Chapter 8 - A FATHER'S PRICE
Charles demanded a meeting.
No police.
No FBI.
No Claire.
Daniel alone.
In exchange, Ethan would live.
Rachel immediately rejected the idea.
Daniel ignored her.
“He’s my brother.”
“And this could be a trap.”
“It is a trap.”
Daniel looked at her.
“I’m still going.”
Claire found him before he left.
“You always do this.”
“Do what?”
“Decide you have to save everyone by yourself.”
Daniel looked away.
She touched his hand.
“This isn’t a boardroom.”
“I know.”
“Then stop acting like you control the outcome.”
He looked at her.
For the first time since the fall, Claire looked frightened.
Not for herself.
For him.
Daniel leaned forward and kissed her forehead.
“I’m bringing Ethan home.”
Charles chose an abandoned hotel near the river.
Daniel entered at midnight.
One light burned in the lobby.
Ethan sat tied to a chair.
Charles stood behind him.
Daniel stopped.
Four years disappeared in a second.
His father looked almost exactly as Daniel remembered.
“Hello, son.”
Daniel’s jaw tightened.
“You’re dead.”
Charles smiled.
“Apparently not.”
“Let him go.”
“Where’s the drive?”
“I don’t have it.”
Charles sighed.
“Your mother does.”
Daniel studied him.
“Then why am I here?”
“Because she won’t give it to me.”
Charles stepped closer.
“But she’ll give it to you.”
Daniel looked at Ethan.
His brother shook his head.
“Don’t.”
Charles struck Ethan across the face.
Daniel moved forward.
“Touch him again and—”
“And what?”
Charles smiled.
“You’ll finally become the man I raised?”
Daniel stopped.
Charles had always treated kindness like weakness.
Compassion like failure.
Daniel had spent half his life trying not to become him.
Charles leaned closer.
“The drive contains records of everything.”
“Your crimes.”
“Our family business.”
“No.”
Charles smiled.
“You still think there’s a difference.”
Daniel looked toward Ethan.
“How did you get involved?”
Ethan’s eyes filled with shame.
“I signed papers when I was eighteen.”
“Dad said they were trust documents.”
Charles laughed.
“They were.”
“A trust?”
“A demonstration of trust.”
Ethan looked at Daniel.
“He put everything in my name.”
Daniel turned toward his father.
“You framed your own son.”
“I protected my legacy.”
“You destroyed him.”
Charles’s expression hardened.
“Bring me the drive tomorrow.”
“And Ethan?”
“Stays with me.”
“No.”
Charles pulled a gun.
Daniel stopped.
“Tomorrow.”
He pressed the barrel against Ethan’s shoulder.
“Or your brother disappears exactly like I did.”
Daniel walked toward the exit.
Then Ethan shouted.
“Danny!”
Daniel turned.
Ethan stared at him.
“Mom knows where the original records are.”
Charles struck him.
May you like
But it was too late.
Daniel had heard him.
