Chapter 8 - The Grave That Was Never Supposed to Be Opened
We reached the cemetery before sunrise.
Malcolm stood beside my mother's grave.
He was alone.
No guards.
No weapons visible.
That frightened me more than an army would have.
Roman stepped out first.
Malcolm smiled.
“You finally found me.”
I got out behind Roman.
“You killed my mother.”
Malcolm looked at me.
“She was never supposed to die.”
“That isn't an answer.”
“She made a choice.”
“What choice?”
“She chose you.”
My fists clenched.
“You stole my sister.”
“I saved her.”
“You kidnapped her.”
“She would have been killed.”
“By whom?”
Malcolm looked at Roman.
“His family.”
Roman's face hardened.
“You are lying.”
Malcolm laughed.
“You still don't understand your family.”
He handed Arthur a folder.
Inside were photographs.
Alexander Vale meeting Victor Dane.
Roman's father meeting Victor.
My mother meeting Malcolm.
Everything had been manipulated.
“Who did this?”
I asked.
Malcolm smiled.
“Your father.”
I stared.
“You expect me to believe that?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because Gabriel Mercer was willing to burn everyone to save himself.”
My father appeared behind us.
“You always were a liar.”
Malcolm turned.
“Gabriel.”
My father stepped forward.
“Tell her the truth.”
Malcolm laughed.
“You mean the truth about how you betrayed Alexander?”
My father froze.
I looked at him.
“Did you?”
He closed his eyes.
“For a short time.”
My heart broke.
“What did you do?”
“I gave Malcolm access to part of the ledger.”
“Why?”
“Because he had your mother.”
Silence.
“He threatened to kill you.”
I stared.
“So you helped him.”
“For one day.”
“What happened?”
“I realized he was going to kill Alexander anyway.”
Malcolm stepped forward.
“Your father stole the ledger.”
“I protected it,” Gabriel said.
“You ran.”
“I survived.”
Malcolm smiled.
“You abandoned your family.”
Gabriel's eyes filled with tears.
“I left so they could live.”
I looked at both men.
“Who killed Alexander?”
Malcolm said nothing.
My father answered.
“Malcolm.”
Malcolm's smile disappeared.
Roman stepped forward.
“We have the audio.”
Malcolm's expression changed.
“What audio?”
“The recording.”
He looked at me.
“You found it.”
“Yes.”
Roman held up a device.
“You're finished.”
Malcolm laughed.
“You think one recording can destroy me?”
“No.”
Roman's voice was calm.
“Thirty-seven.”
Malcolm's face changed.
“What?”
“Thirty-seven recordings.”
Arthur stepped closer.
“Federal agents are already listening.”
Malcolm looked around.
Sirens echoed in the distance.
“You can't prove the hospital payment.”
“We don't need to.”
Roman held up the ledger.
“We have the original.”
Malcolm's confidence vanished.
“You will destroy your own family.”
Roman shook his head.
“No.”
He looked at me.
“I am saving it.”
Malcolm's face twisted.
“You think she loves you?”
Roman's eyes hardened.
“That isn't your concern.”
Malcolm looked at me.
“He married you because of your father.”
I felt Roman tense.
But I answered before he could.
“He stayed because of me.”
Malcolm scoffed.
“He sees you as leverage.”
“No.”
I looked at Roman.
“He sees me as family.”
Roman's eyes softened.
Malcolm stared.
Then he smiled.
“Family.”
He laughed.
“You have no idea what family does.”
He pulled a small gun from his coat.
Arthur moved.
Roman moved faster.
The weapon dropped.
Malcolm was taken into custody.
I stood beside my mother's grave.
For a long time, I said nothing.
Then I whispered:
“You didn't abandon us.”
Gabriel stood behind me.
“I should have told you sooner.”
I turned.
“I wish you had.”
“I know.”
Lena took my hand.
For the first time, we stood together as sisters.
Roman approached.
“I have something for you.”
He handed me a small box.
Inside were the rhodium cufflinks.
The ones I had chosen that afternoon.
“I thought we lost them.”
“I bought them.”
I smiled.
“I know.”
He looked at the cufflinks.
“You were going to give these to me before everything happened.”
“Yes.”
“Then I want to make a promise.”
“What?”
“I will wear them every day.”
I laughed through my tears.
“You hate jewelry.”
“I hate most things.”
He smiled.
“Not these.”
He kissed me.
For the first time in weeks, the future did not feel like something waiting to hurt us.
It felt possible.
Until Arthur approached.
“There is one more problem.”
Roman looked at him.
“What?”
Arthur handed him a document.
A sealed federal notice.
Victor Dane had escaped custody.
I froze.
“Escaped?”
Arthur nodded.
“An hour ago.”
Roman's expression changed.
“How?”
Arthur looked at me.
“Someone inside the federal transport unit helped him.”
A chill ran through me.
“Who?”
Arthur's voice dropped.
“We don't know yet.”
Roman looked toward the road.
May you like
Then at me.
“We are not finished.”
