Chapter 5 - The Brother Nobody Knew Existed
Nathaniel's expression changed so dramatically that I thought he might collapse.
“Another child?”
Vivian nodded.
“Your father had a son.”
“Where?”
“Alive.”
Nathaniel looked at me.
For the first time, I saw uncertainty in his eyes.
“What's his name?”
Vivian smiled.
“Elias.”
I had no idea who Elias was.
But Nathaniel did.
He remembered a boy.
Someone who had lived in the Graves estate briefly when Nathaniel was young.
A child their father called a distant cousin.
Elias had disappeared after Julian did.
Nathaniel had never connected the two.
Until now.
“Where is he?”
Vivian shook her head.
“That's the problem.”
“What?”
“He controls Northbridge.”
Silence.
“So my father had another son.”
“Yes.”
“And Elias controls the organization that killed him.”
“Yes.”
Nathaniel looked furious.
“Where is my mother?”
Vivian hesitated.
“Alive.”
“Where?”
“I won't tell you.”
He stepped forward.
“I will find her.”
Vivian laughed.
“You still think this is about killing people.”
Nathaniel stopped.
“No.”
He lowered his gun.
“It's about ending this.”
Vivian looked surprised.
“You've changed.”
“No.”
Nathaniel looked at me.
“She changed me.”
I didn't understand what he meant.
Vivian did.
“She is exactly like Evelyn.”
“My grandmother?”
“Yes.”
“She wouldn't hurt anyone.”
“Neither did Evelyn.”
Vivian turned away.
“That's why they destroyed her.”
She left.
Nathaniel wanted to follow.
I stopped him.
“She said my mother is alive.”
“We'll find her.”
“But how?”
“Elias.”
We followed the trail.
Elias had established a network across Chicago.
He had been quietly buying buildings.
Banks.
Warehouses.
Hotels.
Everything.
His plan was simple.
Take Graves Holdings.
Control the trust.
Then absorb Northbridge.
He wasn't trying to destroy Nathaniel.
He wanted Nathaniel alive.
Because Nathaniel was the public face of the empire.
Elias wanted him as a puppet.
We found a hidden recording.
Elias spoke directly to Nathaniel.
“You were always Father's favorite.”
Nathaniel answered,
“I never wanted his approval.”
“You got his name.”
“I got his burdens.”
“You got Ruby.”
Nathaniel stiffened.
Elias laughed.
“She has no idea what she is.”
I stepped closer to the screen.
“You're wrong.”
The recording continued.
“Eighteen is approaching.”
Nathaniel looked at me.
“Why?”
“Because when Ruby turns eighteen, she receives control.”
“Of what?”
“All of it.”
The trust controlled more than money.
It controlled voting rights.
Property.
Ports.
Banks.
And the legal authority to challenge Northbridge.
Elias needed Ruby before her eighteenth birthday.
I suddenly felt very young.
“What happens if he gets me?”
Nathaniel didn't answer.
I didn't need him to.
We left Chicago.
We went to a safe house.
For the first time, I saw Nathaniel without his armor.
He made pancakes.
They were terrible.
I laughed.
“You own half the city and can't cook.”
“I've never had to.”
“Learn.”
He smiled.
The next morning, he taught me to read financial statements.
I taught him how to draw cats.
By the third day, we had stopped talking about mafia families.
We talked about ordinary things.
Books.
School.
Music.
My mother.
Then the safe house door opened.
A man stood there.
Twenty years old.
Dark hair.
Green eyes.
Nathaniel reached for his weapon.
The man raised his hands.
“I'm Elias.”
Nathaniel froze.
Elias looked at me.
“I'm not here to hurt you.”
“Then why are you here?”
“Because your mother is dying.”
Everything stopped.
“Where?”
“Hospital.”
“What happened?”
“They poisoned her.”
Nathaniel moved toward the door.
Elias stopped him.
“There's a condition.”
“What?”
“Come alone.”
Nathaniel stared.
“No.”
Elias looked at me.
“Then she dies.”
I stepped forward.
“Take me too.”
Nathaniel shook his head.
“No.”
“My mother is there.”
Elias looked at him.
“She chose you because she trusts you.”
Nathaniel's eyes narrowed.
“Why would she trust you?”
May you like
Elias smiled sadly.
“Because I'm the reason she survived.”
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