Chapter 8: The Brother Who Watched
The gunshots stopped.
For a moment, the entire building went silent.
Then footsteps began climbing the stairs.
Ethan pointed toward a second door.
“Back exit.””
We moved.
Victoria went first.
Marcus stayed behind us.
I kept the photograph in my pocket.
My brother had been alive.
He had been watching me.
For eleven months.
The same amount of time I'd been dating Ryan.
That couldn't be coincidence.
Outside, we ran through the snow.
Marcus opened the SUV.
“Get in!””
We piled inside.
He accelerated before the doors were fully shut.
A bullet struck the rear window.
I ducked.
“Drive!””
Marcus didn't need to be told twice.
We sped through the streets.
Victoria looked at me.
“Are you okay?””
I touched the photograph.
“No.””
Ethan sat beside me.
He was breathing heavily.
“Daniel knew this would happen.””
“How?””
“He's been preparing for it.””
“Preparing for what?””
“For you to discover the truth.””
I turned toward him.
“Why didn't he contact me?””
“He tried.””
“When?””
“Many times.””
“Then why didn't I know?””
“Because Charles intercepted every attempt.””
I looked at Victoria.
“Did my father know Daniel was alive?””
Ethan hesitated.
“Yes.””
My chest tightened.
“Since when?””
“Almost twelve years.””
I stared at him.
“Twelve years?””
“Yes.””
“Why didn't he tell me?””
“Because Daniel was the leverage Charles used to control him.””
I shook my head.
“That doesn't make sense.””
“It will.””
Ethan looked out the window.
“Your father believed Charles had Daniel.””
“But he didn't.””
“No.””
“Then where was Daniel?””
Ethan turned toward me.
“With me.””
I stared.
“You raised him?””
“For several years.””
“Then why disappear?””
“Because Charles found us.””
Ethan's jaw tightened.
“He came for Daniel.””
“What happened?””
“I got Daniel out.””
“And you?””
“I disappeared.””
I looked down at the photograph.
“Why would Daniel watch me?””
“Because he wanted to know whether you were safe.””
“From what?””
Ethan's eyes met mine.
“From everyone.””
My phone rang.
Ryan.
I answered.
“Where are you?””
“On the road.””
“Are you safe?””
“Yes.””
“Is Victoria with you?””
“Yes.””
“And Ethan?””
I looked at him.
“How do you know Ethan is with me?””
Ryan went silent.
My stomach dropped.
“Ryan?””
“I…”
“How do you know?””
“I saw him in the photograph.””
“You weren't there.””
“No.””
“Then how?””
He swallowed.
“My father sent it to me.””
“Why?””
“He wanted me to know who was helping you.””
I closed my eyes.
“Ryan.””
“I know.””
“You're still connected to him.””
“Not anymore.””
“Then prove it.””
“How?””
“Tell me where Daniel is.””
Silence.
“You know.””
Ryan's breathing changed.
“I know where he was.””
“Where?””
“A private estate outside Madison.””
“Why?””
“I don't know.””
“Ryan.””
“I swear.””
I hung up.
Ethan looked at me.
“Don't trust him.””
“I don't.””
“Good.””
“But he knows more than he's telling me.””
Ethan nodded.
“He always has.””
The SUV stopped at a small hotel outside the city.
We rented three rooms under false names.
I barely slept.
At 5:40 a.m., someone knocked.
I reached for the lamp.
“Who is it?””
A man's voice answered.
“Maya.””
Ryan.
I opened the door only a few inches.
He stood alone.
No security.
No driver.
His face looked exhausted.
“How did you find us?””
“Your father.””
My heart sank.
“Then he knows where I am.””
“Yes.””
“Why did you come?””
“To warn you.””
“About what?””
Ryan looked over his shoulder.
“He's coming.””
“Who?””
“Charles.””
The lights in the parking lot suddenly went out.
Every single one.
Ryan stepped inside.
“Get away from the window.””
I moved back.
Ethan appeared in the hallway.
He looked at Ryan.
“You.””
Ryan stared.
“Ethan.””
“You know my name.””
“Yes.””
“Your father knows where Daniel is.””
“I know.””
Ethan stepped closer.
“Where?””
Ryan shook his head.
“I don't know.””
“Liar.””
“I swear.””
A car engine roared outside.
Then another.
Ryan grabbed my hand.
“We need to leave.””
I pulled away.
“Don't touch me.””
He stopped.
“Maya…”
“You don't get to protect me now.””
His eyes filled with pain.
“I know.””
Then the hotel fire alarm began screaming.
People rushed into the hallway.
Smoke poured from the stairwell.
Victoria shouted,
“Fire!””
We ran.
Marcus forced open the emergency exit.
Outside, snow fell heavily.
The parking lot was chaos.
People screamed.
Cars collided.
Then I saw him.
A man stood across the street.
Long black coat.
Dark hair.
Green eyes.
He looked directly at me.
My breath caught.
Ethan grabbed my shoulder.
“Daniel.””
The man raised his hand.
Not waving.
Pointing.
Behind me.
I turned.
Charles Whitmore was standing beside a black SUV.
He held something in his hand.
A photograph.
He shouted,
“Maya! Ask your brother why your mother really died!””
I turned back toward the man across the street.
Daniel was gone.
Only footprints remained in the snow.
Ryan grabbed my arm.
“We have to go.””
I stared at Charles.
“No.””
“What?””
“I need to know.””
Ryan looked at me.
“Know what?””
“Why my mother died.””
Charles smiled from across the street.
Then he held up another photograph.
This one showed my father.
My mother.
And a third person.
A man I'd never seen before.
Underneath the photograph was a date.
*March 14, 2014.*
The day my mother supposedly died.
I stared at Charles.
He mouthed four words.
May you like
*Your father killed her.*
Then the SUV disappeared.
