Chapter 12 - The gunshot echoed across the station.Dominic fell.
“Dominic!”
I ran toward him.
Mason grabbed my arm.
“Don't!”
Dominic was on one knee.
Blood spread across his shirt.
Adrian lowered the gun.
“You finally understand.”
I stared at my brother.
“Why?”
“He's not the man you think he is.”
Dominic looked up.
His face was pale.
“Claire.”
“Don't.”
I was furious.
“You lied to me.”
“Yes.”
“Did you order my father's death?”
“No.”
Adrian laughed.
“You see?”
Dominic shook his head.
“I was ordered to kill him.”
“And you did.”
“No.”
“Then who shot him?”
Silence.
I looked at Dominic.
“Who?”
His eyes met mine.
“You already know.”
I turned toward Adrian.
He looked away.
“You?”
Adrian nodded.
“I told you.”
“You killed our father.”
“Yes.”
“But why?”
“Because Elias threatened you.”
My breath caught.
“What?”
Adrian continued.
“I thought if I took the ledger, Elias would leave you alone.”
“So you killed Dad.”
“I was a child.”
“That doesn't excuse it.”
“No.”
He looked broken.
“It doesn't.”
Mason stepped forward.
“There is something else.”
Everyone turned.
Mason pulled a document from his pocket.
“This came from Elias.”
Dominic stared.
“What is it?”
“A death transfer order.”
Mason handed it to me.
My name was listed.
Date.
Time.
Cause.
Accidental overdose.
My blood ran cold.
“They planned to kill me?”
Mason nodded.
“Tonight.”
I looked at the station clock.
2:14.
The same time written on the document.
Dominic tried to stand.
I helped him.
“Who signed this?”
I looked at the signature.
My hand started shaking.
Mason went pale.
“That can't be.”
“What?”
“The signer.”
I stared.
Marlowe Reed.
Mason's father.
Mason's face collapsed.
“He's dead.”
Dominic shook his head.
“No.”
“What?”
“He isn't.”
A train whistle sounded.
Everyone turned.
A black car rolled onto the platform.
The rear door opened.
An older man stepped out.
Mason stared.
“Dad?”
The man smiled.
“Mason.”
Mason looked like he'd seen a ghost.
“You died six years ago.”
“No.”
His father walked toward us.
“I disappeared.”
Dominic raised his gun.
The man laughed.
“You always did have terrible manners.”
He looked at me.
“Claire.”
My blood ran cold.
“How do you know me?”
Marlowe smiled.
“I knew your father.”
Then he looked at Dominic.
“And I knew your mother.”
Ana stepped backward.
“No.”
Marlowe's smile faded.
“Ana.”
She whispered his name.
“Marlowe.”
Mason looked between them.
“What is happening?”
Marlowe sighed.
“This is the reunion nobody wanted.”
Then he looked at me.
“Your father didn't hide four hundred million dollars.”
He took out a small black book.
“He hid something far more valuable.”
“What?”
Marlowe's voice dropped.
“Proof that Elias Varela isn't the head of the organization.”
Dominic stared.
“Then who is?”
Marlowe looked directly at me.
“You.”
I laughed.
“No.”
He opened the black book.
Inside were photographs.
My birth certificate.
My father's records.
My mother's records.
And another document.
A bloodline chart.
At the top was Elias.
Below him were three names.
My father.
Marlowe.
Dominic.
Then beneath them:
Claire Bennett
Adrian Bennett
Marlowe tapped Claire's name.
“You inherited more than money.”
“What?”
“Authority.”
I shook my head.
“This is insane.”
“No.”
Marlowe looked at the casino skyline.
“Your father built an organization designed to survive him.”
“Who runs it?”
“Whoever holds the original ledger.”
I looked at Dominic.
He looked at me.
Marlowe smiled.
“You.”
Then the casino lights appeared in the distance.
One by one, every window went dark.
May you like
Marlowe whispered:
“Elias has started the final transfer.”
