Chapter 1 - THE MAN MY FATHER SAVED
"Yes," I whispered. "My father died saving a stranger outside that subway station."
Alexander Ashford closed his eyes.
For one terrifying second, New York's most feared mafia boss looked like a man who had forgotten how to breathe.
Then he opened his eyes and said five words that changed my life.
"That stranger was my brother."
The ballroom fell completely silent.
Victoria Lane let out an impatient laugh.
"Alexander, darling, are you seriously going to believe this little maid?"
He didn't even look at her.
"His name was Daniel Ashford," Alexander continued. "Six years ago, someone attacked him outside the Astoria station. A stranger intervened."
My knees weakened.
I remembered that night. The police officer at our apartment door. My mother's scream. Mateo clutching his stuffed dinosaur while I stood frozen in the hallway.
"Dad never told us who he saved," I whispered.
Alexander's jaw tightened.
"Daniel was rushed to the hospital. He survived because your father stopped the attacker."
"Then why didn't anyone come to his funeral?"
The question escaped before I could stop it.
Alexander looked as though I'd struck him.
"Because I never knew his name."
An elderly gentleman approached us.
"My name is Charles Whitcomb," he said. "I served with your father's teacher many years ago."
I stared at him.
"My father was a repairman."
Charles shook his head.
"Your father was much more than that."
Victoria crossed her arms.
"This is absurd. Alexander, she assaulted me. I want her fired immediately."
Alexander finally turned toward his fiancée.
"I watched you attempt to kick an employee into a glass display."
"She humiliated me!"
"You humiliated yourself."
Several guests exchanged startled looks.
Alexander faced the hotel manager.
"Preserve every security recording. Nobody deletes anything."
Then he looked at me.
"Miss Reyes, I owe your family a debt that I should have paid six years ago."
"I don't want your money."
"I haven't offered any."
His expression softened.
"I want to understand why your father was attacked while saving my brother."
A cold feeling moved through my chest.
"The police said the attacker was a random criminal."
Charles Whitcomb suddenly gripped Alexander's arm.
"Alexander, there's something you need to know."
"What?"
The old man glanced toward Victoria.
"That movement Sophia used? I've only seen three people perform it correctly."
He swallowed.
"One was Miguel Reyes."
"Who were the others?" I asked.
Charles looked directly at Alexander.
"Your father, Anthony Ashford."
May you like
Then he lowered his voice.
"And the man who murdered him."
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