Chapter 14 - The Man Behind Every DeathAlexander Holloway was alive. And he had been controlling the game from the beginning.
We found Alexander beneath an abandoned church outside Pinehaven.
He looked nothing like the man in the photographs.
Older.
Scarred.
Thin.
But his eyes were unmistakable.
My eyes.
He looked at me.
“Emily.”
I couldn't move.
“You're alive.”
He nodded.
“I couldn't come back.”
“Why?”
“Because if I returned, they would have killed you.”
I laughed bitterly.
“They almost did anyway.”
His face broke.
“I know.”
“Did you know about Daniel?”
“Yes.”
“Did you know about Nathaniel?”
“Yes.”
“Did you know my mother was alive?”
“Yes.”
My chest tightened.
“You knew everything.”
“I had to.”
Nathaniel stepped between us.
“What did you want?”
Alexander looked at him.
“To destroy my brother.”
“Grant?”
“No.”
He looked toward the church door.
“Your father.”
Nathaniel froze.
“My father?”
“Yes.”
“You've known he was alive.”
“I found out eight years ago.”
“And you never told me.”
“I couldn't.”
Nathaniel laughed once.
“You made me spend eight years thinking I was alone.”
Alexander's expression hardened.
“You needed to hate him.”
“Why?”
“So you'd become strong enough to fight him.”
Nathaniel stared.
“You manipulated me.”
“Yes.”
Silence.
Then Alexander looked at me.
“I manipulated everyone.”
I felt tears rise.
“Even me?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because you're the only legal heir.”
I looked away.
All those years.
All those secrets.
All those people deciding my life.
I was tired.
“I don't want the empire.”
Alexander nodded.
“Good.”
I looked at him.
“What?”
“The only person worthy of controlling it is the person who doesn't want it.”
Nathaniel watched me.
Alexander continued.
“Blackridge and Mercer were built on corruption.”
He placed the final ledger on the table.
“You can destroy both.”
“How?”
“Open the trust.”
“And then?”
“Transfer the legitimate businesses into public ownership.”
I stared.
“That would destroy everything.”
“Yes.”
Nathaniel said quietly:
“And the criminal side?”
I looked at him.
“What would you do?”
He answered without hesitation.
“End it.”
I knew he meant himself too.
He was ready to walk away from the empire that had made him feared.
I touched his hand.
“Then don't do it alone.”
He looked at me.
For the first time, the hard mask disappeared.
“What are you saying?”
“I won't inherit your empire.”
I looked at Alexander.
“But I will help dismantle it.”
Alexander smiled.
“Then it's time.”
He opened the final file.
Inside were names.
Every person involved.
Grant Holloway.
Marcus Mercer.
Police officials.
Bankers.
Judges.
And Daniel.
I stared.
“Why is Daniel listed?”
Alexander didn't answer.
Daniel wasn't there.
Nathaniel looked around.
“Where is he?”
A gunshot exploded outside.
We ran toward the door.
Daniel stood in the courtyard.
Blood soaked his shirt.
Grant Holloway stood behind him.
Grant raised his gun.
“Give me Emily.”
Nathaniel stepped forward.
“No.”
Grant smiled.
“Then I'll kill the boy first.”
Daniel looked at me.
His eyes filled with regret.
Then he mouthed four words.
Run, Emily. Don't trust him.
I turned.
“Who?”
May you like
Daniel stared directly at Nathaniel.
“Your fiancé.”
