Chapter 6 

Julian woke in a stone cell.

His hands were chained.

Blood stained his collar.

A military officer entered.

General Adrian Vale.

Julian looked up.

“General.”

Vale smiled.

“You should have left town.”

“You should have stopped stealing from the army.”

The smile disappeared.

“You have your father’s arrogance.”

Julian’s eyes hardened.

“You killed him.”

Vale poured himself a drink.

“Your father discovered things he shouldn’t have.”

“Did Gideon Vance discover them too?”

Vale paused.

That was answer enough.

“Where is he?”

Vale laughed.

“You still think this is about him.”

Julian stood.

“What is it about?”

“You.”

Julian stared.

Vale placed a photograph on the table.

It showed Julian’s mother.

Pregnant.

Standing beside Gideon Vance.

Julian’s expression changed.

“What is this?”

“Your mother was going to expose us.”

“She died when I was ten.”

“She was murdered.”

Silence.

Vale leaned closer.

“Your family and the Vances were never enemies.”

Julian’s voice dropped.

“Then why destroy them?”

“Because your father discovered the truth.”

“What truth?”

Vale smiled.

“That you are not his biological son.”

Julian froze.

The general continued.

“Your father adopted you.”

“Who was my real father?”

Vale turned toward the door.

“You’ll find out soon.”

Julian grabbed the bars.

“Vale!”

The general stopped.

“One more thing.”

He looked back.

“Clara is coming here.”

Julian’s heart stopped.

“Why?”

Vale smiled.

“Because we sent her a message pretending to be you.”

Then the door closed.

Julian looked toward the darkness.

For the first time in years, fear overtook anger.

Not for himself.

For Clara.