Chapter 13 - My Father Made His Last Move
Victor wanted Account 17 transferred to him.
He still believed money could reverse reality.
I agreed to meet him.
Rafael said no.
“No?”
“No.”
“You're not my father.”
“I know.”
“Then don't give me orders like him.”
Pain crossed his face.
He stepped back immediately.
“You're right.”
That stopped my anger.
He took a breath.
“I am asking you not to go.”
“I have to.”
“Then I'm coming.”
Victor demanded I arrive alone.
I didn't.
I simply made him believe I had.
Federal agents tracked me from a distance.
Rafael stayed farther back because Victor knew his vehicles.
The meeting place was Parcel C.
Of course it was.
Everything had begun there.
Serena sat inside the old office.
Victor held the gun.
“You ruined everything,” he told me.
“No. I stopped cleaning it up.”
“You think Moretti loves you?”
“I think that's none of your business.”
“He wanted your money.”
“He had opportunities to take it.”
“He wanted your company.”
“I offered him access. He refused.”
Dad's face changed.
He couldn't understand Rafael because Rafael had done something Victor never could.
He had been offered power over me and declined it.
“Transfer the account.”
“No.”
The gun moved toward Serena.
I remained still.
“Dad.”
“Do it.”
“No.”
“You'd risk your sister?”
Serena looked at me.
Then smiled.
“Don't.”
Victor turned toward her.
That was his mistake.
I moved.
Serena moved.
Agents entered.
A shot exploded.
Rafael appeared from the side entrance.
Victor fired again.
Then he was on the ground.
Rafael had tackled him.
Agents swarmed.
I ran to Serena.
No blood.
Then I looked at Rafael.
Blood covered his shirt.
“Rafael!”
He looked down.
The bullet had grazed his side.
“I'm fine.”
“You are bleeding!”
“I've had worse.”
“That is not comforting!”
Serena started laughing hysterically.
Then I did too.
Shock was weird.
Victor was handcuffed.
He looked at me.
“June.”
I turned away.
“June!”
For thirty-one years, that voice had controlled me.
This time I kept walking.
At the hospital, Rafael received twelve stitches.
I sat beside him.
“You tackled an armed man.”
“Yes.”
“Stupid.”
“Probably.”
“You could have died.”
His eyes held mine.
“Yes.”
I swallowed.
“Don't do that again.”
“I'll try.”
“Bad answer.”
His hand closed around mine.
“June.”
“What?”
“I love you.”
I stared at him.
Of all the moments.
Hospital room.
Bandage.
Blood on his discarded shirt.
“You picked now?”
“I thought clarity might be useful.”
I laughed and cried simultaneously.
“I love you too.”
He smiled.
A real smile.
It changed his entire face.
Then Elena entered.
She looked troubled.
“What happened?”
She placed a document on the bed.
Victor had filed something before escaping custody.
A challenge to Account 17.
If successful, it could freeze Callow Logistics for years.
“On what grounds?”
Elena looked at me.
“He claims June Callow legally doesn't exist.”
I stared at her.
Then she opened a sealed birth record.
And the mother's name printed there wasn't Laura.
May you like
It wasn't Evelyn either.
It was someone none of us had ever heard of...
