Chapter 7 - The Brother Who Was Erased
His name was Gabriel Brooks.
Nathan had never heard it.
Margaret had.
When we returned to the estate, Nathan placed my father’s letter in front of her.
She went white.
“You knew.”
It wasn’t a question.
Margaret closed her eyes.
“Yes.”
Nathan stepped back.
“Who is he?”
“Your half-brother.”
Silence.
“How old?”
“Forty-six.”
“Mother.”
“He was born before Michael met me.”
“Why didn’t I know?”
“Because Michael erased him.”
“People are not paperwork.”
“No.”
Margaret’s voice broke.
“Gabriel’s mother was a waitress in Reno. Michael supported them quietly until Gabriel was twelve. Then Michael’s father discovered it and threatened to cut him from the organization.”
“So Dad abandoned his child.”
“Yes.”
Nathan laughed without humor.
“And everyone keeps telling me how much I inherited.”
Margaret continued.
Gabriel grew up angry.
Smart.
Invisible.
By his twenties, he had built connections through freight unions and rail companies.
That was how he met my father.
“Did Gabriel help hide the ledger?”
“Yes.”
“Where is he?”
Margaret looked toward the windows.
“I don’t know.”
Nathan didn’t believe her.
Neither did I.
Rachel Kane did what prosecutors do best.
She searched records.
Within hours, agents connected the bank key from my father’s box to a safety deposit vault in Nevada.
The account holder:
Gabriel Stone.
Stone was his mother’s surname.
“He’s alive,” I whispered.
Rachel nodded.
“And he accessed the box nine days ago.”
Victor’s plan accelerated after that.
First, one of Nathan’s warehouses burned.
No one died.
Then two drivers loyal to him disappeared.
They were later found tied up outside Phoenix, alive but badly beaten.
Then a message arrived.
BRING EMILY AND THE KEY.
Nathan destroyed the phone.
“No.”
I stared.
“You don’t decide alone.”
“This time I do.”
“No.”
“He wants you.”
“He already has Daniel.”
Nathan went still.
“What?”
Rachel entered behind me.
“Victor took your ex-husband from a motel this morning.”
I closed my eyes.
Daniel.
Stupid.
Weak.
Selfish.
Still Noah and Lily’s father.
“What does he want?”
“The key and Emily,” Rachel said.
Nathan shook his head.
“He can have the key.”
“You think he believes that?”
“No.”
I looked at Rachel.
“Can we use me?”
Nathan turned.
“Absolutely not.”
Rachel ignored him.
“Possibly.”
“Rachel.”
She looked at Nathan.
“She is not your employee.”
“I’m aware.”
“Then stop issuing orders.”
I almost liked federal prosecutors.
The plan was controlled.
Tracking device.
Wire.
Tactical teams nearby.
I would not actually enter the exchange site.
Nathan would bring a decoy key.
Victor would hopefully expose the location of Daniel and whatever he knew about Gabriel.
Simple.
Of course, nothing went simply.
The meeting was at an unfinished casino project outside Tucson.
Concrete.
Steel.
Desert.
Victor appeared on the third level.
Daniel beside him.
Face bruised.
Alive.
“Emily!”
Nathan stepped forward.
“Let him go.”
Victor laughed.
“You brought Nathan instead of the woman.”
“You asked for the key.”
“I asked for both.”
“You get one.”
Victor’s men appeared.
Too many.
Rachel’s voice whispered through Nathan’s hidden earpiece.
“Hold.”
Then Victor said something that changed everything.
“Gabriel says hello.”
Nathan froze.
“He works for you?”
Victor smiled.
“You think I found Emily by accident?”
My stomach dropped from inside the surveillance van.
Victor continued.
“Gabriel chose her.”
Nathan’s voice hardened.
“Why?”
“Because she’s the last person Raymond Carter trusted.”
“No.”
A new voice came through the building.
“Actually, Victor, that part is true.”
Everyone turned.
A man walked onto the upper walkway.
Tall.
Gray at the temples.
Same dark eyes as Nathan.
Same jaw.
Older.
Gabriel.
Nathan stared.
For once, he had no words.
Gabriel looked down at him.
“Hello, little brother.”
Victor spun.
“What are you doing?”
“Ending this.”
Gunfire erupted.
Not from Nathan.
Federal tactical agents.
Victor’s men scattered.
Daniel dropped.
Nathan ran toward him.
Gabriel disappeared into the building.
I watched helplessly through the monitor.
“Where is he?” Rachel demanded.
Agents searched.
Nothing.
Victor was arrested.
Daniel rescued.
Nathan returned with blood on his sleeve.
Not his.
I ran to him.
Then stopped.
He opened his arms.
I went into them.
For several seconds neither spoke.
Daniel watched from an ambulance.
He looked ashamed.
Good.
Gabriel escaped.
But he left something behind.
A small envelope taped beneath the railing.
Nathan’s name.
Inside:
VICTOR WAS NEVER THE REAL THREAT.
And beneath it:
ASK YOUR MOTHER WHO ORDERED RAYMOND CARTER’S DEATH.
Nathan closed his eyes.
May you like
I felt the answer before anyone spoke.
Margaret.
