Chapter 7 - THE BETRAYAL THAT SAVED A LIFE
Celia screamed his name.
Stellan hit the ground, one hand pressed against his side.
Blood spread beneath his jacket.
Archer stood over him, the gun still raised.
"Get back!" Celia shouted.
Archer looked at her.
"Listen to me. We have thirty seconds."
"You're the one who shot him!"
"Yes."
Stellan struggled to lift his head.
"Why?"
Archer's expression broke.
"Because they were watching."
A burst of gunfire struck the concrete barrier.
Archer dropped beside Stellan.
"The bullet went through the side plate. It's not deep."
Celia looked at the wound.
There was blood, but not nearly enough to explain the way Stellan had collapsed.
"You're telling me you shot him to protect him?"
"I fired a controlled round into his armor. If Julian saw me hesitate, neither of you would leave this building."
Celia looked toward the terminal.
A figure appeared in the upper window.
Julian.
He was watching.
Archer leaned closer.
"There's an access tunnel beneath the loading bay. We can reach the control room without crossing the main floor."
"Then let's go."
Archer helped Stellan stand.
Celia supported his other side.
They moved through a narrow service passage while the gunfire continued outside.
The tunnel smelled of rust and seawater.
Halfway through, Stellan pushed away from Archer.
"I want the truth."
Archer nodded.
"Eleven years ago, Daniel Rowe discovered that Anton Varo's murder had been arranged by Julian. But Julian wasn't working alone."
"Who was helping him?"
Archer hesitated.
"Your father."
Stellan stopped.
"What?"
"Anton had discovered that his own organization was being used to transport people and weapons without his knowledge. He wanted to expose it. Daniel was helping him."
Celia stared.
"Then why was my father blamed?"
"Because Julian found out about the evidence. He arranged an ambush. Daniel was there that night."
"Did he survive?"
Archer looked at her.
"Yes."
Celia stopped walking.
"What?"
"Your father survived the initial attack. He was taken to a private clinic. I helped him escape."
Her entire world seemed to tilt.
"You're saying my father was alive?"
"For three days."
"And then?"
Archer lowered his head.
"He disappeared before I could reach him again."
Celia's voice cracked.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because I received a letter from him. He begged me to keep you away from this family."
"That's not an answer!"
"No. It isn't."
Stellan leaned against the wall.
"Where is Julian getting his information?"
Archer hesitated again.
"Someone inside the Varo organization."
"Who?"
"I don't know."
Celia looked at him.
"You're lying again."
Archer didn't respond.
They reached a steel door.
Beyond it was a control room overlooking the loading bay.
Grekov stood near a desk.
Celia's mother was tied to a chair.
And Julian was holding a small black recording device.
"Well," Julian said. "The family reunion is complete."
Stellan stepped forward.
"Let them go."
Julian smiled.
"You still don't understand. I don't want the agreement."
He held up the recording device.
"I want what's on this."
Celia recognized it immediately.
Her father had owned one just like it.
"Where did you get that?"
Julian looked at her.
"Your father left it for me."
"That's impossible."
"Is it?"
He pressed a button.
A familiar voice filled the room.
Daniel Rowe.
"If you're hearing this, it means I failed to keep my daughter out of the Varo business."
Celia stopped breathing.
Her father's voice continued.
"Stellan, you need to know that your father wasn't the only person I failed to save."
The recording crackled.
Then Daniel said something that made Stellan's face go completely blank.
"Your mother ordered the attack."
Silence.
Julian laughed.
"Now we're getting somewhere."
Stellan looked at him.
"My mother died when I was sixteen."
"Yes. And she was very good at making sure nobody questioned her."
Celia's mother began struggling against her restraints.
"Don't listen to him!"
Julian turned.
"Why not, Mrs. Rowe? You've kept the secret long enough."
Celia looked at her mother.
"Mom?"
Her mother began crying.
"There's something your father never told you."
Julian pressed the recording device again.
A second voice emerged.
A woman's voice.
Stellan's mother.
And she was speaking directly to Daniel Rowe.
"Once the boy is gone, the inheritance will be mine."
Stellan staggered backward.
For the first time since Celia had met him, the ruthless crime lord looked like a frightened child.
Then the recording continued.
"Both boys must disappear. And the girl must never learn what her father signed."
Celia looked at Julian.
Then at her mother.
"Who is the girl?"
Her mother closed her eyes.
May you like
And answered.
"You."
