Chapter 14 - Nathan couldn't speak.His mother stood across the underground chamber.
The years between them seemed to disappear.
He remembered her voice.
Her hands.
The smell of her perfume.
The warmth of her embrace.
He remembered the coffin.
The funeral.
The flowers.
All of it had been a lie.
“You're alive.”
“Yes.”
“You let me believe you died.”
“I had no choice.”
“You always had a choice.”
His mother flinched.
Maggie stood beside him.
Lena watched silently.
Arthur looked at the woman who had once been the center of his world.
“You ruined everything.”
She looked at him.
“No.”
“You chose Marcus.”
“I chose Nathan.”
Arthur laughed bitterly.
“He was never yours.”
“He was.”
She looked at Nathan.
“He was born because of you.”
Nathan's heart stopped.
Arthur stared at her.
“You told me the child was Marcus's.”
“I lied.”
Nathan's face drained.
Arthur's eyes widened.
“Why?”
“Because you were already becoming what you are now.”
Nathan looked at his mother.
“Tell me the truth.”
She nodded.
“The night I met Arthur, he was still Elias Cain.”
She looked at him.
“Your father.”
Nathan closed his eyes.
“I knew he was dangerous. I knew what he was capable of. But I thought I could change him.”
Arthur laughed.
“You loved me.”
“I loved the man you pretended to be.”
Her voice trembled.
“You became obsessed with power.”
Marcus tried to stop him.
Thomas tried to expose him.
“And you?”
“I tried to protect you.”
Nathan looked at her.
“By pretending to die?”
“Yes.”
“Why didn't you take me with you?”
Her eyes filled with tears.
“Because they were watching you.”
She pointed at Arthur.
“If I disappeared with you, he would have found us.”
“So Marcus raised me.”
“He protected you.”
Nathan looked at Maggie.
“And Thomas?”
His mother hesitated.
“Thomas knew the truth.”
“Then why did Marcus kill him?”
She closed her eyes.
“Because Arthur showed Marcus a recording.”
“What recording?”
“One that made Marcus believe Thomas had joined Arthur.”
Nathan shook his head.
“Fake?”
“Yes.”
Arthur smiled.
“Your father was weak.”
Nathan turned toward him.
“You murdered people.”
“I built an empire.”
“You destroyed my family.”
“I gave your family power.”
Nathan raised his gun.
His mother stepped between them.
“Don't.”
Nathan looked at her.
“Why?”
“Because killing Arthur doesn't destroy the organization.”
Arthur laughed.
“She finally understands.”
Nathan lowered his gun.
“Then what does?”
His mother looked at the ledger.
“The truth.”
Nathan frowned.
“The archive.”
She nodded.
“The book doesn't just contain names.”
She opened the final file.
Inside was a list of judges, executives, politicians, police chiefs, media owners and financiers.
Each had a payment history.
Each had evidence.
Each had secrets.
Nathan understood.
“This destroys everyone.”
“Yes.”
“And if I release it?”
“They'll come after all of us.”
Maggie looked at him.
“They already are.”
Nathan took the ledger.
His mother stepped forward.
“I have spent twelve years preparing for this moment.”
She gave him a drive.
“Everything is on there.”
Nathan stared.
“Why didn't you release it?”
“Because the files were encrypted.”
“Can you decrypt them?”
“No.”
“Who can?”
His mother looked toward Lena.
Lena's face went pale.
“Me?”
“Your father taught you.”
Lena stepped backward.
“I don't know what you're talking about.”
Maggie looked at her daughter.
“You do.”
Lena looked down.
Then she pulled a necklace from beneath her shirt.
A tiny USB drive hung from it.
Nathan stared.
“Thomas gave that to you.”
Lena nodded.
“He told me never to remove it.”
Nathan looked at Maggie.
“You knew?”
“Yes.”
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because we weren't sure who to trust.”
Nathan looked around the room.
His mother.
Maggie.
Lena.
Owen.
A dead organization collapsing around them.
Then the lights went out.
A single gunshot echoed.
Lena screamed.
When the emergency lights came on, Nathan's mother was on the floor.
Blood spread beneath her.
Nathan rushed to her.
“Mom!”
She grabbed his wrist.
“Listen.”
Her voice was faint.
“Arthur wasn't the last.”
Nathan stared.
“What?”
She pointed toward the ceiling.
“There's someone above him.”
Arthur looked genuinely frightened.
Nathan turned.
“Who?”
His mother whispered the final words.
“The person who owns Vale International.”
Then she died.
Arthur slowly smiled.
Nathan looked at him.
Arthur shook his head.
“I told you.”
Nathan stared.
“You don't know who that is.”
Arthur's smile vanished.
“No.”
A phone rang in the darkness.
Nathan answered.
A man's voice spoke.
“Congratulations, Nathan.”
Nathan froze.
“I've been waiting twelve years for you to take your father's chair.”
Nathan looked toward the empty elevator.
May you like
The voice continued.
“Now sit in it.”
