Chapter 1 - The Getaway
The photographer did not wait for my father to explode.
He slung his heavy camera bag over his shoulder and gestured toward the parking lot.
“My car is by the caterer's tent,” he said quietly.
“Follow me right now.”
I held Sophie tightly against my chest and turned my back on my family.
My mother screamed my name, but the sound was drowned out by the wedding band playing a cheerful pop song.
We practically ran across the manicured lawn of the country club.
Sophie buried her face in my neck, her small hands gripping my dress.
“Mommy, why is everyone so mad?” she whispered.
“They are not mad at you, sweetie,” I promised her, kissing the top of her head.
“They are just confused, but we are going home.”
We reached my SUV just as the photographer unlocked his own vehicle.
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small black flash drive.
“Everything is on here,” he said, handing it to me.
“The photos, the scanned newspaper clipping, and a few audio recordings I caught while setting up microphones for the ceremony.”
I stared at the small piece of plastic in my shaking hands.
“Who are you?” I asked, completely bewildered.
“My name is David,” he replied, looking over his shoulder to make sure we were not followed.
“My sister was the emergency room nurse who found your daughter outside the hospital seven years ago.”
My blood ran cold.
“Get your daughter out of here, Megan,” David urged.
“Your father is a very powerful man, and he will do anything to protect this new marriage.”
I buckled Sophie into her car seat and locked the doors.
As I drove away from the wedding, I dialed my husband, Greg.
Greg had stayed home with the flu, missing the event entirely.
When he answered, I didn't even say hello.
May you like
“Greg, lock all the doors and do not open them for my parents,” I ordered.
“We are coming home, and I have something terrifying to tell you.”
