Chapter 10 - The Father's GunThe man who should have saved me came to kill me
“Martha!”
I ducked.
The first shot tore through the windshield.
Maxwell shoved the wheel.
The boat spun.
My mother fell.
“Mom!”
“I'm fine!”
Thomas Vale fired again.
Maxwell grabbed a flare gun.
He fired it toward the opposite boat.
The burst of light blinded everyone.
We turned hard and escaped into the fog.
Ten minutes later, the boat struck a dock.
We climbed onto shore.
Maxwell collapsed.
His right leg had gone numb.
I caught him.
“Can you walk?”
“Not far.”
“You've been pushing yourself.”
“Yes.”
“Because of me?”
“Because of you.”
My mother looked at him.
“You can't keep doing this.”
“I don't have a choice.”
We found an abandoned warehouse.
Inside, Maxwell sat against a wall.
I removed his shoe.
His ankle was swollen.
“You've been injured.”
“Old damage.”
“You had surgery.”
“Several.”
“When?”
“The first surgery was after the fire.”
My mother shook her head.
“No.”
Maxwell looked at her.
“The second.”
She corrected herself.
“Your first surgery was before the fire.”
I stared.
“Why?”
She looked at me.
“Because Richard had his men break his legs.”
I felt sick.
“He wanted to make sure Maxwell couldn't run.”
Maxwell's expression remained empty.
“He believed fear was easier to control than loyalty.”
I looked at his legs.
The man everyone thought was helpless had spent years fighting to make them move.
“You could have left.”
“Yes.”
“Then why stay?”
He looked at me.
“Because your mother gave me a reason not to become my father.”
Silence.
A car pulled up outside.
Maxwell raised his gun.
The door opened.
Elena walked in.
Alone.
My mother stepped forward.
“What are you doing here?”
Elena looked at her.
“I've been looking for you for fourteen years.”
My mother froze.
“You knew?”
“Yes.”
“Why didn't you tell her?”
“Because Richard would have killed her.”
Maxwell aimed at Elena.
“You betrayed me.”
“I did.”
“Why?”
“Because I wanted my brother back.”
“I am your brother.”
“No.”
Elena's eyes filled with tears.
“You're not.”
I looked at her.
“What does that mean?”
She swallowed.
“The real Maxwell was my brother.”
I felt my stomach drop.
“You said he died.”
“He did.”
“And the man beside me?”
She looked at him.
“My brother's replacement.”
Maxwell lowered his weapon slightly.
Elena stepped closer.
“Richard replaced Maxwell because he needed a son people would obey.”
“Why me?”
“You were leverage.”
“For what?”
“Elena?”
A man's voice echoed from the warehouse doors.
Everyone turned.
Victor walked in.
Behind him stood a line of armed men.
And behind them was an older man.
White hair.
Black coat.
Walking with a cane.
Richard Rourke.
My mother whispered:
“No.”
Richard smiled.
“Hello, Klara.”
He looked at Maxwell.
“You've grown.”
Then he looked at me.
“And Martha.”
I froze.
He knew my name.
He took one step forward.
“My daughter.”
The warehouse went silent.
My mother stared at him.
“That is impossible.”
Richard smiled.
“Is it?”
Maxwell raised his weapon.
Richard didn't flinch.
“You still don't understand.”
He looked at me.
“You were never the enemy's secret.”
His gaze shifted to Maxwell.
May you like
“You were mine.”
Then the warehouse doors slammed shut.
Related Stories
