Chapter 8: The Hidden Inheritance
Malcolm Bannon had always been a man who believed silence was power.
He walked into rooms expecting people to lower their voices.
He expected hesitation.
Fear.
Respect.
But Cody did not move.
The sixteen-year-old simply stared at him.
And Jillian realized something.
Malcolm was not used to being looked at honestly.
“You think you’re brave,” Malcolm said.
Cody shook his head.
“No.””
The answer surprised him.
“Then what are you?””
Cody looked at Jillian.
Then at Patrick.
Then back at Malcolm.
“Tired.””
Nobody spoke.
The simplicity of the word hit harder than anger.
Malcolm’s expression darkened.
“You don’t understand what you’re involved in.””
Cody smiled sadly.
“That’s what everyone keeps saying.””
Jillian placed a hand on his shoulder.
Malcolm noticed.
“Interesting.””
“What?””
“You chose her.””
Cody frowned.
“What?””
“You chose Jillian over your own blood.””
Jillian stepped forward.
“Don’t talk to him like that.””
Malcolm ignored her.
“Your father made the same mistake.””
Cody froze.
“My father?””
“Yes.””
Malcolm walked slowly around the room.
“Shawn believed people could escape their names.””
He looked at Cody.
“He was wrong.””
Emmett’s voice cut through the room.
“You’re done, Malcolm.””
Malcolm laughed.
“Am I?””
He looked at Emmett.
“After twenty years, you still think you’re the hero.””
Jillian looked between them.
“What happened twenty years ago?””
Neither man answered.
That silence told her everything.
“Emmett.””
He looked at her.
“Your father and Malcolm worked together once.””
The words shocked her.
“What?””
Malcolm smiled.
“Tell her the whole story.””
Emmett’s jaw tightened.
“I was young.””
“That’s not an excuse.””
“No.””
Emmett looked at Jillian.
“It’s a fact.””
Malcolm stepped closer.
“The Carbones and Bannons were never enemies.””
Jillian felt sick.
“Then what were they?””
“Partners.””
The room went silent.
Patrick whispered:
“Malcolm.””
His father looked at him.
“What?””
“You told me they were the enemy.””
Malcolm smiled.
“I told you what you needed to believe.””
Patrick looked broken.
His entire life had been built on lies.
Malcolm continued.
“Your uncle Shawn discovered the truth.””
Jillian looked at him.
“And you killed him.””
A long silence.
Malcolm did not deny it.
Instead, he said:
“Shawn made a choice.””
Cody stepped forward.
“You killed my dad.””
Malcolm looked at him.
“I removed a threat.””
Jillian’s anger exploded.
“He was your son.””
“No.””
Malcolm’s voice became cold.
“He was my mistake.””
The words hung in the air.
Even his own family looked horrified.
Then Emmett moved.
Fast.
The men surrounding Malcolm immediately raised their weapons.
“Don’t.””
Emmett stopped.
Malcolm smiled.
“Still protecting people.””
The old man turned toward Cody.
“Where is the rest of the map?””
Cody said nothing.
Malcolm stepped closer.
“Your father left clues because he knew you were smart.””
Cody looked at the index card.
Then at Jillian.
She noticed something.
A tiny detail.
A symbol in the corner.
A small drawing Cody had made himself.
“What is that?””
Cody looked down.
“What?””
“That symbol.””
He stared.
“I’ve seen it before.””
“Where?””
Cody’s face slowly changed.
“On my father’s old watch.””
Patrick looked up.
“What watch?””
“The one Grandpa kept after the funeral.””
Everyone turned.
Malcolm’s expression changed.
Only for a second.
But Jillian saw it.
“You have it.””
Malcolm said nothing.
Jillian stepped forward.
“You have Shawn’s watch.””
The silence confirmed it.
Emmett looked at Malcolm.
“You kept the one thing he left behind.””
Malcolm smiled.
“Because I knew someone would come looking.””
The warehouse lights suddenly flickered.
Then went out.
A gunshot echoed.
Everyone dropped.
May you like
When the emergency lights turned on, Malcolm was gone.
And so was the watch.
