CHAPTER 5 – The Bullet Meant for a Billionaire
Arthur Whitmore didn't hesitate.
"Get every security team we have!" he shouted as he rushed out of the boardroom.
Samuel was already dialing Ethan's number again.
No answer.
Daniel Harrison grabbed his car keys.
"I'm coming with you."
Within minutes, three black SUVs sped through downtown, sirens echoing as police escorted them toward Ethan's last known location.
Samuel stared silently out the window.
"He works at Harbor Auto Repair," he whispered. "He has no idea who he really is."
Arthur clenched the faded birthday photo in his hand.
For thirty years, he had dreamed of hearing his son's voice again.
Now he feared he would arrive too late.
Across town...
Ethan Reed wiped the grease from his hands as he locked the garage for the evening.
He couldn't shake the feeling that someone had been watching him all day.
A black luxury sedan rolled slowly to the curb.
The rear window lowered.
Inside sat an elegant older man with silver hair.
William Whitmore.
Ethan had never met him before.
William smiled warmly.
"You must be Ethan."
"I'm an old friend of your father's."
Ethan frowned.
"My dad doesn't have friends this rich."
William chuckled.
"Get in. I have something that belongs to your family."
Something felt wrong.
Very wrong.
Before Ethan could answer, another black SUV screeched around the corner.
Arthur jumped out before the vehicle even stopped.
"Ethan!"
The young mechanic looked confused.
"Who are you?"
Arthur froze.
His son didn't recognize him.
William's smile disappeared.
He quietly nodded toward the driver.
Suddenly...
The passenger door flew open.
A masked gunman stepped out holding a suppressed pistol.
"DOWN!" Samuel screamed.
The first shot shattered the garage window.
The second slammed into Arthur's shoulder.
He stumbled but refused to fall.
Instead, he threw himself in front of Ethan.
The third bullet struck Arthur in the chest.
Everything stopped.
"DAD!" Ethan shouted instinctively.
The single word stunned everyone.
Even Ethan looked shocked that it had slipped from his mouth.
Arthur smiled through the blood.
"You... called me... Dad."
William realized his plan had failed.
"Finish them!" he roared.
But before another shot could be fired...
Dozens of police vehicles surrounded the street from every direction.
Red and blue lights flooded the night.
William attempted to escape through the alley.
He barely made three steps before Samuel tackled him to the ground with surprising strength.
Police officers handcuffed the billionaire as reporters who had followed the convoy captured everything live.
William laughed despite the cuffs.
"You've won nothing."
Arthur, barely conscious, looked toward him.
William leaned closer and whispered with a cruel smile.
"You still don't know the biggest secret."
Arthur frowned weakly.
William laughed louder.
"Ethan isn't your only child."
The words hit Arthur harder than the bullets.
Samuel's face turned ghostly white.
Because he knew...
William wasn't lying.
Far away, in another city, a young woman opened an old wooden box left by her late mother.
Inside lay a birth certificate.
Under Father's Name, only one name appeared.
Arthur Whitmore.
She whispered to herself,
May you like
"I think... I've finally found my real family."
TO BE CONTINUED...
