Chapter 14 - THE BROTHER’S BETRAYAL
Ryan stared at Evan.
“You let her take Ava?”
Evan’s eyes were red.
“No.”
Natalie laughed.
“Don’t insult him.”
She moved behind Ava.
“Evan made choices.”
Ryan looked at his brother.
“Tell me she’s lying.”
Evan said nothing.
The silence hurt more than an answer.
Natalie explained.
Evan had been working with her since before Daniel’s death.
Not just because of debt.
Because he hated living beneath Ryan.
Ryan inherited control.
Ryan became their father’s favorite.
Ryan built the public reputation.
Evan wanted his own power.
Natalie offered it.
Together they siphoned money.
Then Daniel discovered them.
“Did you push him?” Ryan asked.
Evan looked away.
Natalie answered.
“I did.”
Ava began crying.
Ryan kept his eyes on her.
“It’s okay, baby.”
Natalie smiled.
“No.”
“It really isn’t.”
Ryan placed the ledger on the floor.
“Take it.”
Natalie stepped forward.
Evan remained beside Ava.
Ryan watched him.
Something looked wrong.
Evan’s gun hand trembled.
Not fear.
Pain.
Then Evan turned.
He pointed the gun at Natalie.
“Take Ava.”
Everything happened at once.
Ryan grabbed his daughter.
Natalie fired.
The bullet struck Evan.
Police stormed the property.
Natalie ran toward the upper lighthouse stairs.
Ryan carried Ava outside.
Maya chased Natalie.
Evan collapsed.
Ryan handed Ava to an officer.
Then returned.
“Why?”
Evan coughed.
“I wasn’t working for her.”
Ryan stared.
Evan had pretended to betray them after Natalie contacted him.
He wanted access to Ava.
He never told police because Natalie said she would kill the child if she saw surveillance.
“You idiot.”
Evan smiled weakly.
“Runs in the family.”
Above them a gunshot sounded.
Ryan looked up.
Natalie had reached the lighthouse balcony.
Maya followed.
The scene mirrored Daniel’s death.
Another balcony.
Another desperate confrontation.
Natalie stood beside the railing.
Maya aimed her weapon.
“Drop the gun.”
Natalie laughed.
“You think prison scares me?”
“No.”
“Then what do you think happens?”
“You live long enough to watch everyone learn the truth.”
Natalie’s smile disappeared.
Below, Ava called—
“Daddy!”
Natalie looked toward the child.
For one second her attention shifted.
Maya moved.
Natalie fired.
The bullet missed.
Maya tackled her.
Both women struck the railing.
It cracked.
Natalie slipped over the edge.
Her fingers caught the metal.
Exactly as Daniel’s had years earlier.
Maya grabbed her wrist.
Natalie stared up.
“You’d save me?”
Maya tightened her grip.
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“So Daniel gets a trial.”
Officers pulled Natalie back onto the balcony.
Handcuffs closed around her wrists.
Ryan thought it was over.
Then Marcus opened the ledger.
May you like
Three pages were missing.
The pages identifying who ordered Emily’s murder.
