Against All Odds

Chapter 20

Thomas leaned back in his chair, his dark eyes dimmed as memories of the past began to flood his mind. Shadows shifted, twisting on the walls as the fire crackled in the hearth.

"It was supposed to be a night of celebration," he began, his voice low and distant, like someone recounting a dream they wished they'd forgotten. "Christmas Eve. Stephen and Lilian always threw the grandest parties and that year was no exception. Anyone who was anyone was there. Business associates, city officials, and politicians. The city's elite, most powerful and wealthiest families, all gathered for the celebration."

He paused, taking a deliberate sip of his tea, eyes flickering to Noah and Riley as if gauging their reactions. "You were just a boy, Noah. Barely right years old. Charlie was four. You snuck out of bed. I suppose you couldn't resist the sight of all those guests and lights. You always did have that streak of curiosity in you."

Noah stiffened slightly and his eyes widened with surprise. Flashes of his nightmare came back and he realized that his nightmares were memories, memories his mind had repressed.

Thomas chuckled some. "You thought I didn't know, didn't you? My dear boy, there isn't a thing that goes on under this roof that I don't know about. Your secrets are my secrets as were your parents." I've always been there, behind the scenes. Always watching, always listening. It's how I've protected this family for so long."

Riley shifted uncomfortably in his seat, his hands gripping his tea cup tighter. "You...you spy on us?"

"Monitor." Thomas corrected. "I monitor everything that goes on in this house. Oh, don't look so horrified." Thomas rolled his eyes. "I have no interest in your more...intimate moments. I try to preserve your privacy whenever possible."

"Thank God for that." Noah said, pressing his lips together in a thin line.

Thomas eyed Riley carefully, observing how he held his cup between his hands but didn't drink. "Is it too cold?" Thomas asked, gesturing to the tea. "I can warm it up if you like."

"What?" Riley glanced down seeing the still full cup in his hands, almost forgetting what it was he had been holding onto for so long. "No, it's fine. You were saying, about the party?"

"Ah, yes." Thomas's gaze shifted from Riley to Noah and the untouched cup sitting on the table before him. Riley didn't miss the slightly disappointed look that Thomas gave the cup. "The party," Thomas continued, "most of the guests had gone for the night. Stephen was busy dealing with the caterers and staff. I was there, of course, overseeing everything. After Eric had put you and Charlie to bed, he joined Jim downstairs. They were the last to leave once the party had wrapped up. By four in the morning the mansion was nearly empty, only a few of the regular staff remained but they too were beginning to thin out. Stephen and Lilian wanted to relax and unwind after hosting such a lavish party. They were exhausted.

However, the still, quiet of the night would soon be broken by a woman's scream."

"Lilian." Noah said suddenly, more memories of the night resurfacing. "I heard my mother scream, that's what woke me up. I went to investigate and saw a man in a ski mask holding a gun on my father. Mother had her hands and ankles bound."

"That's right." Thomas nodded. "I think you know what happened after that. The gunman forced Stephen, at gunpoint, into his office where he demanded Stephen open the safe."

"He wanted money?" Noah looked perplexed. "If all he wanted was money, then why kill my father? Why not just take the money and go?"

Before Thomas could answer though, the truth of the situation hit Noah with the force of an atomic bomb. Noah had interrupted them. Just as he had seen it in his dreams, the memories of that night came rushing back, flooding his mind.