Chapter 6 - The Betrayal Inside West Meridian
Cameron moved Emily and Hope before sunrise.
This time, he trusted only one person.
Maria Alvarez had worked for Cameron’s grandmother before Cameron was born. She lived on a horse farm two hours north and possessed the unusual combination of grandmotherly warmth and a willingness to point a shotgun at uninvited visitors.
Hope adored her immediately.
Emily looked less convinced.
“You’re leaving?”
“I need to go to West Meridian.”
“Alone?”
“Less suspicious.”
“That sounds like billionaire logic for stupid.”
Cameron almost smiled.
“I’ll be back tonight.”
Hope ran toward him.
“Promise?”
That word again.
Cameron crouched.
“Promise.”
She wrapped her arms around his neck.
Cameron froze.
Then slowly hugged her back.
Over Hope’s shoulder, he saw Emily watching.
Something in her expression terrified him more than Nathan Pierce ever could.
Because Cameron knew that look.
She was beginning to trust him.
He drove to Manhattan.
Nathan was waiting.
“So the king returns.”
Cameron walked past him.
“Close the door.”
Nathan did.
“You look terrible.”
“Thank you.”
“What happened to your grandmother’s house?”
Cameron stopped.
Nathan realized his mistake half a second too late.
Cameron turned.
“How did you know where we were?”
Nathan recovered.
“Security called me.”
“No, they didn’t.”
“Cameron—”
“I checked.”
Silence.
Cameron stepped closer.
“Were you there?”
Nathan laughed.
“You think I threw a brick through your window?”
“I think you know who did.”
“You’re losing perspective.”
“Daniel Carter.”
Nathan’s face changed.
Barely.
Enough.
Cameron continued.
“He knew about Red Harbor.”
Nathan walked toward the bar.
“Daniel Carter stole millions.”
“My father created Red Harbor.”
Nathan stopped pouring.
Cameron watched his hand.
Steady.
Too steady.
“So she found the files,” Nathan said.
There it was.
Not a question.
A confession disguised as resignation.
Cameron felt seventeen years of friendship collapse.
“You framed him.”
Nathan turned.
“No.”
“Then explain.”
“I protected you.”
“From what?”
“Your father.”
Cameron stared.
Nathan laughed bitterly.
“You really think Richard West built that empire with clean hands?”
“I knew he was corrupt.”
“You knew nothing.”
Nathan poured two drinks.
Cameron did not touch his.
“Red Harbor moved bribes for Richard. Ports, unions, inspectors, politicians. Daniel found it.”
“So you framed Daniel.”
“I contained him.”
“He died believing everyone thought he was a thief.”
“I didn’t kill him.”
“You destroyed him.”
Nathan slammed his glass down.
“To save you!”
Cameron’s voice dropped.
“Do not make me the reason.”
“You inherited a company weeks away from federal seizure. If Daniel talked, forty thousand people lost their jobs. Your father’s crimes became yours.”
“They weren’t mine.”
“The public wouldn’t care!”
Nathan breathed hard.
“I moved the evidence. I made Daniel look responsible. You rebuilt the company. Thousands of families kept their paychecks.”
“And you kept Red Harbor.”
Nathan said nothing.
Cameron understood.
“That’s what this is about.”
Nathan looked away.
“You didn’t stop.”
“Some systems cannot simply be stopped.”
“You stole from me.”
“I protected what we built.”
“How much?”
Nathan laughed.
“You still think this is about money.”
“What is it about?”
“Power.”
Cameron stared at the man he had once trusted with everything.
Nathan continued.
“Your father understood something you never did. People don’t obey good men. They obey men who control consequences.”
“You threatened a six-year-old.”
“I never authorized that.”
Cameron’s hands curled.
“Who did?”
Nathan’s expression shifted.
Fear.
Real fear.
“There are people above me.”
“Names.”
“I can’t.”
“Names.”
Nathan stepped closer.
“If they know you have that drive, Emily Carter is already dead.”
Cameron’s blood went cold.
“Who?”
Nathan whispered:
“Victor Lang.”
Cameron knew the name.
Everyone did.
Victor Lang was chairman of Halcyon Capital, one of the largest private infrastructure funds in North America.
He was also West Meridian’s largest outside investor.
“He financed Red Harbor,” Nathan said.
Cameron’s phone rang.
Maria.
He answered immediately.
“Maria?”
No response.
Then Hope’s voice.
“Cameron?”
His heart stopped.
“Hope.”
“She took Mommy.”
Cameron gripped the desk.
“Who?”
“A lady came. She said she knew you. Mom went outside because the lady said you got hurt.”
“Where’s Maria?”
“She fell down.”
Cameron was already moving.
“Hope, listen carefully. Lock yourself somewhere safe.”
“I’m in the pantry.”
“Good girl. Do not come out until police arrive.”
“Is Mommy coming back?”
Cameron closed his eyes for half a second.
“Yes.”
He looked at Nathan.
Nathan had gone white.
“Cameron,” Hope whispered.
“I’m here.”
“You promised.”
His voice became steel.
“I know.”
He hung up.
Nathan stepped backward.
“I didn’t do this.”
Cameron grabbed his jacket.
“Then help me find who did.”
Nathan stared at him.
“Victor will kill us both.”
May you like
Cameron opened the door.
“Then you’d better make yourself useful before he gets the chance.”
