Chapter 5 - Eric Warren
Rachel had lied about Eric too.
Not completely.
He did save her.
He did help create Lily’s new life.
But Eric Warren was not an innocent soldier who wandered into Meridian by accident.
He was Jonathan Warren’s youngest son.
The family owned logistics companies, private aviation services and Meridian Response.
Eric hated his father’s business.
At least Rachel believed he did.
He helped her disappear because he wanted out too.
Then, three months after Lily’s birth, Eric vanished.
Rachel received one message:
DO NOT LOOK FOR ME. KEEP HER AWAY FROM JACK.
No explanation.
No signature.
She assumed David forced him to run.
Then Eric was declared dead overseas after a private aircraft accident.
No body recovered.
Another death without certainty.
Lily listened from the kitchen table.
“Is everyone dead but maybe not dead?”
Rachel almost laughed.
Then cried.
“Pretty much.”
Lily didn’t smile.
“Why did Eric say keep me away from Jack?”
Rachel had never understood.
Jack was dangerous in the past.
But by Lily’s birth, he had left the violent side of club life.
He ran a motorcycle repair shop and veteran outreach program.
Rachel secretly checked on him for years.
Never saw evidence he was hunting them.
Still, Eric’s warning kept her away.
Then someone knocked.
Rachel froze.
Three knocks.
Pause.
Two knocks.
An old signal.
Rachel opened the door.
Marianne stood outside.
“No Jack?”
“No.”
“Why should I believe you?”
“You shouldn’t.”
At least honest.
Marianne entered.
Lily stayed near Rachel.
Marianne placed a file on the table.
“Eric wasn’t warning you about Jack personally.”
“What?”
“He was warning you about Jack’s DNA.”
Silence.
Rachel frowned.
“What does that mean?”
Meridian had operated a private identity-verification division.
Not secret genetic engineering.
Nothing fantastical.
They used DNA to establish kinship during disputed inheritances and high-value kidnappings.
Jonathan Warren built a private database from employees, contractors and family members.
Jack’s sample was in it because the Saints of Mercy once contracted security work through Meridian.
When Lily was born, any legal paternity test identifying Jack would enter databases and risk linking Rachel’s new identity to old records.
“So Eric said stay away because testing would expose us.”
“That’s what I thought.”
“Thought?”
Marianne opened the file.
Jack’s DNA profile contained a restricted flag.
Subject J-Cole-17.
Associated family:
Warren.
Rachel stared.
“Jack isn’t a Warren.”
Marianne whispered:
“That’s what our mother told us.”
Lily looked between them.
“What does it mean?”
Marianne turned to Rachel.
“Jonathan Warren and Jack shared enough DNA to trigger a close-family match.”
“Brother?”
“No.”
“Uncle?”
Marianne shook her head.
“Father and son.”
Rachel stopped breathing.
Jonathan Warren—the man behind Meridian—
May you like
was Jack’s biological father.
And Eric Warren had helped hide Lily from Jack because Lily was also Jonathan’s granddaughter.
