Varek stared at the photograph.Grace Cross was holding a little boy.The boy was Adrian.There was no doubt about it. Even though the photograph was old, his face was unmistakable.But something didn’t make sense.Grace was supposed to be Naomi and Evelyn’s mother. She had supposedly given birth to Varek.So why was she holding Adrian?Varek picked up the photograph and examined the back.There was a date written in faded ink.TWENTY-EIGHT YEARS AGO.Beneath it were four words.THE FIRST CHILD RETURNED.“Adrian.”His friend turned toward him.“What?”Varek showed him the photograph.Adrian’s expression changed immediately.“Where did you get that?”“It was on the table.”Adrian took it from him.He stared at the picture for several seconds before shaking his head.“That’s impossible.”“Do you remember Grace?”“No.”“Look carefully.”“I said I don’t remember her.”Varek studied his face.“Are you sure?”Adrian threw the photograph onto the table.“Why are you questioning me? I was bar

Varek stared at the photograph.The baby marked as him had a hospital bracelet around his tiny wrist.DANIEL THORNE.He looked at the second baby.The bracelet around that child’s wrist carried another name.ADRIAN THORNE.For several seconds, the room remained silent.Then Adrian spoke.“Why does that baby have Daniel’s name?”Varek didn’t answer.He enlarged the photograph, hoping he had misunderstood what he was seeing.But the name remained clear.Daniel Thorne.The same name that had appeared in the stories told by Eleanor, Richard, and the mysterious man who claimed to be Alistair’s firstborn son.“Naomi,” Varek said quietly. “Tell me what this means.”Naomi moved closer to the screen.“I don’t know yet.”“Look at the photograph.”“I am looking.”“One of these children was registered under my identity. The other was registered under Adrian’s. But this one has Daniel’s name.”Naomi examined the photograph carefully.“There’s something else.”She zoomed in on the lower corner.A h

Varek stared at the photograph.The young man tied to the chair had his face.Not someone who looked similar. Not a distant relative with the same eyes or jawline.It was his face.The same dark eyes. The same shape of his nose. Even the small scar above his right eyebrow was there.But Varek had never seen the man before.He read the message again.YOU HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT THE WRONG BROTHER.Beneath the photograph was another line.VAREK THORNE — ORIGINAL IDENTITY.“Who sent this?” Adrian asked.“Unknown number.”Naomi took the phone and examined the photograph.“Look at the background.”Varek leaned closer.There was a clock on the wall behind the prisoner. Its hands showed 4:15. A hospital bed stood beside the chair, and a medical monitor was attached to the man’s arm.“This looks like a medical facility,” Naomi said.Evelyn approached.“Send me the photograph.”Varek forwarded it.She studied it for a moment.“I recognize that room.”“Where?”“An old private medical centre owned b

CHAPTER 37 — THE SIXTH CHILDVarek stared at the photograph.Three men stood beside Helena.Marcus was on her left. The young man who looked like Adrian stood on her right. Between them, Helena held a small envelope.The message beneath the photograph remained on his screen.THERE WERE NEVER FIVE CHILDREN. THERE WERE SIX.Varek zoomed in on the young man’s face.It was Adrian.There was no doubt about it.The same eyes. The same jawline. The same small scar near his chin.But Adrian was standing beside him.Varek slowly turned.“Adrian.”Adrian looked up.“What?”Varek showed him the photograph.Adrian stared at it.Then he looked at the young man standing beside Helena.“Who is that?”“That’s what I’m trying to find out.”“That’s my face.”“I know.”Adrian took the phone and enlarged the photograph.“Where was this taken?”Varek checked the details.There was no location information.Naomi moved closer.“Send it to me.”She examined the photograph carefully.“There’s something strang

Matthew’s gun was pointed directly at Samuel’s back.For one terrible second, nobody moved.Samuel stood with the document still in his hand. Daniel was beside him, holding tightly to his father’s jacket. Adrian had one arm around his son, but his eyes were fixed on the weapon behind Samuel.“Matthew,” Evelyn whispered.Her voice sounded unfamiliar, even to herself.The man she had spent years believing was dead was standing in front of her. Now he was pointing a gun at another man who claimed to be the rightful owner of the Black Ledger.“Put the gun down,” Varek ordered.Matthew didn’t look at him.“Step away from him,” he said.Samuel slowly turned his head.“You’re making a mistake.”“Don’t move!”The gun shook slightly in Matthew’s hand.Evelyn stepped forward. “You told me you were dead. You let me believe that for twenty-five years. And now you want to shoot someone in front of me?”Matthew finally looked at her.“I never wanted you to see this.”“Then explain what you’re doing