Chapter 12 - The LawyerThe rooftop suddenly felt too small.
Twenty guns.
One helicopter.
Five of us.
And Bella.
Victor Hale walked forward as though he owned the city.
Maybe, in some ways, he did.
He had judges.
Police.
Bankers.
Politicians.
People who could erase records.
People who could make men disappear.
He smiled at Rafael.
“You always were difficult.”
Rafael stepped in front of Bella.
“You killed Elena.”
Victor shrugged.
“I corrected a problem.”
“She's dead.”
“She knew too much.”
Rafael's eyes hardened.
“So did you.”
Victor laughed.
Then he looked at me.
“And you.”
I remained silent.
“You were supposed to die in Warehouse Seven.”
“I didn't.”
“Clearly.”
“You put the bullet inside me.”
“No.”
He shook his head.
“Vincent did.”
I frowned.
“Why?”
“Because he was afraid you'd expose him.”
Vincent stepped forward.
“You're lying.”
Victor smiled.
“Always the loyal brother.”
The helicopter engine grew louder.
Victor pointed.
“Put Bella on the helicopter.”
Nobody moved.
Then Bella stepped forward herself.
“Why do you want me?”
Victor looked down.
“Because your father signed everything over to you.”
Bella frowned.
“I don't want it.”
“That's not the point.”
I understood.
“The trust.”
Victor looked at me.
“Yes.”
I laughed.
“You don't want Bella.”
“No.”
“You want what she controls.”
“Now you're learning.”
I looked at Rafael.
“The trust contains the entire financial network.”
“Yes.”
“Which means whoever controls Bella controls all of it.”
Victor smiled.
“And whoever controls all of it controls the city.”
He reached into his pocket.
A small remote.
“This building is wired.”
Rafael stared.
“You wouldn't.”
Victor smiled.
“Wouldn't I?”
My father stepped forward.
“You won't survive the explosion.”
Victor looked at him.
“I already survived worse.”
Marcus shook his head.
“No.”
He looked at Victor.
“You survived because I let you.”
Victor's expression changed.
The first sign of fear.
My father continued.
“Ten years ago, when you ordered the commissioner's death, I took the original recordings.”
Victor stared.
“You.”
“Yes.”
“You were supposed to be dead.”
“So were you.”
Marcus smiled.
“That's why neither of us should be surprised.”
He pulled out a small device.
The helicopter lights flickered.
Victor looked up.
“What did you do?”
“Nothing.”
Marcus pressed one button.
Every phone on the roof buzzed.
A file had been sent.
To reporters.
Police.
Federal agencies.
Judges.
Banks.
Everyone.
Victor's face changed.
“What did you send?”
“The ledger.”
Rafael stared at him.
Marcus added:
“And the recording of you ordering Elena's murder.”
Victor raised his gun.
“Kill them.”
Gunfire erupted.
Rafael tackled Bella.
Vincent shot two guards.
I grabbed Marcus.
We ran toward the rooftop stairwell.
Bullets struck concrete around us.
We reached the stairs.
Then Marcus stopped.
“I have to go back.”
“No.”
He looked at me.
“Nora.”
“You spent my entire life pretending you were dead.”
“I was protecting you.”
“You left me.”
“I know.”
Rafael looked at him.
“What do you want?”
Marcus smiled sadly.
“To finish what I started.”
He handed me a key.
The same symbol.
Black rose.
“What is this?”
“The final file.”
“Where?”
“City Hall.”
Rafael stared.
Victor's empire had been built through city contracts.
Banks.
Property deals.
Police budgets.
The evidence would be there.
Then Marcus pushed us down the stairs.
“Go.”
We ran.
Behind us, another explosion rocked the roof.
Bella screamed.
I turned.
Marcus was still standing there.
Victor was gone.
May you like
The helicopter lifted.
And Marcus disappeared inside the smoke.
