Chapter 12 - The Dead ManCallum's face hardened.
“My organization?”
“Yes.”
“My people have searched every ledger, every safe house…”
“And yet your father-in-law has been living under your nose for years.”
Sadie looked at him.
“My father-in-law?”
Callum frowned.
Her mother smiled.
“Emma was engaged to him.”
Sadie felt the confusion deepen.
“Wait.”
Her mother shook her head.
“Emma never told you the entire story.”
Callum looked at Sadie.
“Neither did I.”
Her mother disappeared through the corridor.
Callum went after her.
But the hallway was empty.
Gone.
Sadie remained frozen.
“My father is alive.”
Callum returned.
“We need to find him.”
“How?”
“He used a codename.”
“What?”
“Rook.”
Sadie repeated it.
“Rook.”
Callum's eyes sharpened.
“That's not just a codename.”
“What does it mean?”
“My current head of logistics.”
Sadie stared.
“Who?”
Callum said the name.
“Marcus Vane.”
They drove back to the Russo headquarters.
Marcus Vane had worked for Callum for eleven years.
Trustworthy.
Quiet.
Loyal.
Or so Callum believed.
They entered his office.
Empty.
A drawer stood open.
Inside was one photograph.
Sadie picked it up.
Her father.
Alive.
Older.
Standing beside Marcus.
She turned the photo over.
You were always closer than you knew.
Callum stared.
“Find him.”
His security team searched the building.
Then Marcus called.
Callum answered.
“You know where I am.”
Marcus laughed.
“I know where Sadie is.”
Callum's voice became ice.
“Where?”
“Come alone.”
“No.”
“Then she dies.”
Sadie stepped closer.
“Put him on speaker.”
Marcus laughed again.
“Hello, Sadie.”
“You're my father.”
Silence.
“Yes.”
Her knees weakened.
“My God.”
Callum grabbed the phone.
“What do you want?”
“The ledger.”
“Gone.”
“Then the heir.”
Sadie stared at Callum.
“What does he mean?”
Marcus answered for him.
“You.”
Callum's jaw tightened.
“You are not touching her.”
“It's already decided.”
“By whom?”
Marcus said one word.
“Aurelia.”
The line ended.
Sadie turned toward Callum.
“Why does everyone want me?”
He answered quietly.
“Because you are the only person who can unlock the final section.”
“What final section?”
“The one Emma died hiding.”
“How do I unlock it?”
Callum looked at her.
“We don't know.”
Then the office screen turned on.
A message appeared.
SADIE KNOWS.
She stared.
“I don't.”
Another line appeared.
SHE JUST DOESN'T REMEMBER.
A video began playing.
A little girl.
Seven years old.
Sadie.
Her sister Emma beside her.
Their father standing behind them.
And a woman wearing a silver ring.
Sadie watched herself receive a small wooden box.
The child opened it.
Inside was a key.
Her younger self smiled.
Then Emma looked into the camera.
“If anyone ever asks where the key is…”
The child Sadie whispered something.
Present-day Sadie stepped toward the screen.
“What did I say?”
The video froze.
Callum zoomed in.
The girl's lips were visible.
He read them.
“Inside me.”
Sadie stared.
“What does that mean?”
The screen flickered.
A new message appeared.
YOU HAVE THE KEY.
Then the video showed the little girl swallowing a tiny capsule.
Sadie stumbled backward.
Callum caught her.
“What did I just watch?”
Callum's eyes were fixed on the screen.
“Something impossible.”
May you like
The message appeared one final time.
NOW YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER HOW TO GET IT OUT.
