Chapter 11 - Sebastian’s Betrayal
Arthur felt something inside him break.
“You took a bullet in my house.”
Sebastian looked at Ethan.
“I took it for him.”
“You told me Victoria was behind everything.”
“She was behind enough.”
Victoria’s voice suddenly came through Arthur’s hidden earpiece.
“Don’t believe him.”
Arthur gave no reaction.
Sebastian continued.
“My father offered me a deal.”
Charles smiled.
Arthur looked at him.
“What deal?”
“The drive for Ethan.”
Arthur laughed.
“You think Charles is going to let you walk away?”
Sebastian’s expression tightened.
Charles remained silent.
Arthur understood.
“You don’t trust him either.”
Sebastian looked away.
Arthur stepped closer.
“Then why are you standing beside him?”
“Because I want my son.”
Arthur pointed at Ethan.
“He isn’t property.”
“He’s my blood.”
“So?”
Sebastian stared.
Arthur’s voice sharpened.
“Where were you when he had nightmares?”
“Where were you when he broke his wrist?”
“Where were you when he learned to ride a bicycle?”
“Where were you when his mother supposedly died?”
Sebastian’s face tightened.
Arthur continued.
“You knew.”
“You knew he existed.”
“And you stayed away.”
“I was protecting him.”
Arthur laughed bitterly.
“Everyone in this family uses that sentence.”
Ethan looked between them.
Then he stepped away from Sebastian.
“I want to go home.”
Sebastian froze.
Ethan walked toward Arthur.
Charles raised his hand.
Two armed men stepped forward.
Arthur stopped.
Charles smiled.
“The drive.”
Arthur held it up.
“You want this?”
“Yes.”
Arthur dropped it.
Then crushed it beneath his shoe.
Charles’s face changed.
Arthur smiled.
“That was a copy.”
Lights exploded on outside.
Sirens approached.
Charles turned.
Arthur continued.
“The real files were sent to six federal offices twenty minutes ago.”
Charles went pale.
Daniel had finally done something right.
He had transmitted the evidence.
Charles shouted at his men.
Chaos erupted.
Marcus’s team entered.
Ethan ran toward Arthur.
Arthur grabbed him.
Sebastian moved toward them.
A shot rang out.
Charles collapsed.
Everyone froze.
Sebastian held the gun.
Arthur stared.
Sebastian had shot his own father.
Charles looked down at the wound.
“You idiot.”
Sebastian’s hands shook.
“You were going to kill him.”
Charles laughed weakly.
“I was going to kill all of you.”
Federal agents stormed the warehouse.
Charles was arrested alive.
Sebastian surrendered.
Ethan clung to Arthur.
“It’s okay.”
Arthur held him tightly.
“It’s over.”
But it wasn’t.
Because when they returned home, Victoria was gone.
So was Maya.
On the kitchen counter sat Elena’s old photograph.
Written across it:
May you like
YOU TOOK MY FAMILY.
NOW I’M TAKING YOURS.
