Chapter 12: The Final Piece
David dragged Emma toward the door.
I wanted to attack him.
Every instinct screamed at me to move.
But Emma was terrified.
And one wrong move could hurt her.
“David,” I said carefully.
“Let her go.””
He smiled.
“Do you know what your biggest mistake was, Ryan?””
I didn’t answer.
“You believed love made people honest.””
His eyes moved around the room.
“Your mother lied. Your wife lied. Your brother lied.””
He looked at me.
“And you still trusted them.””
Michael stepped forward.
“You’re done.””
David laughed.
“You’re the last person who should talk about trust.””
Michael looked down.
I noticed.
The guilt.
The pain.
“Michael,” I said.
He looked at me.
“What did you do?””
He swallowed.
“I made a mistake.””
David smiled.
“He made many.””
Michael ignored him.
“I thought I could save Emma alone.””
His voice cracked.
“I thought I could outsmart David.””
“What happened?””
Michael looked at Emma.
“I failed.””
David tightened his grip.
“And I fixed his mistake.””
My mother stepped forward.
“Enough.””
David looked at her.
“You really think you can stop me?””
“No.””
She looked at me.
“But he can.””
Everyone turned.
Me.
I didn’t understand.
“What are you talking about?””
My mother walked toward the table and opened the old laptop.
She pulled up the same files.
“Your father knew David would eventually come for Emma.””
I looked at the screen.
“He created a final security measure.””
“What kind?””
She looked at me.
“A memory lock.””
I frowned.
“What does that mean?””
“It means the evidence can only be unlocked by someone who knows the truth.””
David laughed.
“He doesn’t know anything.””
My mother looked at him.
“That’s why you lost.””
David’s expression changed.
I stepped closer to the laptop.
“What do I have to do?””
My mother pointed at the screen.
“Remember.””
The screen showed a question.
A childhood memory.
The first house I lived in.
My father’s old office.
A wooden box.
I stared.
Then something clicked.
I remembered.
I was eight years old.
My father took me into his study.
He gave me a small wooden box.
“Ryan,” he said.
I heard his voice in my head.
“Some things are hidden because they’re dangerous.””
The screen changed.
ENTER PASSWORD.
I typed the only thing I could remember.
My father’s nickname for me.
The one nobody else knew.
The box opened.
Files appeared.
Videos.
Documents.
Recordings.
David went pale.
“No.””
I looked at him.
“You knew this was here.””
He didn’t answer.
The first video started.
My father appeared.
“Ryan, if this opens, it means David found Emma.””
My chest tightened.
My father continued.
“I need you to know the truth.””
He looked directly at the camera.
“David is not your enemy because of what he did.””
A pause.
“He is your enemy because of what he plans to do.””
The video changed.
A map appeared.
Locations.
Names.
Organizations.
Proof.
My mother whispered:
“This is everything.””
David suddenly grabbed Emma tighter.
“You have no idea what you’re holding.””
I looked at him.
“I know enough.””
His face became cold.
“You think exposing me ends this?””
He stepped backward.
“You’re wrong.””
Then the house shook.
A loud explosion came from outside.
Everyone screamed.
Smoke filled the hallway.
David used the distraction.
He disappeared through the hidden passage.
With Emma.
I ran after him.
Behind the wall, I heard Emma crying.
“Daddy!””
I followed the sound.
But the passage split into two directions.
Left.
Right.
Then I saw something on the ground.
A small bracelet.
Emma’s bracelet.
Beside it was a note.
May you like
Five words.
COME ALONE, RYAN.
