Page 64 of Code Name: Dante

“There’s something else to consider.” He leaned closer to the camera, his voice dropping. “The hospital records are incomplete to the point where I believe they were intentionally deleted, but…it’s possible Amelia’s pregnancy didn’t end in miscarriage. Keep that in mind when you go there.”

I gripped the edge of the workbench, letting his words sink in. If he was right, the implications were staggering. Is that who the third person was? Did I have another sibling?

“What makes you think that?” I managed to ask.

“The timing. That certain records were altered or, as I said, deleted. Plus, there were large cash withdrawals from accounts we know Vincent Jr. controlled—the kind of money you’d need to set more than one person up with a new life. A new identity.”

Thunder rolled across the lake, nature’s punctuation to his warning. Through the windows, I could see the security teams maintaining their positions despite the weather. Each of them ready to help uncover the truth, no matter the cost.

“Whatever I find there,” I said finally, “I need to know. We all do.”

Tex nodded. “Just be prepared. Some answers change everything.”

After thanking him and Alice, I stood alone in the boathouse, watching the storm move across the water. Somewhere beyond those dark clouds, beyond the rain and mist, waited answers to questions I’d carried my entire life. Tex’s words reminded me of Barbara’s. Some things were better left in the past. This, though, I couldn’t. If Vincent had been protecting our mother, maybe even Lark’s mother, he wouldn’t be able to in the same way once he was in prison. It would be up to me to pick up where he’d had to leave off.

It was about the only time in my life when I could see myself willingly following in my brother’s footsteps.

Tank had done an outstanding job,making sure our team arrived and positioned ourselves undetected at the compound where I’d lived for most of my first six years of life. I remembered so little about it and wondered how it had changed in the last several years.

Now, we stood concealed, waiting for the caretaker who made regularly scheduled deliveries. Once he arrived, we’d remain where we were until whoever lived in the house came out to the screened-in porch to get them. I was poised to strike the minute the front door eased open.

From my vantage point, the house appeared the same, at least on the outside, but what I hadn’t recalled, other than via the surveillance images, were the four cabins scattered between the main dwelling and the lake. Had I been inside one or more and I didn’t remember, or had they been constructed after we’d moved to the city?

According to thermal imaging,there was only one person inside the house presently. Would I come face-to-face with my mother today? Or would it be Lark’s?

Minutes felt like hours as I waited, my heart beating so hard I could hear it pushing blood through my system.

Finally, the compound’s gates opened and a single vehicle pulled through. The older man parked close to the porch, popped the trunk, and took out several bags. As we’d previously seen, he opened the storm door and left all he’d carried inside.

Almost five minutes after he’d left the property and the gate closed behind him, Tank reported the Doppler device showed the person inside moving in my direction. That was my cue to get close enough that when the door opened, I’d be standing in front of whoever it was.

I held my breath, keeping my weapon at the ready in case I needed it, then gasped when I saw the young woman step in front of me. “God, you look so much like her.” The unintended words escaped me in a broken whisper. Her eyes, bone structure, how she held herself, was like looking at a younger version of my mother.

She froze for a split second, then bolted for the door. But I was faster, catching her arm. “Wait. Please.”

“Let go of me.” Her voice was quiet but fierce. “You shouldn’t be here.”

“Tell me who you are.” My voice sounded desperate, pained.

She yanked her arm free. “Leave.Now.Before—” She cut herself off. “Just leave.”

“I’m looking for my mother—our mother—and another woman. I’m Alessandro Castellano. Please, help me.”

“You don’t understand,” she whispered. “You need to leave.” Her eyes darted to the woods beyond the porch. “Please. Just go.”

Then she was gone, the door closing firmly between us. I realized my error when I heard the lock click. I wouldn’t get any answers here. The only person who’d give them to me—and that would be under duress—was Vincent.

“Returning to Canada Lake,” I said through the comms.

“Copy that,” Tank responded. “We’ll collect as much intelligence as we can, then meet you there.”

I didn’t bother telling him that, by the time they arrived, I’d be on my way to Manhattan.

22

LARK

On my way back,read the message from Alessandro.Will fill you in when I get there.

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