Chapter 11: The Truth Marcus Buried
Darkness swallowed the room.
For a few seconds, nobody moved.
Then everything happened at once.
Raymond grabbed a flashlight.
Thomas pushed toward the door.
I held the files against my chest.
“Everyone stay together.””
A sound came from outside.
Footsteps.
Slow.
Confident.
Someone wanted us to know they were there.
Maya wasn’t with us.
That thought hit me immediately.
Elena.
The hospital.
My family.
They were still exposed.
I turned to Thomas.
“Get us out.””
He looked at me.
“You’re not leaving?””
“No.””
“Bear—”
“I spent fifteen years losing them.””
I looked at the files.
“I’m not doing it again.””
Thomas stared at me.
Then nodded.
“Then we finish this.””
We moved through the back exit.
The night air hit my face.
The parking area was empty.
Too empty.
That was what scared me.
A trap didn’t always look dangerous.
Sometimes it looked peaceful.
We reached the vehicle.
Then a voice came from behind us.
“You always were stubborn.””
I turned.
Marcus stood under the streetlight.
No guards.
No weapons.
Just him.
Calm.
Like he had been waiting.
Raymond stepped forward.
“You.””
Marcus smiled.
“Raymond.””
The old friendship between them was gone.
Only betrayal remained.
“You should have stayed gone.””
Marcus looked amused.
“You should have stopped looking.””
My eyes locked on his.
“Why?””
His smile faded.
“Why what?””
“Why did you take Elena?””
Marcus looked toward the garage.
Then back at me.
“Because Elena was the only person who could make you weak.””
I laughed.
“You think love makes people weak?””
“No.””
His expression became cold.
“I think love makes people predictable.””
The words made my stomach turn.
“You destroyed lives.””
Marcus shrugged.
“I protected my own.””
Thomas stepped forward.
“You ruined everything.””
Marcus looked at him.
“You’re one to talk.””
Thomas went silent.
I noticed.
“You two.””
Marcus smiled.
“Thomas always had a conscience.””
“Then why work with you?””
Marcus looked at his brother.
“Because everyone has a price.””
Thomas looked away.
That answer hurt him.
Which meant it was true.
I opened the file.
“You know what I found?””
Marcus didn’t react.
“The evidence.””
Silence.
“The records.””
Still nothing.
Then I held up the letter.
“Your biggest mistake was thinking you controlled everything.””
For the first time, Marcus looked nervous.
Just for a second.
“What did you find?””
I noticed.
And so did Thomas.
Marcus wasn’t afraid of me.
He was afraid of something in that letter.
“You know what’s inside.””
His jaw tightened.
“Give me the letter.””
“No.””
The word came naturally.
Marcus stepped closer.
“You don’t understand what you’re holding.””
“Then explain.””
He stopped.
The street was silent.
Finally, he said:
“Maya isn’t the secret.””
My chest tightened.
“I know.””
His eyes changed.
“What?””
“The letter says someone was protecting her.””
Marcus stared at me.
Then he laughed softly.
“You really have no idea.””
I stepped forward.
“Then tell me.””
Marcus looked toward the hospital in the distance.
Then back at me.
“The person who protected Maya was the same person who ruined my entire plan.””
“Who?””
He smiled.
A real smile this time.
Not cold.
Not controlled.
Almost impressed.
“You still don’t see it.””
My patience disappeared.
“Who?””
Marcus looked directly at me.
“Elena wasn’t running from me.””
A pause.
“She was running from you.””
The words hit like a punch.
I froze.
“No.””
Marcus nodded.
“Yes.””
“You’re lying.””
“Ask her.””
I wanted to believe he was lying.
I needed him to be.
Then my phone buzzed.
A message.
From Elena.
I opened it.
Three words.
*Come back alone.*
My heart sank.
Marcus watched my face.
And whispered:
“She finally told you the truth, didn’t she?””
I looked at him.
“What truth?””
Marcus smiled.
“The reason she really left.””
Before I could answer, a second message appeared.
This one from an unknown number.
A photograph.
Elena.
Inside the hospital.
Talking to someone.
Someone standing behind her.
Someone I recognized.
Someone who should not have been there.
My blood ran cold.
May you like
Because the person Elena was meeting…
was me.
