Chapter 17 - The Other BrotherEric sat in a holding cell when I visited him.
He looked older than he had two days earlier.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
He stared at the table.
"I was afraid."
"Of Mark?"
"Of everything."
"So you destroyed my life instead."
"I didn't know what else to do."
I sat across from him.
"Are we really related?"
He nodded.
"Half-siblings."
"How long have you known?"
"Since I was twenty-one."
I stared at him.
"You knew for fifteen years."
"Yes."
"And Mom knew."
"Yes."
"Dad knew."
"Yes."
"Mark knew."
"Yes."
I felt hollow.
"Did you ever care about me?"
Eric looked at me.
For the first time, there was no arrogance in his face.
"More than you think."
I almost laughed.
"You had a strange way of showing it."
"I hated what happened."
"Then why did you participate?"
He looked down.
"Because Mark had been controlling us since we were kids."
I frowned.
"What do you mean?"
"Mom owed him."
"From what?"
"The company."
"The original company?"
Eric nodded.
"Mark financed Dad's first major construction expansion."
I suddenly understood.
The business had not simply collapsed.
It had been dependent on Mark for years.
Eric continued.
"When Dad tried to leave, Mark threatened everyone."
"Everyone?"
"You. Me. Mom."
"What about Dad?"
"Especially Dad."
I stared at him.
"So all of this began because of a business deal."
"No."
Eric shook his head.
"It began before that."
"What do you mean?"
He leaned closer.
"Mark didn't meet Mom through Dad's business."
My heart stopped.
"Then how?"
"Through her family."
I frowned.
"That doesn't make sense."
Eric lowered his voice.
"Mom's parents owed him money."
My mind flashed back to the letter.
The trust.
The old records.
The property.
Maybe the story began before I was born.
"Why create the trust?"
"To protect you."
"From Mark?"
"From everyone."
Eric stared at me.
"Mom always said you were the only person in the family who could break the cycle."
I felt a tear slip down my cheek.
"Then why did she let you hurt me?"
"Because she thought if you stayed dependent on the family, we'd stay together."
I shook my head.
"She was wrong."
Eric nodded.
"Yes."
A guard appeared.
"Time's up."
I stood.
Eric called after me.
"Rachel."
I turned.
He swallowed.
"There's something else."
"What?"
"Mark didn't create that $1.2 million company."
"Who did?"
Eric looked toward the hallway.
"Dad."
My heart sank.
"But you said Mark controlled everything."
"He did."
"Then why?"
Eric's voice dropped.
"Because Dad started stealing from Mark."
I froze.
"For how long?"
"Years."
"What did he steal?"
May you like
Eric looked at me.
"Enough to make Mark want you dead."
