Anna looked at me.
“They want you to find the last vault.”
I stared.
“The last vault?”
She nodded.
“They told me your father hid something there.”
“What?”
“I don't know.”
She hesitated.
“But they said it could destroy the syndicate.”
I looked at Evelyn.
She whispered:
“The final ledger.”
When we arrived in Chicago, Victoria was waiting.
Chloe ran toward me.
I dropped to my knees.
She threw her arms around my neck.
“I knew you'd come back.”
I held her.
“I promised.”
She pulled away.
“Where's Grace?”
I looked at Victoria.
She shook her head.
“We'll find her.”
Chloe frowned.
“Who took her?”
I looked at Anna.
“This is your sister.”
Chloe stared.
Anna smiled awkwardly.
“Hi.”
Chloe walked up to her.
“Are you the sister nobody knew about?”
Anna laughed.
“Apparently.”
Chloe nodded.
“Okay.”
She reached for Anna's hand.
“You can stay.”
Anna looked surprised.
“Thank you.”
Chloe shrugged.
“You're family.”
I looked away before anyone could see my face.
The word still hurt.
But now it hurt differently.
That night, my father requested a meeting.
Mercer refused.
Then my father sent one message.
I know where Grace is.
We went.
The prison interview room was cold.
My father sat behind glass.
He looked at me.
Then Anna.
His face changed.
“Anna.”
She stared.
“Do I know you?”
“You knew me.”
She frowned.
“When you were a child.”
“I don't remember.”
My father looked at me.
“Good.”
I leaned toward the microphone.
“Where is Grace?”
“Alive.”
“Where?”
“Bring me Victoria.”
“No.”
“Then she dies.”
I stood.
My father smiled.
“You see, Vincent?”
“What?”
“You finally understand what power is.”
I stared at him.
“No.”
I looked at Anna.
Then Chloe.
Then Evelyn.
“I'm beginning to understand what it isn't.”
I walked out.
Behind me, my father laughed.
May you like
But I noticed something.
His hands were shaking.
