Chapter 8
The lie changed again.
That was the thing about old betrayals.
You think you've reached the center.
Then another wall opens.
I looked at Agatha.
“What were you planning?”
She didn't answer.
Leon did.
“To remove you.”
Julian stopped fighting the guards.
Even he looked surprised.
Good.
Not everyone had known everything.
Agatha stared at Leon.
“You swore.”
He smiled.
“You chained all of us to your secrets. Don't complain when one breaks.”
I stepped closer to my aunt.
“Remove me how?”
Agatha lifted her chin.
“You weren't ready.”
I almost laughed.
“For what?”
“This family.”
“You decided that?”
“Someone had to.”
She believed it.
Even now.
“My father chose me.”
“Your father was dying.”
“My men followed me.”
“Because they were told to.”
“You wanted Julian.”
Agatha glanced at her son.
“No.”
Julian's face changed.
That hurt him.
She continued.
“Julian was useful.”
He stared at her.
“Mom.”
Agatha ignored him.
“I wanted stability.”
I looked at Leon.
He answered.
“She wanted a council.”
Of course.
Not one boss.
A group she could control.
Leon.
Julian.
Two older capos.
Agatha behind all of them.
“And Elena knew.”
“Yes.”
“She was taking Merrick away.”
“Yes.”
Agatha finally spoke.
“She panicked.”
I turned.
“She was protecting our son.”
“She was stealing him from his family.”
There was the justification again.
“She was taking him away from you.”
Agatha's eyes sharpened.
“She knew you would choose Elena over duty.”
“Yes.”
My answer surprised her.
I stepped closer.
“I would have.”
Agatha's face twisted.
“Exactly.”
She almost spat the word.
“That woman made you weak.”
“No.”
“She turned you into a husband.”
“That was the idea.”
“You could have ruled everything.”
“I already did.”
“With her whispering in your ear.”
I stared.
Agatha continued.
“She told you to question old arrangements. Old men. Me.”
“So you killed her.”
“I did not kill her.”
“Then what did you do?”
Silence.
Leon answered.
“She called Northgate.”
Agatha turned.
Leon corrected himself.
“Through Julian.”
Julian looked sick.
Agatha snapped:
“I told him to scare her.”
I felt my pulse slow.
“Say it clearly.”
“She was leaving with Merrick.”
“Say it.”
“I wanted the car stopped.”
“Say it.”
Agatha's eyes flashed.
“I wanted her frightened enough to come back!”
Silence.
Finally.
Her voice rose.
“If she had listened, none of it would have happened!”
Merrick had heard that logic for months.
His mother died because she didn't listen.
He was thrown from his wheelchair because he didn't obey.
Pain was always the victim's fault.
Agatha couldn't imagine another world.
I looked at Leon.
“What happened?”
He exhaled.
“Northgate's red car came up behind us.”
“Then?”
“Elena realized.”
His voice changed.
“She told me to stop.”
“Did you?”
“No.”
“Why?”
Leon looked at Agatha.
“Orders.”
My hands clenched.
“Then?”
“Northgate hit the rear quarter.”
“Once?”
“Twice.”
“And the car went over.”
“Yes.”
I stared at him.
“You survived.”
“Yes.”
“How?”
“Thrown clear.”
“Merrick?”
“Back seat.”
“Elena?”
Silence.
“What happened to Elena?”
Leon looked down.
“She was alive when I climbed back.”
Everything inside me stopped.
Alive.
Agatha sat very still.
Julian closed his eyes.
I heard myself ask:
“How alive?”
Leon swallowed.
“Talking.”
“What did she say?”
He looked at me.
“Your name.”
I couldn't breathe for one second.
“What happened next?”
Leon stared at Agatha.
She said:
“No.”
I turned.
Leon continued.
“Agatha arrived.”
The room became silent.
My aunt had told me she learned about the crash from Julian.
She had lied.
Again.
I stepped toward her.
“You were there.”
Agatha stood.
“Conrad—”
“You were at Blackwood Road.”
“It isn't what you think.”
“My wife was alive.”
“She was dying.”
“You don't know that.”
“I saw her!”
Her voice cracked.
Finally.
Emotion.
Not guilt.
Anger that I refused her version.
“She was bleeding. She couldn't move. Merrick was screaming. Northgate men were panicking.”
“What did you do?”
Agatha stared at me.
Then Julian whispered:
“Mom…”
She looked at him.
And I understood from his face.
Even Julian didn't know this part.
Agatha turned back to me.
“I made a decision.”
My blood went cold.
“What decision?”
She said nothing.
But Leon did.
“She ordered us to take Merrick.”
May you like
Pause.
“And leave Elena in the car.”
