Chapter 6 - The woman on the phones called herself Evelyn.Ramon had never heard her name.

Arturo had.

That was obvious from his face.

“Who is she?”

Arturo didn't answer.

Ramon grabbed him by the collar.

“Who is she?”

“My wife.”

Ramon froze.

“What?”

“My second wife.”

Ramon stared at his father in disbelief.

“You had another family?”

“Yes.”

“Where are they?”

Arturo looked toward Emma.

“Dead.”

Ramon released him.

The voice returned.

“You always were a cruel father, Arturo.”

Then silence.

The underground chamber doors began to shake.

Something was hitting them from outside.

Arturo moved to a control panel.

“We have three minutes.”

“Until what?”

“Until the chamber becomes a tomb.”

Ramon grabbed Emma.

“Where's the exit?”

Arturo pointed toward the floor.

“There.”

A section of concrete opened.

A ladder descended into darkness.

They climbed.

The tunnel beneath the vault was older than the mansion.

Much older.

Symbols covered the walls.

Ramon noticed something.

The symbols matched tattoos on his father's hands.

“Why?”

Arturo looked away.

“Because I made a pact.”

“With The Circle?”

“With everyone.”

They continued.

Emma suddenly stopped.

“What is it?”

She pointed at the wall.

A series of numbers had been scratched into stone.

Ramon recognized the sequence.

It was the same pattern his father had taught him.

Coordinates.

Arturo stared.

“She remembers.”

“She said she heard something.”

“She heard everything.”

“What?”

Arturo turned toward Emma.

“The night your mother died.”

Ramon's eyes narrowed.

“What happened?”

Arturo finally spoke.

“Emma's mother discovered the Black Vault.”

Ramon looked at Isabella.

“She was part of the Circle?”

“No.”

“She betrayed them.”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

Arturo looked toward the child.

“Because she discovered the identity of the person controlling the Circle.”

“Who?”

Arturo hesitated.

Then said:

“Your mother.”

Ramon stared.

“My mother is dead.”

“Yes.”

“How?”

“She was killed.”

“By who?”

Arturo's answer came slowly.

“By me.”

Ramon's blood ran cold.

“You killed her?”

“To save you.”

Ramon lunged.

Mateo grabbed him.

“Stop!”

Ramon fought him.

“You killed my mother?”

Arturo didn't defend himself.

“I had no choice.”

“There is always a choice.”

Arturo looked at him.

“Not when your enemy holds a gun to your infant son's head.”

Ramon stopped.

“What infant son?”

Arturo looked at Mateo.

Then at Ramon.

“Both of you.”

Ramon's breathing slowed.

“You were both targeted.”

The tunnel shook.

Dust fell from the ceiling.

Evelyn's voice echoed behind them.

“Run all you want.”

They kept moving.

Finally, a steel hatch appeared.

Arturo opened it.

They emerged inside an abandoned church.

Snow had begun falling outside.

Ramon looked back at the tunnel.

“How many exits?”

“One.”

“How many entrances?”

Arturo smiled bitterly.

“Too many.”

Police sirens sounded in the distance.

Ramon immediately understood.

“They've called the police.”

Arturo nodded.

“They'll be here in minutes.”

“Then we leave.”

They rushed outside.

But a line of police vehicles blocked the street.

Weapons aimed at them.

A loudspeaker shouted:

“Ramon Ortega!”

Ramon looked at Arturo.

“You knew this would happen.”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

Arturo's eyes darkened.

“Because the police commissioner is one of them.”

A man stepped from a vehicle.

Commissioner Daniel Hayes.

Chicago's most respected police chief.

He pointed directly at Ramon.

“Arrest the Ortega men.”

Ramon lifted his weapon.

Then Emma screamed.

Not from fear.

From recognition.

“That's him!”

Everyone froze.

“Who?”

Emma pointed at the commissioner.

“He was there.”

Ramon looked at her.

“Where?”

“The night Mommy was hung.”

The commissioner smiled.

Then slowly removed his badge.

Underneath his shirt collar was the symbol of The Circle.

Ramon's face hardened.

Hayes raised his weapon.

“Take the girl alive.”

Hundreds of red laser dots appeared across the church.

Arturo looked at Ramon.

“This is where your real war begins.”

Then a shot rang out.

But the bullet did not hit Ramon.

It hit Arturo.

His father collapsed into the snow.

Ramon caught him.

“Dad!”

Arturo grabbed Ramon's wrist.

“Listen to me.”

Blood covered his mouth.

“Do not trust Mateo.”

Ramon looked toward his brother.

Mateo was gone.

Arturo whispered his final words.

“The third heir…”

He stopped breathing.

Ramon stared at him.

“What third heir?”

Arturo's hand fell.

From the church roof, a sniper watched silently.

And beside him stood Evelyn.

She looked down at Ramon.

Then smiled.

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“Now,” she whispered,

“take his son.”