Chapter 12: The Secret Between Brothers
The message stayed on my screen.
*Ask Daniel what he did the night Robert Carter died.*
I looked at my brother.
He didn’t deny it.
That scared me more than anything.
“Daniel.””
He closed his eyes.
“I knew this would happen.””
“What would happen?””
“The moment you found me, someone would try to turn us against each other.””
I held up my phone.
“Someone already is.””
Michael stepped closer.
“Ryan, don’t let fear control this.””
I looked at him.
“Easy for you to say.””
His expression fell.
“You’re right.””
For once, he admitted it.
“I should have told you more.””
“That’s an understatement.””
Daniel walked toward a broken table.
He looked exhausted.
“I need to tell you the truth.””
I crossed my arms.
“Finally.””
He nodded.
“The night Dad died, I was there.””
My heart stopped.
“You were there?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
Daniel looked down.
“Because he called me.””
I stared at him.
“My father called you?””
“Three days before he died.””
“Why didn’t he tell me?””
“Because he thought telling you would put you in danger.””
I laughed quietly.
“That excuse again.””
Daniel looked at me.
“I know how it sounds.””
“No, you don’t.””
My voice cracked.
“You all decided what I could handle.””
I pointed at him.
“At least you got to know him.””
Daniel looked hurt.
“I lost him too.””
“You had twenty years with the truth.””
“And you had twenty-eight years with his love.””
The words stopped me.
Because they were both true.
Daniel sat down.
“Dad found me because he wanted to fix what happened.””
“What happened?””
He stared at the floor.
“The person who took me wasn’t a stranger.””
My stomach tightened.
“Who?””
Daniel looked at Michael.
Michael nodded.
“Tell him.””
Daniel took a breath.
“Diane’s brother.””
I froze.
“Diane has a brother?””
“Yes.””
“Where is he?””
Daniel looked at me.
“Dead.””
The room went silent.
“What?””
“He died years ago.””
“Then why does this matter?””
Daniel’s eyes hardened.
“Because before he died, he confessed.””
“To what?””
Daniel hesitated.
Then said:
“He admitted he was involved in my disappearance.””
I looked at Michael.
“And you knew?””
“Yes.””
“Diane knew?””
Michael didn’t answer.
That was enough.
I felt sick.
All these years.
All these people.
All these secrets.
My father wasn’t hiding one truth.
He was hiding an entire world.
“Why would Diane’s brother take you?””
Daniel looked at the photograph in my hand.
“Because he believed Laura had something.””
“What?””
“A document.””
“What document?””
Daniel stood.
“The original records proving who owned this house.””
I frowned.
“That’s it?””
“No.””
He looked at me.
“The records also showed something about money.””
“What money?””
Daniel’s expression became serious.
“The money your father inherited before he met Diane.””
My mind raced.
The stolen accounts.
The missing documents.
The hidden box.
Everything connected.
“Someone has been after my father’s money.””
Daniel shook his head.
“No.””
He looked at me.
“They were after something much bigger.””
“What?””
He reached into his jacket.
And pulled out a small envelope.
My name was written on it.
My father’s handwriting.
Again.
I stared at it.
“Where did you get that?””
Daniel looked away.
“Dad gave it to me before he died.””
My heart sank.
“He gave you something and not me?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
Daniel handed it over.
“Because he knew I was the only person who could tell you the truth.””
I opened the envelope.
Inside was a single page.
Only one sentence.
*Ryan, if Daniel gives you this letter, it means I failed to protect both of you.*
I stopped.
Then I read the next line.
And everything changed.
*The person you think betrayed us is not the enemy. The real betrayal came from someone we trusted with our lives.*
A sound came from outside.
A car door closing.
Michael looked toward the entrance.
His face changed.
“What?””
I asked.
He whispered:
“They found us.””
Daniel moved toward the window.
Then froze.
“Ryan.””
I looked outside.
A black sedan was parked near the warehouse.
And standing beside it was someone I recognized.
Someone who should not have been there.
Because I had watched him die.
May you like
Or at least…
I thought I had.
