Chapter 17: The Truth Comes Out

We didn't go back the way they expected.

Connor found us less than twenty minutes later, bruised and bleeding from a cut above his eyebrow.

He slammed the warehouse door behind him.

We have a problem.

Zane looked up.

How bad?

Connor wiped the blood from his forehead.

Bad enough that we can't trust the police.

I held up the drive.

Then we don't give it to the police.

Both men looked at me.

We give it to everyone.

Connor frowned.

Everyone?

The press. Federal investigators. The Navy. Anyone who can make sure Sofia's family can't bury this again.

Connor pulled out his phone.

I know a reporter who won't sell us out.

Call her.

While Connor made the call, I opened the photograph of my mother again.

My hands were shaking.

Zane noticed.

We'll get her back.

I looked at him.

You promised that before.

His expression fell.

I know.

This time, don't make decisions for me.

He nodded.

I won't.

Connor returned a few minutes later.

The reporter is on her way.

Good.

I looked at the security footage again.

Sofia's face appeared on the screen.

For five years, I'd remembered her as my best friend.

Now all I could see was the woman who had destroyed everything.

Then my phone rang.

Unknown number.

I answered.

Hello?

Sofia's voice came through.

You always were stubborn, Elara.

My blood ran cold.

Where is my mother?

Safe.

For now.

What do you want?

The drive.

I looked at Zane.

You already know we have it.

Then you know what happens if you don't bring it.

I'll bring it.

Zane immediately shook his head.

I ignored him.

But I'm setting the terms.

There was silence.

You don't get to make demands.

Then kill my mother.

Zane's eyes widened.

But understand something first.

If anything happens to her, the entire world gets the evidence.

Sofia went quiet.

That silence told me everything.

She was afraid.

For the first time, Sofia Bellini was afraid of me.

Where?

The old naval training grounds.

One hour.

Come alone.

The call ended.

Connor stared at me.

That was reckless.

Maybe.

I looked at Zane.

But she believed me.

Zane stepped forward.

You're not going alone.

I know.

An hour later, we reached the old training grounds.

The place looked exactly as I remembered it.

Broken fencing.

Abandoned buildings.

The same empty field where Zane and I had once trained together.

Five years earlier, I'd believed that place held some of the happiest memories of my life.

Now it was where everything had begun to fall apart.

A black sedan appeared through the gate.

Sofia stepped out.

She was wearing a dark coat and holding a gun.

My mother was sitting in the back seat.

Alive.

I almost collapsed with relief.

Mom!

She looked toward me.

Elara, don't come any closer!

Sofia smiled.

See? She's fine.

Zane moved beside me.

Sofia immediately raised the gun.

One more step and she dies.

I stopped.

Let her go.

Give me the drive.

I held it up.

First, tell me why.

Sofia's expression changed.

You still don't understand.

Then explain it.

She laughed bitterly.

You always thought you were the better choice.

You had Zane's loyalty, your family's love, and everything I ever wanted.

So you stole him.

No.

Her eyes hardened.

He chose me.

I shook my head.

He chose you because you convinced him that my life was in danger.

For the first time, she looked toward Zane.

And what about Marco?

Sofia's face went pale.

What about him?

I held up my phone.

We know what happened.

We have the recording.

Her hand tightened around the gun.

Zane stepped forward.

Sofia, it's over.

She stared at him.

You don't understand what you've done.

I understand exactly what you've done.

You killed Marco.

No!

Her voice cracked.

I didn't shoot him.

Silence fell over the field.

I looked at her carefully.

Then who did?

She didn't answer.

Zane's expression hardened.

Sofia.

She lowered the gun slightly.

My father hired someone.

My heart stopped.

He wanted the drive.

Marco wouldn't give it to him.

So your father ordered him killed.

Sofia nodded slowly.

I tried to stop it.

I almost laughed.

You tried to stop it?

You threatened me.

You destroyed my life.

Tears appeared in her eyes.

I was scared.

So was I.

I looked at my mother.

And you still kept going.

Sofia's hand trembled.

Suddenly, headlights appeared beyond the gate.

Several vehicles entered the grounds.

Sofia turned.

Connor stepped out of the first vehicle.

Behind him were federal investigators and military police.

Sofia's face drained of color.

Connor raised his hands.

It's over, Sofia.

She looked at me.

You called them.

I nodded.

And the entire confrontation was recorded.

Her eyes widened.

You tricked me.

No.

I looked at Zane.

You finally told the truth.

Sofia's gun slipped from her hand.

The investigators moved in immediately.

My mother was pulled from the car and rushed toward me.

I wrapped my arms around her.

For the first time in years, I allowed myself to cry.

Not because I had lost Zane.

Not because Sofia had betrayed me.

I cried because I had finally survived it.

When I looked up, Zane was standing several feet away.

He didn't come closer.

He waited.

I walked toward him.

It's over.

He nodded.

Yes.

Marco's name will be cleared.

Yes.

My mother is safe.

Yes.

I looked at him for a long moment.

And Sofia?

She'll face trial.

I nodded.

There was one more thing I needed to say.

Zane, I loved you.

His eyes filled with tears.

I know.

But loving you cost me five years of my life.

He lowered his head.

I'm sorry.

I believe you.

He looked at my wedding ring.

Is he real?

I touched the simple gold band on my finger.

Yes.

Does he love you?

I smiled.

More than you ever knew how to.

Zane nodded.

There was pain in his eyes, but no anger this time.

Then I'm glad.

He turned away.

I watched him walk toward the investigators.

For years, I'd imagined the day I'd finally stop loving Zane Vale.

I thought it would feel like victory.

It didn't.

It felt like peace.

Months later, Marco's case was officially reopened.

The evidence from the drive exposed the corruption surrounding his death.

Sofia and several members of her family were charged.

The prosecutor who had helped bury the truth was removed from office and arrested.

My mother eventually stopped asking about Zane.

She stopped asking why I'd disappeared.

She simply told me she was proud of the woman I'd become.

As for me, I went back to Santa Barbara.

My flower shop was still there.

The same little bell hung above the door.

The same sunlight poured through the windows every morning.

And beside the counter stood the man who had waited patiently for me to find my way home.

He took my hand.

Ready?

I smiled.

I've never been more ready.

Outside, the ocean stretched endlessly beneath the afternoon sun.

I had spent years believing that losing Zane meant losing the future I'd dreamed about.

I was wrong.

Sometimes losing the person you love is the beginning of finding yourself.

Sometimes walking away isn't giving up.

Sometimes it is the bravest thing you can do.

I looked down at my wedding ring and smiled.

This time, I had chosen someone who chose me too.

And that was enough.

THE END