Chapter 9 - The File Marked Mercer
Victor had been watching me for years.
Not because of Violet.
Because of my work.
During one overseas assignment, my unit had helped disrupt a financial network connected to an international smuggling operation.
One of the shell companies belonged to Victor.
I hadn't known his name.
He had known mine.
Suddenly our family connection to Rachel wasn't coincidence anymore.
Victor had discovered years earlier that the Army Ranger involved in one of his largest financial losses had married the sister of the woman hiding evidence against him.
To Victor, my family had become unfinished business.
But he had waited.
Patiently.
Quietly.
He built relationships.
Paid Pike.
Placed Caleb near Violet.
And watched.
That revelation almost broke me.
For years I had believed my deployments were the danger I brought home.
Instead, danger had been studying my mailbox while I was thousands of miles away.
Violet blamed herself.
I stopped that immediately.
“You didn't cause this.”
“I opened the box.”
“You exposed people who were hurting families.”
“I should have told you.”
“Yes.”
She looked surprised.
I smiled.
“You expected the speech where I say you did everything perfectly?”
“A little.”
“You're sixteen.”
“Almost.”
“Exactly. You're allowed to make mistakes.”
“So are fathers?”
That landed.
“Yes.”
“Even fathers who miss birthdays?”
I looked at her.
“Especially those.”
Violet reached for my hand.
“You came home.”
Three words.
No medal I had ever received meant as much.
But outside the hospital room, Ortiz waited with another problem.
Pike had been found.
May you like
Alive.
And he wanted to make a deal.
