Chapter 9 - THE CONFESSION
Victor stared at the monitors.
His own face appeared across every screen.
His own voice echoed through the station.
“I wanted you obedient.”
He looked at Mara.
“How?”
Luca opened his eyes.
Mara froze.
“You're awake.”
He smiled weakly.
“Bulletproof vest.”
She nearly cried from relief.
Rafe stepped forward.
“Camera's been broadcasting for twelve minutes.”
Victor turned toward him.
“You.”
Rafe raised his weapon.
“Drop yours.”
Victor hesitated.
Then he laughed.
“You think this ends with me?”
Police sirens approached.
Victor looked at Evelyn.
“You think the law will save you?”
Evelyn looked at Mara.
“No.”
She smiled faintly.
“Mara will.”
Victor's expression changed.
“What did you do?”
Mara held up the brass key.
“The cipher.”
Victor went pale.
She had already decoded it.
Numbers represented account transfers.
Dates.
Names.
Payments.
Doctors.
Judges.
Police officers.
Politicians.
Business partners.
Every secret Victor had buried for twenty years.
Rafe's team had uploaded the files.
The evidence was already distributed to multiple attorneys and journalists.
Victor couldn't destroy it.
Mara looked at him.
“You spent twenty years hiding from a little girl.”
Victor stared.
“You don't understand what you're holding.”
“I understand enough.”
“You think money gives you power?”
“No.”
She looked at Luca.
“I think secrets do.”
Victor raised his gun.
Rafe fired first.
The weapon flew from Victor's hand.
Police stormed the platform.
Victor was arrested.
Dr. Keller was taken into custody.
Evelyn was freed.
Mara knelt beside Luca.
Blood covered his shirt.
But he was alive.
She touched his cheek.
“You scared me.”
He whispered, “Good.”
She frowned.
“Why?”
“So you know how I feel every time you walk into danger.”
She laughed through tears.
“You're still giving orders.”
“Occupational hazard.”
She shook her head.
Then Evelyn approached.
“Mara.”
Mara stood.
Her mother pulled her into a hug.
For the first time in twenty years, Mara felt like a child again.
She cried against her mother's shoulder.
Luca watched them.
Then Evelyn looked at him.
“You saved her.”
Luca shook his head.
“She saved me.”
Evelyn smiled.
“She always did.”
Luca frowned.
“What do you mean?”
Evelyn looked at Mara.
“There's something else.”
Mara's smile disappeared.
“What?”
Evelyn reached into her coat.
She pulled out another envelope.
It was sealed with Luca's father's initials.
“This was supposed to be opened after Victor was exposed.”
Luca took it.
Inside was a single document.
His father's final letter.
Luca read it.
Then looked at Mara.
“What?”
He handed it to her.
The letter contained only one sentence.
If Luca survives, tell him the truth about the child Evelyn was carrying.
Mara stared at the page.
Her blood went cold.
She looked at her mother.
“Mom?”
Evelyn couldn't speak.
May you like
Luca slowly stood.
“What child?”
