Chapter 2 - The LedgerThe car stopped beneath the private entrance of the Russo building.
Callum did not get out.
Neither did Sadie.
Rain threaded down the windows in crooked silver lines.
“The ledger,” Callum said.
Sadie stared straight ahead.
“You know which one.”
“I want to hear you say it.”
“The Saint Gabriel Ledger.”
Callum’s eyes narrowed.
That name had not been spoken aloud in ten years.
Not by him.
Not by anyone still breathing.
“Where did you get it?”
“I found it.”
“That is not an answer.”
“It is the only one I have.”
Callum turned toward her.
“You expect me to believe you accidentally found a document powerful enough to get people killed?”
“I didn’t know what it was at first.”
“And then?”
“Then people started following me.”
“Why didn’t you come to me?”
Sadie laughed once.
It contained no humor.
“Because the man threatening me said he worked for you.”
Callum looked at her wrist again.
The bruises were darker now.
“Who touched you?”
“I never saw his face.”
“Did he give you a name?”
“No.”
“Anything you remember?”
“He had a ring.”
“What kind?”
“Black stone. Silver border.”
Callum’s expression changed.
Sadie saw it.
“You know it.”
“Yes.”
The word came quietly.
“Whose is it?”
Callum opened the car door.
“We’re going upstairs.”
“Callum…”
“No more questions in a car.”
He stepped out.
Sadie followed.
The private elevator carried them to the top floor.
Callum’s penthouse was enormous, but almost aggressively quiet.
Black marble.
Dark wood.
Glass walls overlooking the city.
No photographs.
No family portraits.
Nothing personal.
Sadie had been there only twice.
Tonight it felt different.
Not like a home.
Like a fortress.
Callum removed his coat.
“Give me the portfolio.”
She hesitated.
He waited.
Finally, she handed it over.
He placed it on the kitchen island and opened it.
Inside were provenance records, photographs, auction documents, and several sheets of handwritten notes.
Callum scanned them.
Then stopped.
A small folded paper lay beneath the documents.
He opened it.
One sentence.
THE DEBT WAS NEVER PAID.
He looked at Sadie.
“Where did this come from?”
“It was inside the ledger.”
“Where is the ledger now?”
Sadie said nothing.
Callum closed his eyes briefly.
“Sadie.”
“I burned it.”
His head lifted.
“What?”
“I burned the original.”
“You destroyed evidence?”
“It was the only way to make him believe I’d handed it over.”
Callum stared at her.
She reached into her coat.
“But I kept a copy.”
She placed a small flash drive on the counter.
Callum did not touch it.
“Why?”
“Because I knew I might need insurance.”
Against whom?
He already knew.
Against everyone.
The elevator chimed.
Callum instantly turned.
Sadie stepped back.
“What?”
“Stay here.”
He drew a pistol from beneath his jacket.
The elevator doors opened.
Two men stepped out.
Callum fired once.
The first man dropped.
The second turned and ran.
Callum crossed the room with terrifying speed.
The man reached the emergency stairs.
Callum caught him before he could open the door.
There was a brief struggle.
Then silence.
Callum dragged him into the apartment.
He was young.
Twenty-five, perhaps.
Blood ran from his mouth.
Callum crouched beside him.
“Who sent you?”
The man smiled.
“Too late.”
Callum grabbed his collar.
“Who?”
The man looked past him.
His eyes landed on Sadie.
“You really think he’s protecting you?”
Sadie went pale.
Callum’s fingers tightened.
“Answer me.”
The man coughed.
“You should ask him what happened in 2016.”
Callum went still.
Sadie looked between them.
“What happened in 2016?”
The attacker smiled.
“You don’t know?”
Callum shot him a cold look.
“Do not speak to her.”
“Ask him about a girl named Emma.”
Sadie’s expression changed.
Callum’s face became unreadable.
The attacker laughed weakly.
“Ask your boss why Emma Miller died.”
Sadie stopped breathing.
“Miller?”
The room disappeared around her.
“What did you say?”
The man looked directly at her.
“Emma Miller.”
Sadie stepped backward.
“My sister?”
Callum closed his eyes.
The attacker grinned.
“Now you understand.”
Sadie turned toward Callum.
“You knew my sister?”
Silence.
“Callum.”
He said nothing.
“You knew Emma?”
Still nothing.
Sadie’s voice cracked.
“How?”
Callum finally looked at her.
“We were connected.”
“How?”
“I was there the night she died.”
Sadie’s face went white.
“You never told me.”
“You never asked.”
“I asked you everything.”
“No.”
Callum’s voice was quiet.
“You asked me about art. Money. Contracts. Never the parts of my life that made people disappear.”
Sadie stared at him.
Then the flash drive on the counter began to blink.
Callum turned.
A tiny red light.
One file had been activated remotely.
The screen displayed a video.
A date appeared.
October 14, 2016.
Then a woman walked into frame.
Dark hair.
Pale face.
Terrified eyes.
Sadie covered her mouth.
“Emma…”
The video continued.
Emma looked directly into the camera.
And said:
“Sadie, if you’re watching this, Callum Russo already knows you exist.”
The video cut to black.
Neither of them moved.
May you like
Then, beneath the black screen, white letters appeared.
HE IS THE REASON I DIED.
