CHAPTER 6 — BROTHER AGAINST BROTHER

The bullet struck Julian in the side.

He crashed against the steel shelves.

Evelyn screamed his name and dragged him behind cover.

Sebastian stared at the gun as if he could not believe he had pulled the trigger.

Conrad looked almost proud.

“There you are,” he said. “My real son.”

Sebastian’s face twisted.

“You made me this.”

“No. I simply stopped pretending you were better.”

Mara fired at the remaining guards.

One fell.

Another retreated into the corridor.

Clara, bleeding from a wound near her ribs, crawled toward the control panel.

Julian pressed his hand against his side.

The bullet had passed through the flesh above his hip. Pain burned across his body, but he could still move.

Evelyn tore fabric from her dress and pressed it against the wound.

“We have to get you out.”

“No.”

“You’ve been shot.”

“And my father is still standing.”

Across the vault, Conrad took the gun from Sebastian.

“You hesitated,” Conrad said.

“I shot him.”

“You failed to kill him.”

Sebastian looked toward Julian’s hiding place.

For the first time, fear replaced jealousy in his eyes.

Conrad aimed at his younger son.

“You were useful because you wanted my approval. Now you know you’ll never have it.”

Before Conrad could fire, Julian stepped out.

“Father.”

Conrad turned.

Julian threw the black archive box bearing his own name.

It struck Conrad’s arm.

The gun discharged into the ceiling.

Sebastian tackled him.

Father and son crashed onto the marble floor.

Conrad struck Sebastian with the weapon.

Julian reached them and kicked the gun away.

For several seconds, the two brothers held their father down.

Then Conrad looked at Julian.

“You think exposing me will free you?”

“It will stop you.”

“No. It will destroy every institution in this city. Judges will fall. Markets will collapse. Governments will panic.”

“Maybe they should.”

Conrad smiled.

“You sound like your mother.”

Julian tightened his grip.

“That’s the first compliment you’ve ever given me.”

Federal tactical officers stormed the vault.

Mara raised her badge.

“Conrad Ashford, you are under arrest.”

Conrad did not resist.

He simply looked at Julian.

“You still don’t understand the game.”

Officers pulled him to his feet.

“The files in this vault are only copies.”

Julian’s stomach tightened.

“Where are the originals?”

Conrad’s smile widened.

Sebastian suddenly ran toward the control panel.

Clara shouted, “Stop him!”

Sebastian struck a switch.

Flames erupted along the archive walls.

Boxes ignited instantly.

Mara grabbed Clara.

Evelyn helped Julian toward the exit.

But Sebastian remained inside, surrounded by fire.

Julian turned back.

“Sebastian!”

His brother stood beneath the smoke, holding Clara’s drive.

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“I spent my whole life in your shadow,” Sebastian said.

Then he disappeared behind a wall of flames.