Chapter 9 - THE MAN WHO WAS SUPPOSED TO BE DEAD
Gunshots echoed upstairs.
Adrian pushed us behind a concrete pillar.
"Nobody moves."
Rose grabbed my hand.
I could feel her trembling.
The old man entered the basement slowly.
He was thinner than the photographs.
Older.
But his eyes were sharp.
Adrian stared at him.
"You died."
His grandfather smiled.
"Apparently not."
Eleanor stepped forward.
"You killed him."
"I survived."
"You killed your own son."
"I protected my legacy."
Adrian's voice shook.
"Which son?"
The old man looked at him.
"Both."
Silence.
Then he looked at me.
"You're Rose's daughter."
I stepped forward.
"You ruined my life."
He smiled.
"No."
"You stole my mother."
"I saved her."
"You tried to kill her."
"I tried to silence her."
"That's not saving."
He shrugged.
"History rarely remembers the difference."
Adrian attacked him.
Two guards pulled him back.
The old man looked at Lucia.
"Bring me the child."
I stepped between them.
"No."
He smiled.
"She has something I need."
"The microfilm?"
"No."
He pointed at Lucia.
"The dance."
I froze.
"What?"
"The dance contains the location."
Rose whispered:
"The falling star."
The old man nodded.
"Your mother hid the coordinates inside the choreography."
I looked at Rose.
She nodded slowly.
"I never told you."
"But you taught me."
"I had no choice."
The old man smiled.
"Exactly."
Adrian's eyes narrowed.
"Where is the trust?"
The old man laughed.
"You still think it's money."
He looked at me.
"Ask your mother what happened the night she gave birth."
Rose closed her eyes.
"I remember."
"What happened?"
"I left the hospital with you."
"And?"
"Daniel found us."
"He took me?"
"No."
Rose's voice trembled.
"He took your identity."
I frowned.
"What?"
"He registered another child under your name."
The room went silent.
"There was another baby?"
Rose nodded.
"A boy."
I stared.
"Where is he?"
"Dead."
Adrian's face changed.
"Who?"
Rose looked at him.
"Your brother."
Adrian's breath stopped.
"The baby who died was not my brother."
Rose shook her head.
"He was alive."
"Then where is he?"
She looked at the old man.
"He raised him."
The old man smiled.
Adrian whispered:
"Where?"
The old man answered:
"Right under your nose."
A door opened behind us.
A man stepped into the basement.
Young.
Tall.
Dark-haired.
Adrian stared at him.
Then stepped backward.
"No."
May you like
The man smiled.
"Hello, brother."
