Chapter 11 - Blood Ties
Chaos exploded inside the hospital.
Doctors screamed.
Patients ran.
Security rushed toward the hallway.
Callum grabbed Sadie and pulled her behind him.
“Stay down.”
“I can help.”
“No.”
The answer was immediate.
Sadie looked angry.
“You don’t own me.”
“No.”
Callum looked at her.
“But I refuse to watch you die.”
For a second, she had no response.
Then Marcus returned.
“Shooter escaped.”
Callum’s eyes hardened.
“Find him.”
“We’re trying.”
“No.”
The entire hallway went silent.
Callum’s voice dropped.
“Find him.”
Everyone moved.
Sadie watched him.
She had seen Callum angry before.
But this was different.
This wasn’t business.
This was personal.
They returned to Evan’s room.
But Evan was gone.
The bed was empty.
The window was open.
Marcus looked shocked.
“He couldn’t have escaped.”
Callum walked toward the window.
“He didn’t.”
“What?”
Callum looked at the broken lock.
“Someone helped him.”
Sadie looked around.
“Who?”
Callum didn’t answer.
Because he already knew.
Someone inside his own organization was still moving.
Still controlling everything.
Still staying one step ahead.
Hours later, they returned to the Russo mansion.
Callum sat alone in his father’s office.
The old letter remained on the desk.
Sadie stood in the doorway.
“You haven’t slept.”
“No.”
“You should.”
“No.”
She sighed.
“You always do that.”
“What?”
“Pretend you’re made of steel.”
Callum looked at her.
“And you pretend you’re not scared.”
That stopped her.
Because he was right.
Sadie looked away.
“I’m scared.”
The honesty surprised him.
“Of what?”
She answered quietly.
“Finding out my entire life was built on a lie.”
Callum looked down.
“Same.”
For the first time, they weren’t enemies.
They were two people standing in the middle of a disaster neither created.
Sadie walked closer.
“If Daniel Miller was your father…”
She paused.
“Then why didn’t he tell me?”
Callum looked at the old documents.
“Maybe he tried.”
“Maybe?”
He picked up a file.
Inside was a photograph.
A younger Daniel Miller.
Standing beside Anthony Russo.
And holding a baby.
Sadie stepped closer.
“That’s…”
Callum stared at the picture.
“Me.”
Silence.
Then Sadie whispered:
“My father held you.”
“Yes.”
“When?”
Callum looked at the date.
The same year he was born.
Suddenly, everything changed.
Daniel Miller wasn’t just connected to his past.
He had been there from the beginning.
Before they could continue, Marcus rushed inside.
“Boss.”
Callum turned.
“What?”
Marcus held a phone.
“We traced the person who helped Evan escape.”
“Who?”
Marcus hesitated.
Then answered:
“Your mother.”
Callum froze.
Sadie looked at him.
“No…”
Marcus continued.
“She’s alive.”
The room went silent.
Because Callum’s mother had been dead for eight years.
May you like
Or at least…
that was what everyone believed.
