Chapter 16: The Truth Zane Kept

The sirens grew louder behind us.

Connor pressed the accelerator, weaving through the evening traffic while Zane kept checking the rearview mirror.

I sat in the back seat with Marco's folder clutched against my chest.

My mind was racing.

Sofia had reported me kidnapped.

She knew exactly where we were.

And somehow, she knew about the photograph.

“Zane,” I said, “you still haven't answered me.”

He didn't look back.

“About that night?”

“Yes.”

Connor glanced at him.

“You need to tell her now.”

Zane was silent for several seconds.

Then he finally spoke.

“Marco called me that night.”

My fingers tightened around the folder.

“He said he'd found proof that Bellini's company was moving illegal military equipment.”

“He wanted to meet me at the old training facility.”

“I went there alone.”

I stared at him.

“What happened when you arrived?”

“I found Marco arguing with Sofia's father.”

My breath caught.

“They were fighting?”

“They were shouting. Marco had a flash drive in his hand.”

Zane's voice became quieter.

“Then Sofia arrived.”

I closed my eyes.

“Why was she there?”

“She said she'd come to convince Marco to hand over the evidence.”

“She didn't.”

“She threatened him instead.”

Connor's hands tightened around the steering wheel.

Zane continued.

“Marco refused.”

“He tried to leave.”

“Then someone shot him.”

I stopped breathing.

“Who?”

Zane's jaw clenched.

“I never saw the shooter's face.”

“You're lying.”

“No.”

“You were there.”

“I was standing outside the building when I heard the gunshot.”

“I ran inside, but Marco was already on the floor.”

Tears burned my eyes.

“Then why did the report say it was an accident?”

“Because by the time I got there, Sofia's father had already called the police.”

“He had witnesses who were willing to lie.”

“And I had no evidence.”

I shook my head.

“You could have told me.”

“I wanted to.”

“Then why didn't you?”

Zane finally looked at me through the mirror.

“Because Sofia gave me a choice.”

My voice trembled.

“What choice?”

“She said if I told you the truth, you'd be next.”

The words silenced me.

“She knew how much I loved you,” Zane continued.

“She knew you were the only person who could make me abandon the investigation.”

“So she threatened to destroy you if I kept looking.”

“And when that didn't work, she threatened your family.”

I stared down at Marco's handwriting.

All these years, Zane had carried this alone.

But that didn't erase what he'd done to me.

“You still married her.”

“I thought the marriage would give me access to her family's records.”

“It was supposed to be temporary.”

“Then why did you let me believe you stopped loving me?”

Zane's eyes filled with regret.

“Because if you hated me, you'd stay away.”

I laughed bitterly.

“You didn't give me a choice.”

“No,” he whispered.

“I didn't.”

The car suddenly swerved.

Connor slammed on the brakes.

A black SUV had pulled directly into the road ahead of us.

Three men stepped out.

Connor cursed.

“Get down!”

A gunshot cracked through the air.

I ducked instinctively.

Zane opened his door and moved toward me.

“Stay behind me.”

Another shot shattered the rear window.

Glass rained across the seat.

Connor drew his weapon.

“There's nowhere to go!”

Zane grabbed my hand.

“There's an alley behind us.”

We jumped out and ran.

My heart hammered as we raced between two buildings.

Behind us, footsteps followed.

Then Connor shouted.

“Go! I'll slow them down!”

Zane pulled me around the corner.

We kept running until we reached an abandoned warehouse.

He pushed open the door and pulled me inside.

For several seconds, we stood in complete darkness.

Then I heard footsteps outside.

Zane pressed a finger to his lips.

We waited.

The footsteps passed.

Only then did he release a breath.

I looked at him.

“Is this what my life has been all these years?”

He shook his head.

“No.”

“It became this because I failed to end it.”

He reached into his jacket and pulled out a small black drive.

I stared at it.

“What is that?”

“The evidence Marco died trying to protect.”

My eyes widened.

“You had it?”

“I've had it for five years.”

“Why didn't you give it to the authorities?”

“Because it wasn't complete.”

He looked at me.

“But now it is.”

He connected the drive to his phone.

A folder appeared.

Inside was a single video file.

Zane pressed play.

The screen showed Marco entering the old facility.

Then Sofia appeared behind him.

I watched in horror as she spoke to my brother.

Her voice was unmistakable.

“Give me the drive, Marco.”

He refused.

Then the video cut to black.

I looked at Zane.

“Who recorded this?”

He pointed to the corner of the screen.

A tiny security camera.

“Marco knew he was being watched.”

My hands shook.

“Then this proves Sofia was there.”

“Yes.”

A second file appeared.

Zane opened it.

This time, the recording showed Sofia speaking with another man.

The man turned toward the camera.

I recognized him immediately.

My stomach dropped.

It was the county prosecutor.

The same man who had signed the original investigation into Marco's death.

“He's been working for them too,” I whispered.

Zane nodded.

“And now they know we have the evidence.”

My phone suddenly lit up.

A message appeared from an unknown number.

“You have ten minutes.”

“Bring the drive.”

“Come alone.”

I looked at Zane.

He read the message over my shoulder.

Then another message appeared.

This time, there was a photograph.

It showed my mother.

My blood ran cold.

Underneath the photograph were six words.

“Your mother won't get another warning.”

I looked at Zane.

For the first time, I wasn't afraid for myself.

I was afraid for the woman who had raised me.

Zane's expression hardened.

“We're going back.”

I shook my head.

“No.”

“We're ending this.”

And this time, I knew exactly what I was going to do.

I was going to make Sofia tell the truth in front of everyone.