Chapter 6 - Room 714Roman ignored the instruction.
He brought Marcus.
And three armed security teams.
But when they reached the hospital, every security camera went dead.
The corridor to Room 714 was empty.
Roman pushed the door open.
The room was dark.
There was a single chair.
A table.
And a cassette recorder.
Roman pressed play.
Static filled the room.
Then a voice.
Vincent.
“Roman, if you're hearing this, I'm already gone.”
Roman froze.
“You need to understand something.”
The recording continued.
“I didn't fake my death to hurt you.”
A pause.
“I did it because Father was going to kill you.”
Roman's face hardened.
Vincent continued.
“He believed you were easier to control than me.”
Another pause.
“And he was right.”
Roman swallowed.
The recording changed.
A different voice appeared.
Their father.
“Roman doesn't know.”
Then Vincent again.
“He means Gabriel.”
Roman stared at the recorder.
“Who is Gabriel?”
The answer came from Vincent.
“My son.”
Roman's eyes widened.
Sophia covered her mouth.
Vincent continued.
“His mother doesn't know the whole story.”
Roman turned toward her.
Sophia looked devastated.
The recording continued.
“They told me the baby died.”
Roman stepped closer.
“But he didn't.”
A sound came from the hallway.
Marcus raised his weapon.
“Someone's coming.”
Roman looked at the speaker.
Vincent's voice continued:
“If Roman finds Gabriel, protect him.”
Then a final sentence.
“And never trust anyone named Callaway.”
The recording stopped.
Roman stared at the machine.
Then Sophia whispered:
“Roman.”
He turned.
She looked at him with tears in her eyes.
“Vincent was Gabriel's father.”
Roman nodded.
“Yes.”
“But you said he was your brother.”
“He is.”
Sophia looked confused.
“So why did he say Gabriel was his son?”
Roman's face became still.
Because there was only one explanation.
DNA could prove biological relationships.
But documents could lie.
Names could lie.
And perhaps the entire story of who Vincent had been was wrong.
Marcus suddenly shouted.
“Down!”
A bullet tore through the door.
Glass shattered.
Roman grabbed Sophia.
They ran.
At the end of the corridor, a man appeared.
Dark hair.
Gray eyes.
Scar beneath his chin.
Roman stopped.
The man smiled.
“Hello, Roman.”
Sophia stared at him.
“Daniel.”
Roman's blood froze.
The man lifted his hands.
“I've been waiting eleven years to say this.”
May you like
He smiled.
“You really believed your brother was dead?”
