Chapter 24 - THE TRAITOR
The shooting changed everything.
The police secured the building.
Vivian survived.
But Marlo no longer knew whom to trust.
She reviewed every person with access to their family records.
One name kept appearing.
Her own uncle.
Daniel.
Weston's younger brother.
Daniel had always been considered harmless.
A quiet accountant.
A man who avoided the family business.
But Marlo discovered something disturbing.
He had been transferring money to Victor Hale.
For seven years.
She confronted him.
Daniel didn't deny it.
“I owe him.”
“For what?”
“My life.”
He explained.
Years ago, Victor had saved Daniel from a criminal investigation.
In return, Daniel became an informant.
But he insisted he never betrayed the family.
“I gave him information about business deals.”
“You gave him access to our records.”
“I didn't know what he wanted.”
Marlo stared.
“Then why did you keep doing it?”
Daniel lowered his head.
“Because he threatened my daughter.”
That changed everything.
Victor wasn't merely manipulating criminals.
He controlled families.
Marlo realized something else.
Victor's strength wasn't money.
It was leverage.
He knew exactly what people loved.
And exactly what they feared losing.
That night, Marlo received a message.
COME ALONE.
A location followed.
She didn't go.
Instead, she sent the information to Detective Reed.
They followed the signal.
Inside the warehouse, they found no Victor.
They found hundreds of files.
Each one contained the name of a family.
Politicians.
Judges.
Business leaders.
Doctors.
Lawyers.
People with secrets.
Marlo stared.
Victor had built an empire of blackmail.
Then she found a file marked:
SABLE BENNETT.
Inside was a photograph of Marlo as a newborn.
Taken in the hospital.
Marlo's blood ran cold.
Victor had been watching her from the beginning.
Then she found another file.
WESTON CALLAWAY.
And another.
MARLO CALLAWAY.
The newest file was dated that morning.
Inside was one photograph.
Marlo leaving her office.
Someone had followed her.
She whispered:
“He knows everything.”
Detective Reed looked at her.
“No.”
May you like
He pointed to the final page.
“He wants you to know he knows.”
