Chapter 4 - WHAT EVAN REMEMBEREDThey drove through the city at terrifying speed.
Salvatore sat beside Tessa in silence.
She watched him grip the steering wheel.
“Where is Evan?”
“North Side.”
“Is he alive?”
“Yes.”
“How do you know?”
“He escaped.”
Tessa stared.
“From who?”
Salvatore didn't answer.
Her phone rang.
Unknown number.
She answered.
A distorted voice whispered:
“You finally understand.”
Tessa froze.
“Who is this?”
“Ask Salvatore what happened the night your father died.”
The line went dead.
She looked at Salvatore.
He had heard enough from her expression.
“What did they say?”
“They told me to ask you about the night my father died.”
Salvatore exhaled slowly.
“I knew this was coming.”
“Tell me.”
He said nothing.
“Tell me!”
His hands tightened around the wheel.
“Your father discovered an offshore account.”
“Whose?”
“Victor Hale's.”
“And?”
“It contained payments to judges, police commanders, politicians…”
Tessa whispered.
“Who else?”
Salvatore looked at her.
“My father.”
Tessa went still.
“Your father was involved.”
“Yes.”
“Then why did you say my father saved your life?”
“Because he did.”
“How?”
Salvatore's eyes hardened.
“I was supposed to be executed.”
“By your father?”
“No.”
“By Victor.”
He continued driving.
“Your father found out Victor planned to kill me.”
“Why?”
“Because I refused to kill your father.”
Tessa stared.
Salvatore's next words came slowly.
“I was eighteen. My father ordered me to murder your parents.”
Her face drained of color.
“You refused.”
“Yes.”
“What happened?”
“They killed your father anyway.”
“And my mother?”
“She tried to run.”
Tessa closed her eyes.
“Did you save her?”
“No.”
His voice broke for the first time.
“I was too late.”
Silence.
Tessa looked out the window.
She wanted to hate him.
She couldn't.
Because for the first time, she understood what was hidden behind the scar.
Salvatore had been carrying her parents' deaths too.
Suddenly the car stopped.
Two vehicles blocked the street.
Salvatore drew his gun.
“Stay down.”
The first explosion shook the windows.
Tessa screamed.
Salvatore grabbed her and dragged her into an alley.
Bullets struck the pavement.
His men returned fire.
Then a voice echoed through the darkness.
“Marquetti!”
Everyone froze.
Victor Hale stepped out from behind a vehicle.
He was older than Tessa expected.
Gray hair.
Expensive coat.
Calm eyes.
He looked at her.
Then smiled.
“Tessa Connolly.”
Salvatore stepped in front of her.
“Walk away.”
Victor laughed.
“I didn't come for you.”
He looked around Salvatore.
“I came for her.”
Tessa's heart pounded.
“Why?”
Victor pointed at her.
“Because your father left something inside your family.”
Salvatore's eyes narrowed.
“What?”
Victor smiled.
“Your father was smarter than all of us.”
He pulled out a photograph.
It showed nine-year-old Evan.
Then Victor said something that made Tessa's blood turn to ice.
“Your brother isn't deaf.”
Tessa stared at him.
“What?”
Victor's smile widened.
“He's been pretending.”
Salvatore looked at Tessa.
Tessa couldn't move.
Victor slowly backed away.
“Ask your brother what he remembers.”
Then the vehicles accelerated away.
Tessa turned to Salvatore.
“No.”
Salvatore's face was grim.
“Tessa…”
“No. Evan is deaf. He has been deaf since birth.”
Salvatore didn't answer.
Her hands began to shake.
Then her phone buzzed.
A message from Evan.
May you like
Just six words.
I lied to you about one thing.
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