Chapter 14 - The Russo NameThey reached the warehouse before dawn.
Callum locked the doors.
Sadie spread the photograph across the table.
“March 17.”
Callum stared.
His birthday.
“My mother always said it was important.”
“Why?”
“I never knew.”
Sadie touched the photograph.
“Emma knew.”
Callum's expression softened.
“She always knew more than she told me.”
Sadie looked at him.
“Did you love her?”
“Yes.”
The answer hurt.
“But not the way you think.”
“How then?”
“She was my conscience.”
Sadie looked away.
“And now?”
Callum stepped closer.
“Now I don't know how to imagine my life without you.”
Silence.
Sadie looked at him.
He continued.
“I know that sounds selfish.”
“It does.”
“I know.”
She smiled weakly.
“You're terrible at this.”
“At what?”
“Feelings.”
“I was not trained.”
Sadie laughed for the first time in days.
Then the warehouse lights turned red.
An alarm sounded.
Callum grabbed her.
“Down.”
Explosions rocked the building.
Windows shattered.
The floor shook.
They escaped through the basement.
Behind a concealed wall, Callum found an old safe.
The combination was March 17.
Inside was a single letter.
For him.
Callum,
If you are reading this, then Sadie has remembered.
Do not give her to Aurelia.
Do not give her to Hale.
And never trust Michael Miller.
Callum stopped.
Sadie read the page.
“My father.”
Another line.
Michael was not forced to work for Aurelia.
He chose her.
Sadie stared.
“No.”
The letter continued.
He betrayed Elena. He betrayed Hale. He betrayed Emma.
The man you think died was the man who started the war.
Sadie sank into the chair.
Callum kept reading.
The final section of the ledger contains one name.
A name.
He read it.
His face changed.
Sadie looked up.
“Who?”
Callum did not answer.
She took the paper.
The name was:
SADIE MILLER.
She stared.
“Why is my name there?”
Callum turned the page.
Nothing.
Only one sentence.
Because she was the one who ended it.
Sadie looked at him.
“I was seven.”
“Yes.”
“That makes no sense.”
“It doesn't have to.”
The basement door creaked.
A man's voice came from above.
“Actually, it does.”
Michael Miller stepped into view.
Alive.
Older.
Holding a gun.
Sadie stopped breathing.
“Dad.”
Michael looked at her.
“Hello, sweetheart.”
Callum raised his weapon.
Michael smiled.
“You should put that down.”
“No.”
“Then I shoot her.”
Sadie looked at her father.
“Why?”
Michael's expression changed.
“Because your sister failed.”
“Failed what?”
“To become Aurelia.”
Sadie stared.
Michael smiled.
“So I made you the heir instead.”
Callum stepped forward.
“You used your daughters.”
Michael looked at him.
“I created them for it.”
Sadie felt sick.
“What does that mean?”
Michael's voice became cold.
“Emma was the weapon.”
“You were the heir?”
“Never.”
He looked at Sadie.
“You were.”
He raised the gun.
May you like
And said:
“Now it is time to remember everything.”
