Chapter 12 - THE BROTHER WHO NEVER LEFT
Adrian grabbed Elena and pulled her behind a concrete structure.
Daniel covered his wife.
Caleb fired toward the stairwell.
Men poured onto the roof.
Richard was gone.
He had only been wounded.
“Caleb!” Adrian shouted.
Caleb ran toward them.
“Get your family out!”
Adrian stared.
“You shot Richard.”
“Not well enough.”
“Why are you helping us?”
Caleb looked at him.
“Because I should have done it six years ago.”
A bullet struck the wall.
Caleb pulled Elena down.
“Move!”
They escaped through the emergency stairwell.
By the time they reached the parking garage, the attackers were gone.
Daniel's wife collapsed into Elena's arms.
Elena cried.
For the first time in six years, she held her mother.
Adrian watched from a distance.
Caleb approached him.
“You still don't trust me.”
“No.”
“Good.”
Adrian looked at him.
“Tell me the truth.”
Caleb sighed.
“I did betray Father.”
Adrian's expression hardened.
“I was angry. I wanted power.”
“And then?”
“Then I saw Richard poison him.”
“Why didn't you stop him?”
“I tried.”
“You watched him die.”
Caleb looked away.
“Yes.”
The admission hit Adrian hard.
“I was afraid.”
Adrian's voice became cold.
“You let me believe he died naturally.”
“I was trying to protect Elena.”
“You let me grieve.”
“I know.”
“You let me hate the wrong people.”
“I know.”
Adrian grabbed him.
Caleb did not fight.
“Why should I forgive you?”
“You shouldn't.”
Adrian released him.
Caleb continued.
“But I know where Richard is going.”
“Where?”
“Home.”
Adrian stared.
“What?”
“Richard has been using the estate.”
“For what?”
Caleb looked at Elena.
“Someone inside the house has been helping him.”
Adrian understood.
“The traitor.”
Caleb nodded.
“Who?”
Caleb hesitated.
Then said:
“Marcus.”
Adrian froze.
His closest friend.
His right hand.
The man who had been beside him for fifteen years.
“No.”
Caleb looked at him.
“I'm sorry.”
Adrian's phone rang.
Marcus.
Adrian answered.
“Boss.”
“Where are you?”
“At the estate.”
Adrian's eyes narrowed.
“Why?”
Silence.
Then Marcus said:
“You need to come home.”
Adrian looked at Caleb.
“Why?”
May you like
Marcus answered:
“Because your house is on fire.”
