The silence after Thomas’s revelation is deafening.
Tony’s standing frozen, completely shut down. His father was alive, and he had a sister, Isabella, who was 36 years old, but was never ntioned by Thomas. Everything he thought he knew about his family was a lie.
I’ve never seen him like this. Not even when we thought Thomas died; this is worse. This was betrayal layered on top of grief.
Charles is watching with satisfaction. "Family secrets are fascinating, aren’t they? The lies we tell ourselves. The people we sacrifice. Thomas here sacrificed his son’s sanity to protect a daughter he never knew. What a beautiful irony."
I need to stay functional. Soone has to. Tony’s breaking, and I can’t break with him.
Susan’s still tied to the chair behind Charles’s guards. Her face is bruised, her lip split, but her eyes are alert. It’s moving, like she’s trying to tell sothing.
Thomas was still trying to explain. "Anthony, please understand. I had no choice. He found Isabella and threatened to kill her. I couldn’t let another child die because of -"
"So you chose her over ." Tony’s voice is dead and flat. "A daughter you abandoned over the son you raised."
"I didn’t choose-"
"Yes, you did!" The deadness explodes into rage. "You let think you were dead! You let grieve! You let carry the guilt of failing to protect you! For months, I thought it was my fault you died!"
"You were free of . Free of my enemies. Safe-"
"I was destroyed!" Tony’s shouting now. "I was broken! And you let stay that way because it was convenient for your other child!"
Thomas flinches like he’s been hit. "That’s not fair."
"None of this is fair!"
"Stop." I step between them and force myself into Tony’s line of sight. "Both of you... just stop."
"Katherine-" Tony starts.
"This is what he wants." I gesture to Charles, who’s watching our drama like it’s a theater. "He wants us broken. Fighting each other and too busy being hurt to fight him. Please, don’t give him that."
Tony’s breathing hard, trying to regain control. I could see him fighting for it, trying to claw back from the edge.
"Where is she?" he asks Charles, his voice carefully controlled. "Isabella. Where is she?"
"Safe for now." Charles’s smile was terrifying. "Whether she stays that way depends on what happens next."
He starts walking around us, circling like a predator.
"Here’s how this ends. Elliot works for ; his skills are too valuable to waste. Thomas continues to serve as my operative; his 30 years of experience remain useful. Katherine dies because she’s too dangerous, too smart, and capable of causing problems."
His eyes land on Tony. "And you get to choose how she dies. Watch her suffer, or watch her die quickly. I’m feeling generous today. You killed my daughter fast - no torture, just bullets. I’ll extend the sa courtesy to Katherine. If you cooperate."
"And Susan?" I force myself to ask.
"She’ll be released. She’s peripheral, not worth the effort of killing." He looks at Susan dismissively. "Provided everyone else cooperates, of course."
Susan’s hands were moving behind her back in small movents. I notice because I’m looking for any advantage, any opening.
Then I realize - she’s signing in Arican Sign Language (ASL).
Susan taught basic signs in college. Said it was useful for loud bars, I’d almost forgotten.
Her fingers spell out: S-A-F-E R-O-O-M C-O-M-P-R-O-M-I-S-E-D
My blood runs cold. Soone talked, and the person told Charles about our plans. The infiltration, the positioning, all of it was known from the beginning.
I give a tiny nod signalling the ssage received.
"I’ll work for you."
Elliot’s voice was quiet but clear.
Everyone turns to stare at him.
"I’ll work for you," he repeats, looking directly at Charles. "On one condition."
Charles looks amused. "Which is?"
"Katherine goes free, and you give proof Isabella’s safe. Alive and unhard."
"Elliot, no-" I start.
"I’m not asking permission." His eyes stay on Charles - rare direct eye contact that shows how serious he is. "That’s the deal. My skills for Katherine’s freedom and Isabella’s safety."
Charles considers him. "You drive a hard bargain for soone in no position to negotiate."
"You need my skills. I need my sister safe." For the first ti in his life, Elliot calls his sister out loud. The emotional label he’s always struggled with. "Mutually beneficial arrangent."
My eyes fill with tears. "Elliot..."
"You’ve protected my whole life." He glances at briefly. "My turn."
Tony’s watching this. Sothing shifting in his expression. Recognition, maybe. Of what love looks like. What sacrifice an.
"No deal," Tony says suddenly. "You want to watch Katherine die? I’ll make you kill first."
"Tony-" I start.
"We’re together, or we’re nothing." His voice is steel. "That’s how this works. You want Katherine, you go through ."
Charles laughs. "How noble and utterly useless. You think your heroic speeches matter? I have guards, guns, and control of this entire building."
"Then you have everything you need," Tony counters. "So why offer deals? Why not just kill us?"
Charles’s smile falters slightly.
"Because you need leverage," Tony continues. "You need sothing. Information, maybe or cooperation. You can’t get what you want if you kill us all."
"I have everything I need." Charles gestures, and the guards start moving toward .
Tony lunges to intercept, and more guards grab him to restrain him. He’s fighting, but they’re overwhelming him.
I’m fighting too, but there are too many. Their hands grab , dragging away from Tony-
Then, the building shakes.
It was not violent but controlled. A blast from sowhere below.
The lights flicker, and alarms start blaring.
Charles spins, his face showing real concern for the first ti. "What-"
Lisa’s voice cos through the building’s PA system. "Hi, Charles, rember ? Forr FBI cyber cris? Turns out I’ve been in your systems all morning."
Another explosion on the lower floor, which was more controlled.
"Those are your servers, your backups, and all that beautiful data you’ve collected on everyone over thirty years? Gone!"
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