Chapter 13 - THE POLICEMAN WHO COULDN'T RUNDerek was dying.
Gabriel wanted to leave him.
Harper refused.
"He's been shot."
"He tried to kill you."
"He also saved Noah."
Derek coughed blood.
"Don't waste time."
Harper knelt.
"Why did you hurt me?"
Derek closed his eyes.
"Because Richard was watching."
"Why did you never tell me?"
"Because if you knew, he'd kill Noah."
Harper stared at him.
"You could have protected me."
"I thought I was."
"You beat me."
"I know."
"You destroyed me."
"I know."
Derek looked at her.
"I became the monster I was pretending to be."
Harper's eyes filled with tears.
"Who shot you?"
"Dad."
Richard.
"Why?"
"I found the files."
"Which files?"
Derek pointed toward the red box.
"Inside."
Harper opened it.
A small recorder.
She pressed play.
Her mother's voice filled the bathroom.
"If Harper is hearing this, then I'm dead or you've found the truth."
Harper froze.
"I never wanted you to live like this."
Her mother explained everything.
Richard's network.
Her father's undercover role.
Emma's disappearance.
The fake body.
Michael's secret.
Derek's assignment.
And finally:
"Harper, the person you must fear most is not Richard."
The recording paused.
"That's Victoria."
Harper looked at Victoria.
She stood in the doorway.
Expressionless.
Then Victoria smiled.
"Your mother always was clever."
Gabriel raised his gun.
"Don't move."
Victoria lifted both hands.
"You think I'm the traitor."
She laughed.
"Of course I am."
Harper stared.
"Why?"
"Because Richard pays well."
"No."
Victoria's expression changed.
"I don't work for Richard."
Gabriel's eyes narrowed.
"Then who?"
Victoria looked toward Michael.
"Your brother."
Silence.
Michael shook his head.
"That's impossible."
Victoria smiled.
"Ask him."
Harper looked at Michael.
"Is it true?"
Michael said nothing.
Gabriel stepped toward him.
"Michael."
Michael finally spoke.
"I built the surveillance network."
"You."
"I thought I could control it."
"You killed people."
"No."
"You manipulated Harper."
"No."
"Then why?"
Michael's eyes filled with tears.
"Because I was trying to destroy Richard from inside."
Victoria laughed.
"Tell them the rest."
Michael closed his eyes.
"I made a deal."
"With who?"
"Richard."
Harper stared.
Michael whispered:
"I gave him information about Harper."
Gabriel looked devastated.
"Why?"
"Because he had Emma."
Emma appeared behind them.
She had heard everything.
She looked at Michael.
"You sacrificed your own brother."
Michael dropped his head.
Emma's eyes filled with tears.
"After everything we survived."
Suddenly the entire mansion shook.
An explosion.
The floor cracked beneath them.
Gabriel grabbed Harper.
Everyone fell.
Smoke filled the bathroom.
Then Richard's voice came through the speakers.
"You have ten minutes."
A countdown appeared on the wall.
10:00.
09:59.
09:58.
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And a final message flashed beneath it:
THE MANSION WILL BURN WITH EVERY SECRET INSIDE IT.
