Chapter 17 - The Last Betrayal“Daniel.”
He didn't move.
Mark slowly raised his hands.
“Daniel, put the gun down.”
Daniel's eyes were empty.
I had never seen him like that.
“Why are you pointing that at him?”
He didn't answer.
“Daniel.”
He looked at me.
“Because he knows where the original ledger is.”
“What ledger?”
“The one Richard has been trying to recover.”
Mark laughed bitterly.
“You still think this is about money.”
Daniel tightened his grip.
“Where is it?”
Mark stared at him.
“Ask your wife.”
I frowned.
“What?”
Mark nodded toward me.
“She has it.”
I looked down at the notebook.
“No.”
“Yes.”
Daniel stepped closer.
“Give it to me.”
I backed away.
“Why?”
“Because I can protect you.”
“You're holding a gun.”
“I won't hurt you.”
“Then lower it.”
He didn't.
I looked at Mark.
“Why did you tell me to look at the notebook?”
“Because your mother knew Daniel would eventually come for it.”
Daniel flinched.
I felt my chest tighten.
“Did you betray me?”
He shook his head.
“No.”
“Then why?”
“Because Richard has my sister.”
I froze.
“What?”
“My sister is alive.”
“Who?”
“Melissa.”
Melissa looked at him.
Her face was devastated.
“That isn't true.”
Daniel stared at her.
“She told you she was my father's daughter.”
Melissa shook her head.
“She isn't.”
Daniel's hands began shaking.
“My sister disappeared twenty years ago.”
Mark spoke quietly.
“Richard created a false family tree.”
I suddenly understood.
Everyone had been given identities.
Everyone had been moved around like chess pieces.
Daniel wasn't necessarily lying.
But someone was lying about almost everything.
Then Melissa said:
“Daniel, Richard has Alyssa.”
The room went silent.
“What?”
“Alyssa never came home.”
I grabbed my phone.
Ten missed calls from an unknown number.
One message.
Bring the ledger to the old courthouse. Alone.
I looked at Daniel.
“We go together.”
“No.”
“You're not going alone.”
“I have to.”
“Why?”
“Because Richard won't hurt Alyssa if he thinks I still trust him.”
I shook my head.
“I don't trust him.”
“I know.”
Daniel lowered the gun.
Then he looked at me.
“I need you to trust me one last time.”
I wanted to say no.
I wanted to walk away.
But Alyssa was fourteen.
Whatever I thought of her behavior, she was still a child.
I nodded.
We went to the courthouse.
Richard was waiting.
Alyssa was beside him.
Alive.
Terrified.
I ran toward her.
Richard raised a hand.
“Slowly.”
I stopped.
“Let her go.”
“First the ledger.”
I handed it over.
Richard opened it.
He smiled.
Then his expression changed.
“This isn't the original.”
I said nothing.
He looked at Daniel.
“You switched it.”
Daniel stood beside me.
“Yes.”
Richard smiled.
“You finally grew a spine.”
Then he pulled out a second weapon.
“Unfortunately, Rachel brought me something more valuable.”
I froze.
“What?”
He pointed at me.
“You.”
Daniel moved.
May you like
Gunfire exploded.
And before I knew what was happening, Daniel fell to the floor.
