Chapter 12 - Sadie couldn't speak.Dr. Nolan.
The man who had treated her.
The man who had signed her brother's birth certificate.
The man who had held her hand after Clara died.
Ethan.
Her brother.
Dominic stood beside her.
“Don't answer him.”
Sadie ignored him.
“Why?”
Ethan smiled.
“Because nobody asked the right question.”
“What question?”
“Why did they separate us?”
Sadie looked at the screen.
Ethan continued.
“Marcus was raised by the Vosses.”
A pause.
“You were raised by Clara.”
“I was raised in hospitals.”
Sadie frowned.
“What?”
Ethan's smile disappeared.
“I was the failed subject.”
Dominic's expression tightened.
“Subject Four.”
Ethan nodded.
“I was supposed to die.”
“Why didn't you?”
“Because Daniel saved me.”
Sadie stared.
“My father?”
“Yes.”
Ethan looked toward Marcus.
“He hid me under the identity of Dr. Nolan's son.”
Marcus struggled against the restraints.
“Ethan.”
“You don't understand, Marcus.”
“I understand enough.”
“No.”
Ethan walked closer.
“You were the weapon.”
He pointed at Sadie.
“She was the insurance.”
Then he pointed at himself.
“And I was the mistake.”
Sadie whispered:
“You killed our father.”
Ethan's smile vanished.
“No.”
“Marcus said—”
“Marcus was twelve.”
He looked at her.
“You were seven when you saw your father die.”
Sadie frowned.
“What?”
“You were there.”
“No.”
“You just don't remember.”
A memory flashed.
A hallway.
Blue lights.
Someone screaming.
A man kneeling.
Her father.
Sadie grabbed her head.
“No.”
Ethan continued.
“Your mother erased your memories.”
“Why?”
“To keep you alive.”
Dominic stepped forward.
“What do you want?”
Ethan smiled.
“You.”
“Why?”
“Because only one of the four children can access the Russo trust.”
Dominic went still.
“What trust?”
Ethan looked at Sadie.
“The money your father stole.”
Sadie froze.
“What money?”
“Forty-three million dollars.”
Dominic's face hardened.
“That's impossible.”
“It was hidden in a trust under the DNA signatures of all four children.”
Elena whispered:
“Daniel built a dead-man switch.”
Ethan nodded.
“If all four children are identified, the money becomes accessible.”
Sadie stared.
“So you want the money.”
“No.”
Ethan looked at Dominic.
“I want the files.”
“What files?”
“The names.”
“Names of whom?”
“Every politician. Every judge. Every police officer. Every businessman bought by the families.”
Silence.
“That information could destroy Philadelphia.”
Ethan's smile returned.
“Exactly.”
Marcus suddenly headbutted Thomas.
The chair toppled.
Gunfire erupted.
Dominic grabbed Sadie.
“Move!”
They ran through the station tunnels.
Gabriel followed.
Behind them, Thomas shouted orders.
Ethan chased.
They reached an underground maintenance room.
Dominic shut the door.
“We have thirty seconds.”
Sadie looked around.
There was nowhere to go.
Gabriel noticed a ladder.
“Up.”
They climbed into a ventilation shaft.
Sadie crawled forward.
Behind them, the door exploded.
Thomas's men entered.
Dominic pushed Sadie ahead.
“Faster.”
They reached the exit.
Sadie emerged into the night.
Dominic followed.
Then Gabriel.
A gunshot rang out.
Gabriel fell.
Sadie screamed.
“No!”
Dominic pulled her away.
Gabriel looked at her.
“Run.”
Sadie stared.
Blood spread across his coat.
He smiled.
“Your father was right.”
“About what?”
“You're worth protecting.”
His eyes closed.
Dominic grabbed Sadie's hand.
“Come on.”
She cried.
“We can't leave him.”
“We have to.”
Behind them, a car exploded.
Dominic shoved Sadie to the ground.
Flames rose into the night.
Then someone emerged from the fire.
Marcus.
Burned.
Bleeding.
Alive.
He stumbled toward them.
“Ethan has the files.”
Dominic stared.
“How?”
May you like
Marcus looked at Sadie.
“He has your memory.”
