Chapter 4 - The Fire Ethan Never Told Me About
The warehouse fire had occurred four years before our wedding.
I knew about it.
Everyone in Chicago did.
A Carter shipment depot had burned.
Seven men died.
Ethan's reputation had hardened after that night.
The story was that a rival gang had attacked.
Now my mother had told me to ask him what really happened.
We moved my mother to a private medical room beneath the mansion.
No hospital.
No police.
Too many people could be bought.
She remained unconscious for most of the night.
Ethan sat across from me.
“You want to know.”
“Yes.”
He looked down.
“I didn't start the fire.”
“Did you know it would happen?”
“No.”
“Then why did my father have evidence against you?”
“I don't know.”
“That's not good enough.”
He looked at me.
“My father had ordered a shipment moved through that warehouse.”
“What shipment?”
“People.”
I froze.
“People?”
“Immigrants being transported illegally.”
I stared at him.
“You were trafficking people?”
“No.”
“But your family was.”
“Yes.”
“And you knew.”
“Yes.”
“Then how are you different?”
His face tightened.
“I shut that operation down.”
“How?”
“I burned the records.”
I couldn't breathe.
“The warehouse fire.”
“Yes.”
“You killed those men.”
“No.”
“Seven people died.”
“I didn't know they were inside.”
“Did you check?”
“I thought the building was empty.”
“You thought?”
He looked away.
“That night destroyed me.”
“Because you realized you were responsible?”
“Because I realized my father's empire was built on things I had refused to see.”
He looked at me.
“I spent years dismantling it.”
“So why become a crime boss?”
“Because walking away would have left worse men in control.”
I didn't know whether to believe him.
Perhaps the hardest thing about Ethan was that every truth seemed to contain another truth beneath it.
“You should have told me.”
“Yes.”
“Why didn't you?”
“Because I knew you would hate me.”
“I might have respected the honesty.”
He smiled sadly.
“I didn't believe I deserved your respect.”
The words caught me off guard.
Then Brian entered.
“Boss.”
“What?”
“We found Derek.”
“Where?”
“At the docks.”
Ethan stood.
“I'll go.”
“I’m coming.”
“No.”
“I need answers.”
“It may be dangerous.”
“So is staying here.”
He looked at me.
Then nodded.
We drove to the docks.
Rain hammered the windshield.
The port was nearly empty.
Containers towered over the asphalt.
Derek stood beside a black SUV.
He held a gun.
“You actually came,” he said.
Ethan stepped forward.
“You betrayed me.”
Derek smiled.
“I betrayed you months before you married her.”
I felt sick.
“Why?”
“Because you were weak.”
“Why work for Henry?”
“Because Henry understands power.”
Ethan raised his weapon.
“Where is Claire's father?”
“Safe.”
“Where?”
Derek looked at me.
“You really want to know?”
“Yes.”
“He is the reason your marriage happened.”
I frowned.
“What?”
“Your father arranged everything.”
“That isn't true.”
“He knew Ethan needed territory.”
“He wanted me married off?”
“No.”
Derek laughed.
“He wanted Ethan close enough to protect you.”
I stared at Ethan.
“What?”
Derek continued.
“Your father knew Henry was coming.”
“Then why didn't he tell me?”
“Because you would have run.”
I felt betrayed by everyone.
“My father used me.”
“Yes.”
“Ethan knew?”
“No.”
Ethan looked at me.
Derek smiled.
“He thought he was marrying a bargaining chip.”
“And my father?”
“Was trying to build a shield.”
Ethan's expression changed.
“You're lying.”
Derek raised the gun.
“Ask Ethan what happened the night your father disappeared.”
A gunshot rang out.
Derek dropped.
Not dead.
A bullet had hit his shoulder.
Brian appeared behind us.
“Sniper.”
Ethan pulled me down.
We ran.
Then the SUV exploded.
The force threw me onto the pavement.
For several seconds I could hear nothing.
When my hearing returned, Ethan was beside me.
Blood ran down his forehead.
“Jane.”
“I'm okay.”
He looked at me.
“I thought I lost you.”
Something inside my chest broke open.
He reached for me.
I grabbed his hand.
For a few seconds, neither of us spoke.
Then his phone rang.
He answered.
A distorted voice said:
“Bring Jane to the old Carter chapel tomorrow.”
Ethan's face went cold.
“Why?”
“Because her father is waiting.”
The call ended.
I looked at him.
“My father.”
Ethan nodded.
“I'll go.”
“I won't.”
“I'll go with you.”
“Ethan—”
“Your father asked for you.”
May you like
He stared at me.
“And whatever happens next, you deserve to hear it from him.”
Related Stories
