Chapter 6 - The Bride's Mother Had a Secret
The wedding reception stopped breathing.
Every guest stared at the enormous screen.
Isabella DeLuca stood near the head table, her diamonds glittering as her hands trembled.
Camila looked from her mother to the photograph.
“Mom?”
Isabella didn't answer.
Arthur moved through the crowd with Beatrice beside him.
Richard Spatafora attempted to reach the control panel, but Leo blocked his path.
“Leave it,” Leo said.
“Someone has hacked the system.”
“Then we should see what they're trying to show us.”
Beatrice studied the photograph.
Her father looked younger than she remembered.
He was standing outside a warehouse beside Isabella.
The timestamp read October 14, 2008.
Two days before the fire.
“Mrs. DeLuca,” Beatrice said, “why was my father with you?”
Isabella's lips parted.
“That's not your father.”
Beatrice's heart sank.
Arthur watched Isabella carefully.
“Then who is it?”
“A man named Daniel Mercer,” Isabella replied. “He worked for my late husband.”
Beatrice almost laughed.
Mercer.
Gallagher.
How many names had her father used?
“You expect me to believe this is another stranger who happens to look exactly like him?”
Isabella's face hardened.
“I don't owe you an explanation.”
“No,” Arthur said. “But you owe my family one.”
Guests began whispering.
Camila looked close to tears.
“Mom, please tell me what's happening.”
Isabella reached for her daughter's hand.
“Nothing that concerns your marriage.”
But Camila pulled away.
“Then why is everyone staring at you?”
Before Isabella could answer, Beatrice's phone vibrated.
A message from Tommy.
I'M SAFE. DON'T TRUST ANYONE AT THE WEDDING.
Relief nearly buckled her knees.
She typed immediately.
WHERE ARE YOU?
The reply came seconds later.
DAD LEFT SOMETHING FOR YOU. STORAGE UNIT 317.
Beatrice stared.
Another message appeared.
DON'T TELL ARTHUR UNTIL YOU SEE IT.
She looked toward Arthur.
He was questioning Isabella.
His jaw was tight.
His patience was clearly disappearing.
For one wild moment, Beatrice considered telling him everything.
Instead, she slipped her phone into her purse.
The evening ended early.
Camila retired upstairs in tears.
Leo argued with Richard.
The DeLuca family disappeared into private conversations.
Arthur escorted Beatrice outside.
Rain was falling again.
“I'll have someone take you home,” he said.
She studied him beneath the hotel awning.
“Can I ask you something?”
“Anything.”
“If you discovered your family had done something terrible, would you tell the truth?”
Arthur answered without hesitation.
“Yes.”
“Even if it destroyed everything you've built?”
He looked at her for a long moment.
“Especially then.”
She wanted to believe him.
More than she wanted to admit.
He brushed a raindrop from her cheek.
“Beatrice, whatever this is, you don't have to face it alone.”
Her throat tightened.
Then he leaned closer.
For a heartbeat, she thought he might kiss her.
Instead, he whispered, “Don't go looking for Tommy without me.”
She stepped back.
“How did you know he contacted me?”
Arthur's expression changed.
Before he could answer, her phone rang.
Unknown number.
She answered.
A man's familiar voice whispered her name.
“Bea?”
Her knees nearly gave way.
“Dad?”
“Sweetheart, listen carefully. Arthur Costello is standing next to you, isn't he?”
She looked at Arthur.
“Yes.”
Her father drew a shaky breath.
“Then get away from him.”
May you like
A pause.
“Because he has something that belongs to me.”
