Chapter 8 - The Truth Beneath Chicago
Mara told Roman.
Of course she did.
Ethan expected her to hide the call.
That was why she refused.
“He said come alone.”
Roman stared at the road ahead.
“You’re not going alone.”
“I know.”
She had expected an argument.
Instead Roman nodded.
“Good.”
“Was that personal growth?”
“Don’t ruin it.”
She almost laughed.
They stopped three blocks from the abandoned stockyards.
Federal agents were already moving against Vale properties, but Roman refused to involve them yet.
One mistake could kill Noah.
Mara wore a transmitter beneath her dress.
Roman adjusted it.
His fingers lingered.
“If anything goes wrong—”
“I know.”
“No, you don’t.”
She looked up.
Roman’s composure cracked.
“I spent six years making sure nothing happened to you.”
“Roman.”
“And in three days, you’ve been shot at, kidnapped twice—”
“Almost kidnapped.”
“That distinction is not comforting.”
She touched his face.
“I’m coming back.”
“You cannot promise that.”
“No.”
She swallowed.
“But I can promise I’m going to try.”
Roman kissed her forehead.
Then stepped away.
Mara entered alone.
The stockyards smelled of rust and rain.
Noah sat beneath a hanging industrial lamp.
Alive.
Ethan stood behind him.
“Mara.”
Noah struggled.
“Get out!”
Ethan struck him.
Mara stopped.
“I came alone.”
“Almost.”
Ethan looked toward the darkness.
“Roman is nearby.”
“Obviously.”
Ethan smiled.
“At least you’re honest.”
“Let Noah go.”
“First, the card.”
“The files are already public.”
“I don’t care about Vale anymore.”
Mara frowned.
“What do you want?”
Ethan walked toward her.
“Roman Mercer.”
“Why?”
“Because everything should have been mine.”
There it was.
Not ideology.
Not survival.
Jealousy.
Ethan had grown beside Roman but always behind him.
Roman inherited the Mercer organization.
Roman received loyalty.
Roman received fear.
Ethan received instructions.
“You killed my father because he discovered you were stealing.”
“Yes.”
Mara’s throat tightened.
“And Noah?”
“I tried to recruit him.”
Noah spat blood.
“Your benefits package sucked.”
Mara almost laughed.
Even Ethan looked annoyed.
“What hasn’t Noah told me?”
Ethan smiled.
“Ask him why your father was investigating Mercer finances in the first place.”
Mara looked at Noah.
Her brother went silent.
“Noah?”
“Mara, this isn’t the time.”
“Tell me.”
Ethan did it for him.
“Your father wasn’t merely Roman’s accountant.”
Mara waited.
“He was working with the FBI.”
The revelation hit hard.
David Bennett had been gathering evidence against Roman’s uncle and other organized crime figures.
But he had also been investigating Roman.
Mara looked toward the darkness where she knew Roman was listening.
Ethan continued.
“Your father intended to put Roman Mercer in prison.”
Mara’s eyes burned.
“Did Roman know?”
“No.”
Ethan smiled.
“Not until after David died.”
Mara understood.
Roman had protected the family of a man who had secretly been building a case against him.
“Why?”
Ethan laughed.
“You still think Roman is some wounded prince?”
“No.”
Mara looked straight at him.
“I think he’s a complicated man who has done bad things and still had the ability to choose something better.”
A voice came from behind her.
“Careful. You’ll ruin my reputation.”
Roman stepped from the darkness.
Ethan raised his gun.
“No!”
Mara moved between them.
Ethan smiled.
“There she is.”
Noah suddenly kicked backward, striking Ethan’s knee.
The gun fired into the ceiling.
Roman charged.
Mara ran to Noah.
She cut his restraints with a piece of broken metal.
Roman and Ethan fought between rusted machinery.
Ethan pulled a second weapon.
Noah shouted.
Mara saw Roman pinned.
She grabbed Ethan’s fallen gun.
Her hands shook.
She aimed.
“Stop.”
Ethan looked at her.
Roman did too.
Mara had never held a gun before.
Ethan smiled.
“You won’t.”
“You’re right.”
She lowered it.
Ethan laughed.
Then police lights flooded the broken windows.
Mara had triggered the transmitter’s emergency signal.
Federal agents surrounded the building.
Ethan’s smile disappeared.
Mara looked at him.
“My father wanted evidence.”
She set the gun down.
“So do I.”
Ethan tried to run.
Roman tackled him.
Agents arrested him seconds later.
No execution.
No revenge.
No body disappearing into the Chicago River.
Roman stood beside Mara watching Ethan placed in a federal vehicle.
“You could have killed him,” she said.
“Yes.”
“Why didn’t you?”
Roman looked at her.
“Because you asked me what kind of man I wanted to become next.”
Noah approached.
“Touching.”
He looked at Roman.
“I still don’t like you.”
“Understandable.”
“If you hurt my sister—”
“Noah.”
“I’m establishing expectations.”
Roman nodded solemnly.
“Continue.”
Mara rolled her eyes.
For the first time in eight months, Noah laughed.
Then a federal agent approached Roman.
“Mr. Mercer?”
Roman turned.
The agent held an arrest warrant.
Mara’s smile disappeared.
Roman did not look surprised.
The Vale files had exposed everyone.
Including him.
The agent said, “Roman Mercer, you’re under arrest.”
Mara grabbed Roman’s hand.
He squeezed once.
Then released her.
“No.”
Mara shook her head.
“Roman—”
“This is what your father wanted.”
“You’re not Ethan.”
“No.”
Roman looked toward the agents.
“But I’m not innocent either.”
He held out his hands.
The cuffs closed.
Mara’s eyes filled.
Roman looked at her.
May you like
“No more disappearing.”
Then they took him away.
