Chapter 10 - The DoubleRoman returned to the old estate.
Alone.
Inside his father's study, he found a hidden film reel.
He played it.
The footage showed two boys.
Roman and Vincent.
Twelve years old.
Standing in front of a mirror.
Their father stood behind them.
A voice said:
“One of you will become Roman Callaway.”
The boys stared.
Another voice answered.
“And the other?”
Their father smiled.
“The other will become Vincent.”
Roman froze.
The video continued.
Their mother appeared.
She looked terrified.
“We're using false identities.”
Their father nodded.
“One heir in public.”
“One heir in reserve.”
Roman stopped the footage.
His hands shook.
The family had created interchangeable identities.
Roman had been the public son.
Vincent had been the hidden son.
And occasionally, Vincent had impersonated Roman.
That explained the photographs.
The hospital.
The watch.
The strange memories.
Roman hadn't been everywhere he'd thought he had.
Sometimes Vincent had lived his life for him.
Then Roman found a second recording.
This one was newer.
Vincent sat in the same chair.
Older.
Calmer.
“I know Roman will eventually find this.”
He looked directly into the camera.
“Brother, I'm sorry.”
Roman leaned closer.
“I had to disappear.”
Vincent continued.
“They wanted Gabriel.”
A pause.
“I knew the only way to protect him was to make everyone believe I was dead.”
Roman's eyes filled with anger.
“You let me grieve you.”
Vincent lowered his head.
“Because someone inside the family betrayed us.”
Roman stopped breathing.
Vincent looked up.
“It's not Father.”
Not Mother.
Not Graham.
Someone else.
Someone Roman had trusted completely.
The recording ended with one sentence.
“Look at the man who never left your side.”
Roman immediately thought of Marcus.
His security chief.
Eleven years.
Always there.
Always loyal.
Always watching.
Roman turned.
Marcus stood in the doorway.
His face was expressionless.
Roman raised his weapon.
“Were you going to tell me?”
Marcus sighed.
“I was waiting for you to remember.”
“Remember what?”
Marcus closed the door.
“I was there the night Vincent disappeared.”
Roman aimed directly at him.
“What did you do?”
Marcus looked at the gun.
Then at Roman.
“I saved your brother.”
Roman didn't lower the weapon.
Marcus said:
“And I killed the man who was pretending to be him.”
Roman's eyes widened.
“What?”
Marcus whispered:
“The man buried in Vincent's grave.”
May you like
Then the door behind him locked.
And gas began filling the room.
