THE FALCON MARK: THE POOR MAID WHO MADE A MILLIONAIRE'S MOTHER CRY

Emily ran.

She didn't wait for Arthur to explain himself. She didn't wait for James to give another order. She didn't even stop to retrieve the letter from the desk.

Her brother was alone in their apartment.

And someone was trying to take him.

"Emily!"" Thomas shouted.

She was already halfway down the staircase.

Behind her, Margaret began striking the armrest of her wheelchair.

James rushed toward his mother.

"Mother, calm down!""

But Margaret wasn't calming down.

She was pointing at the door, desperately signing the same sentence.

Protect the children.

Protect them both.

Arthur watched the scene with a cold expression.

"Interesting," he murmured.

James turned toward him.

"What have you done?""

Arthur adjusted his overcoat.

"Nothing that your father didn't authorize.""

"Did you send someone to her apartment?""

Arthur picked up his briefcase.

"I suggest you concern yourself with your mother, James. The girl is no longer your responsibility.""

James grabbed his arm.

"Who did you send?""

Arthur looked down at James's hand.

Then slowly lifted his eyes.

"Take your hand off me.""

For the first time, James seemed to understand that the elderly attorney was not afraid of him.

Emily reached the apartment building in twenty-three minutes.

She had never run so fast in her life.

Her lungs burned. Her knees still hurt from the previous day's assault. Her phone kept vibrating in her pocket.

She ignored every call.

When she reached the apartment, the front door was open.

"Daniel!""

No answer.

She rushed inside.

The kitchen chair was overturned.

A bowl of noodles lay broken on the floor.

Daniel's backpack was missing.

And on the kitchen table was a photograph of their mother.

Someone had placed it face down.

Emily picked it up.

On the back, written in thick black ink, were five words.

STOP LOOKING FOR THE FALCON.

Her hands began shaking.

"Daniel?""

She ran toward the bedroom.

The wardrobe stood open.

His clothes were scattered across the bed.

But his laptop was still there.

So was his phone charger.

Then she heard a faint noise from the bathroom.

A knock.

Three times.

Emily rushed toward it.

"Daniel?""

The bathroom door opened slightly.

Her brother stumbled out.

He was pale, breathing heavily, and holding a kitchen knife.

"Emily!""

She dropped her handbag and pulled him into a hug.

"You're okay. You're okay.""

Daniel held her tightly.

"I thought they were going to take me.""

"Who?""

"Two men. One of them said his name was Bell.""

Emily closed her eyes.

Arthur.

"What happened?""

Daniel sat on the edge of the bathtub.

"They knocked. I thought it was the landlord. When I opened the door, they showed me a photograph of Mom.""

Emily sat beside him.

"What did they say?""

"That she had lied to us. That I wasn't her son.""

Emily swallowed.

"Daniel...""

He looked at her.

"Is it true?""

She couldn't answer immediately.

He stood up.

"Emily, is it true?""

She took both his hands.

"I don't know everything yet. But I found something.""

"What?""

"A photograph. A hospital record. A woman named Margaret Whitmore.""

Daniel shook his head.

"Who's she?""

"Apparently, she's our grandmother.""

He stared.

Then he laughed nervously.

"That's not funny.""

"I'm not joking.""

Daniel stepped away.

"You're saying Mom had a whole family and never told us?""

"Yes.""

"Why?""

"I don't know.""

He looked at the overturned chair.

"And those men?""

"They want you because of the falcon mark.""

Daniel stared at his left wrist.

His sleeve had slipped back.

There it was.

The same black falcon.

Emily had seen it before, but she'd never considered its meaning.

Their mother had told them both the marks were birthmarks.

She had said they were special.

She had said they belonged to a promise.

Daniel suddenly remembered something.

"Wait.""

He hurried toward his backpack.

He pulled out a small wooden box.

"I found this in Mom's things years ago.""

Emily frowned.

"Why didn't you tell me?""

"I thought it was just another old keepsake.""

He opened it.

Inside was a folded piece of cloth.

Wrapped within it was a small silver pendant.

A black falcon.

Its wings were spread.

But unlike Emily's tattoo, this one had a small crescent beneath its body.

Emily took the pendant.

Her fingers trembled.

The crescent matched the charm on her bracelet.

She brought them together.

The two pieces fit perfectly.

A tiny click sounded.

The pendant opened.

Inside was a miniature photograph of Sarah Carter holding two newborn babies.

On the back were two words.

My children.

Daniel sat down.

For a long time, neither spoke.

Then he whispered:

"She knew.""

Emily nodded.

"She knew everything.""

Daniel looked at the photograph.

"Why didn't she tell us?""

Emily felt tears burning behind her eyes.

"Maybe she was trying to keep us safe.""

Daniel stared at the two babies.

"Safe from who?""

Before Emily could answer, someone knocked on the apartment door.

Three sharp knocks.

Both siblings froze.

Emily moved in front of Daniel.

"Who is it?""

A man's voice answered.

"Police. We need to speak with Daniel Carter.""

Daniel looked at Emily.

"Don't open it.""

Emily approached the door and looked through the peephole.

Two uniformed officers stood outside.

Behind them was a man in a gray coat.

Arthur Bell.

Emily stepped backward.

"Daniel, get away from the door.""

The handle turned.

Then a voice came from the hallway.

"Miss Carter, please don't make this unpleasant.""

Emily recognized it.

Arthur.

"Go away!""

"We have legal documents authorizing Daniel's transfer into protective custody.""

"He's an adult!""

"That depends on which records you believe.""

Emily felt her stomach drop.

The door shook.

Daniel grabbed his backpack.

"Emily, we need to leave.""

She nodded.

They hurried toward the kitchen.

The apartment had a small back entrance leading to the building's service staircase.

Emily opened it.

A heavy boot struck the front door.

The lock splintered.

"POLICE! OPEN THE DOOR!""

Emily and Daniel ran down the back stairs.

They emerged into the alley behind the building.

A black sedan was waiting.

The rear window lowered.

James Whitmore sat inside.

"Get in!""

Emily stopped.

"Absolutely not.""

James leaned across the passenger seat.

"Arthur's men are coming around the front. You have about thirty seconds.""

Daniel grabbed Emily's sleeve.

"He's the one who fired you.""

James looked at him.

"You're right. And I may be the reason you're in danger. But I'm the only person here who can get you away from Bell.""

Emily hesitated.

From the building came the sound of footsteps.

Then a shout.

"THEY'RE IN THE ALLEY!""

James unlocked the doors.

"Decide now.""

Emily and Daniel climbed inside.

The car sped away.

They drove for nearly forty minutes before James pulled into an underground parking garage.

Daniel remained silent.

Emily stared at the man who had once ordered security to throw her out of his mother's house.

"Why are you helping us?""

James turned off the engine.

"Because Arthur is trying to finish something my father started.""

"What?""

James looked at Daniel.

"Your disappearance.""

Daniel stiffened.

"I haven't disappeared.""

James shook his head.

"Not yet.""

He opened the glove compartment and removed an old photograph.

It showed Richard Whitmore standing beside a woman in a hospital uniform.

Emily recognized the silver bracelet.

The woman was Margaret.

But something else caught her attention.

Margaret was holding a baby.

And behind her stood Sarah, holding another.

James pointed to the photograph.

"That's the last picture taken before the fire.""

Emily looked at the babies.

"Which one is Daniel?""

James pointed to the child wearing the falcon pendant.

"That one.""

Daniel leaned forward.

"Then who's the other?""

James looked at Emily.

"Your mother never gave birth to you at St. Catherine's.""

Emily stared.

"Then where?""

James took a breath.

"At the Whitmore estate.""

Silence filled the car.

He continued.

"Sarah gave birth to you two weeks after the hospital fire. My father arranged everything. He wanted both babies separated, but Sarah managed to escape with you.""

Emily shook her head.

"Why would my mother come back to the estate?""

"Because she needed to find Margaret. She believed Margaret could protect both children.""

"And did she?""

James looked down.

"No.""

Daniel's voice broke.

"Why not?""

James opened his mouth.

But before he could answer, his phone rang.

The screen displayed a blocked number.

He answered.