Chapter 13 - The Son They Wanted
Noah had been taken through a second passage.
My father had built the bunker.
He knew every exit.
We followed the tunnel.
It led beneath the lake.
At the end stood an abandoned warehouse.
Noah was inside.
So was Richard.
And Vanessa's brother.
And an older man sitting in a chair.
My father.
Alive.
He looked almost exactly as I remembered.
“You.”
He smiled.
“Hello, son.”
I raised my weapon.
“You killed my wife.”
He shook his head.
“No.”
“You ordered it.”
“I ordered her disappearance.”
My wife stepped forward.
“You ordered the execution.”
He looked at her.
“You survived.”
“Yes.”
“That was unfortunate.”
I nearly fired.
But Noah was standing between us.
My father smiled.
“The children were always the leverage.”
I said nothing.
He continued.
“Your wife discovered the Circle. Noah was hidden. Emma was hidden. Sophie remained here because she was the key.”
“To what?”
He looked at me.
“To your empire.”
Daniel stepped forward.
“The flash drive.”
My father laughed.
“You think the drive matters?”
He snapped his fingers.
The warehouse doors opened.
Police vehicles surrounded the property.
Not corrupt officers.
Federal agents.
My father looked annoyed.
I smiled.
“The drive was never the evidence.”
He frowned.
“What?”
I held up my phone.
“You've been talking for nine minutes.”
His face changed.
I had recorded everything.
Every confession.
Every threat.
Every name.
He stared at me.
“You wouldn't.”
“I already did.”
Sirens grew louder.
Richard tried to escape.
Agents tackled him.
Marcus surrendered.
My father remained still.
He looked at me.
“You're destroying your family.”
“No.”
I lowered my weapon.
“I'm saving it.”
Then Vanessa stepped forward.
She looked at my wife.
“I am sorry.”
My wife stared at her.
“I don't forgive you.”
Vanessa nodded.
“I know.”
Then she turned toward the police.
“I'll testify.”
And for the first time in years, the Whitaker empire began collapsing.
May you like
But one secret remained.
Emma.
