Chapter 7 - The Betrayal That Broke Roman
Roman was standing in the hallway when Lily showed him the letter.
His face turned white.
"Ava."
They found the tracker in the girl's bracelet.
It led to an abandoned dock.
Roman drove faster than anyone Lily had ever seen him drive.
Lena sat beside her.
Anna stayed behind under protection.
They reached the dock.
Arthur stood near the water.
Ava was beside him.
She wasn't tied.
She wasn't crying.
She was simply holding his hand.
"Daddy!"
Roman stepped out.
Arthur raised a weapon.
"Don't come closer."
Roman froze.
"You have my daughter."
Arthur looked at Ava.
"She is safe."
"Let her go."
"No."
"Why?"
"Because your father destroyed my family."
Roman's eyes narrowed.
"My father?"
"You think I served your family out of loyalty?"
Arthur laughed.
"I served them because I wanted access."
"To what?"
"The ledger."
Roman stared.
Arthur continued.
"Twenty-five years ago, Moretti hired me."
"Why didn't you take the ledger?"
"I never found it."
"And now?"
Arthur looked at Lily.
"She has it."
Lily stepped forward.
"I don't."
Arthur smiled.
"Your sister does."
Lena looked shocked.
"What?"
Arthur pointed at Lena.
"Anna split the evidence between the twins."
Lily stared.
Lena's face changed.
"I don't have anything."
Arthur laughed.
"You don't remember."
He raised the gun.
"That's the problem with children. They forget."
Ava stepped between them.
"Don't hurt Lily."
Arthur looked at her.
"I won't."
Then he pulled the trigger.
Roman moved.
The bullet struck him in the chest armor beneath his coat.
He fell backward.
Lily screamed.
Arthur ran.
Security chased him.
Lily rushed to Roman.
"Are you okay?"
He gasped.
"Armor."
She laughed and cried simultaneously.
"You're insane."
"Apparently."
Ava hugged him.
"I'm sorry."
Roman held her.
"This isn't your fault."
Meanwhile Lena stood frozen.
She touched her head.
"I remember."
Lily turned.
"What?"
"The night we were separated."
She began crying.
"I remember a red box."
"Where?"
"In the church."
"What church?"
"St. Matthew's."
They rushed there.
Beneath the altar they found a metal container.
Inside were hundreds of names.
The true Red Ledger.
But there was one page missing.
The final page.
Lena whispered:
"I know where it is."
"Where?"
"In my memory."
She described a room.
A clock.
A painting.
A locked cabinet.
Roman recognized it.
"Moretti's house."
They broke into the estate with federal agents.
Moretti was waiting.
He wasn't surprised.
"You finally found me."
Roman stepped forward.
"You killed my father."
Moretti smiled.
"Your father killed himself."
"Because of you."
"Because he knew what would happen."
Lily spoke.
"Why did you separate us?"
Moretti looked at her.
"Because your mother had discovered the ledger."
"And you thought twins could lead you to it."
"Exactly."
"Why not kill us?"
"Because dead children remember nothing."
Lena stepped forward.
"Not always."
Moretti's eyes widened.
She recited the code.
Then the final page location.
Moretti attacked.
Roman stopped him.
Federal agents entered.
Moretti was arrested.
But Arthur was still missing.
They found him two hours later on a bridge.
He had no weapon.
Only a photograph.
His wife.
His brother.
His son.
All dead.
Roman stood across from him.
"You could have asked for help."
Arthur laughed.
"You think you understand revenge?"
"No."
Roman looked at him.
"I understand loss."
Arthur's eyes filled.
For a long time neither spoke.
Then Arthur lowered his head.
"I’m sorry."
Roman nodded.
"You will have to tell that to the court."
Arthur surrendered.
The network collapsed.
Names made headlines.
Companies froze.
Politicians resigned.
The FBI raided offices across three states.
But Lily cared about one thing.
Her family.
Ava was safe.
Anna was safe.
Lena was safe.
And Roman was alive.
That night, Lily found him alone.
His shoulder was bandaged.
His chest was bruised.
She sat beside him.
"I thought I was going to lose you."
"You didn't."
"What if I had?"
"I didn't."
She looked at him.
"You always answer everything like that."
"Because I'm here."
She leaned against him.
"I love you."
He kissed her hair.
"I love you too."
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For the first time in Lily's life, someone wasn't promising forever.
He was simply staying.
