Chapter 7 - THE WOMAN FLYNN LOVED
Victor Hale had been presumed dead for seventeen years.
Yet there he stood.
Alive.
Calm.
And furious.
He looked at my father as though twenty years had disappeared.
“You destroyed everything,” Victor said.
My father shook his head.
“You destroyed yourself.”
Victor smiled.
“Still the same.”
Then he looked at me.
“You're Olivia.”
I couldn't speak.
Flynn stood beside him.
His face was unreadable.
“Flynn,” I whispered.
He wouldn't look at me.
Victor placed a hand on his shoulder.
“You did well.”
Flynn flinched.
That tiny reaction told me everything.
He wasn't proud.
He was trapped.
“Flynn,” I said again.
He finally looked at me.
His eyes were wet.
“I never meant for it to go this far.”
“You planned to kill me.”
“I know.”
“You drugged me.”
“I know.”
“You lied to me.”
“I know.”
“Then don't tell me you loved me.”
He looked down.
“I did.”
The answer hurt because I believed him.
Victor interrupted.
“Enough.”
Flynn turned.
“You promised she wouldn't be hurt.”
Victor's expression hardened.
“She was always going to be collateral.”
Flynn stepped toward him.
“No.”
The two men stared at each other.
Something had changed.
Flynn wasn't obeying anymore.
Victor raised his weapon.
“You forget who made you.”
Flynn's jaw tightened.
“You made me hate her family.”
“I taught you the truth.”
“You taught me your version.”
Silence.
I suddenly understood.
Flynn had been manipulated too.
That didn't excuse him.
But it explained the conflict in his eyes.
Then my father spoke.
“Victor, you know I didn't steal your company.”
Victor turned.
“You forged evidence.”
“No.”
“I saw the documents.”
“My former attorney forged them.”
Victor froze.
My father continued.
“I discovered he had been stealing from both of us.”
Victor stared.
“Then why didn't you tell me?”
“Because he threatened my family.”
Victor's face changed.
“You knew?”
“Yes.”
“And you let me take the blame?”
“I tried to stop you from destroying yourself.”
Victor laughed.
“Twenty years.”
He looked at Fiona.
“Twenty years believing I had been betrayed.”
Fiona whispered:
“I tried to find you.”
Victor's expression softened for the first time.
Then his eyes returned to my father.
“You should have told me.”
“I was afraid.”
“And now?”
My father looked at me.
“Now I'm tired of being afraid.”
Aidan suddenly raised his weapon.
“Enough.”
He pointed it at Victor.
Victor looked surprised.
“You?”
Aidan laughed.
“You've outlived your usefulness.”
Everything happened quickly.
Fiona pushed Flynn aside.
Daniel tackled Aidan.
The weapon fired into the ceiling.
The yacht rocked.
My mother screamed.
Victor grabbed Fiona.
Lena pulled me toward the interior.
“Move!”
We ran.
Behind us, chaos erupted.
The yacht was beginning to lose power.
The storm had become violent.
Lightning illuminated the sea.
Then the emergency lights went red.
A warning sounded.
ENGINE FAILURE.
We reached the communication room.
Lena grabbed the radio.
“Coast Guard, this is private vessel—”
Static.
Nothing.
Then a faint voice.
“Identify yourself.”
Lena almost cried.
“This is the Sterling yacht. We have injured passengers and an attempted homicide. We need immediate assistance.”
The reply came.
“Coordinates?”
She gave them.
Then:
“Remain where you are.”
I almost laughed.
Remain where we were?
The yacht was drifting into a storm.
But it was the first good news we'd had all night.
Then Flynn entered.
His face was bleeding.
He looked at me.
“Olivia.”
I stepped backward.
“Don't.”
He stopped.
“I came to help.”
“Why should I believe you?”
“You shouldn't.”
He looked at Lena.
“Your father has the navigation override.”
I looked toward my father.
He nodded.
“He's right.”
Flynn continued.
“Aidan is trying to take control of the ship.”
“Why?”
“Because Victor never wanted the money.”
I stared.
“What?”
Flynn looked at me.
“He wanted your father to suffer.”
“And Aidan?”
“He wanted the money.”
I suddenly understood the layers of the conspiracy.
Victor wanted revenge.
Aidan wanted wealth.
Fiona wanted survival.
Flynn wanted approval.
And I had been the easiest person to sacrifice.
Flynn reached into his jacket.
I tensed.
He pulled out a phone.
“I recorded everything.”
He handed it to me.
The screen showed hours of conversations.
Aidan.
Victor.
Fiona.
Flynn.
My stomach twisted.
“This could send them all to prison.”
Flynn nodded.
“You too.”
He looked at me.
“If I survive.”
I stared at him.
“You think I will forgive you?”
“No.”
His voice broke.
“I don't deserve it.”
He stepped backward.
“But I want you to live.”
Then an explosion rocked the yacht.
The floor tilted beneath us.
The lights went out.
And from somewhere below came a terrible sound.
Water.
May you like
The hull had been damaged.
The sea was entering the yacht.
