Chapter 8 - My Brother’s LieToby looked terrified when we entered his room.
Adrian closed the door.
I held up the photograph.
“Tell me who this is.”
Toby stared at it.
His face went white.
“You shouldn’t have seen that.”
My heart broke.
“Toby.”
He looked at me.
“I wanted to protect you.”
“From what?”
He swallowed.
“From Mom.”
The room went silent.
“What?”
“She wasn’t the woman you thought she was.”
I stepped backward.
“Don’t.”
“She worked for Adrian’s father.”
Adrian moved closer.
“Doing what?”
“Accounting.”
He stiffened.
Toby continued.
“She discovered money being moved through shell companies.”
“Where?”
“Everywhere.”
He pointed at the photograph.
“That man helped her.”
“Adrian’s brother?”
“Yes.”
Adrian’s face darkened.
“His name?”
“Daniel.”
The room seemed to contract.
“Why would my mother trust him?”
“Because he was trying to expose his father.”
Adrian stared at Toby.
“And you?”
Toby looked at me.
“I knew before you did.”
“How?”
“Mom told me.”
“You were a child.”
“So were you.”
I felt tears burn my eyes.
“Why did you lie?”
“Because she made me promise.”
“What did she say?”
Toby whispered:
“If Adrian ever finds us, never tell him about Daniel.”
Adrian asked:
“Why?”
Toby looked at him.
“Because Daniel was the reason your mother died.”
Adrian stepped closer.
“You’re lying.”
“I wish I were.”
“Where is Daniel?”
Toby shook his head.
“I don’t know.”
A soft beep sounded.
Adrian looked toward the heart monitor.
The rhythm changed.
Toby’s eyes widened.
Someone had tampered with the machine.
Adrian ripped the cables away.
“Call a doctor!”
The door opened.
A nurse entered.
Then stopped.
She looked at me.
Smiled.
Not a nurse.
The red-haired woman.
Elena.
She raised a gun.
Adrian moved.
The shot hit the wall.
She escaped through the adjoining door.
Adrian chased her.
I stayed beside Toby.
Then I saw it.
Under his pillow.
A second envelope.
It was addressed to Adrian.
I opened it.
Inside was a photograph of Daniel.
May you like
And beneath it:
He is not your enemy. I am.
