Chapter 11 - BROTHER AGAINST BROTHER
Daniel stared through the fire.
“Marcus!”
His brother didn’t move.
Daniel kicked at the burning beam.
“Help me!”
Marcus stood beyond the flames.
For one second, Daniel saw something strange in his face.
Not satisfaction.
Fear.
Then Marcus rushed forward.
He grabbed a fire extinguisher.
Blasted the beam.
“Move!”
Daniel climbed over it.
Marcus pulled him into the hallway.
“Go!”
They ran.
Outside, Daniel collapsed onto the pavement.
Claire rushed toward him.
Then stopped when she saw Marcus.
“You.”
Elena reached for her phone.
Marcus raised both hands.
“I didn’t start the fire.”
Daniel coughed.
“You were inside.”
“I followed you.”
“Why?”
“Because I knew Alan would.”
Elena stared.
“You know where he is?”
“No.”
Marcus laughed bitterly.
“That’s the problem.”
Daniel stood.
“You expect me to believe you?”
“I don’t care what you believe.”
“You took my company.”
“I was trying to stay alive.”
“You stole seven million dollars.”
Marcus looked at him.
“Yes.”
Claire went still.
Daniel stared.
Marcus’s voice dropped.
“I moved it.”
“Why?”
“Because Alan told me the Sterling deal would make us rich.”
“We were already rich.”
“You were.”
Daniel flinched.
Marcus continued.
“You got the title. Dad’s trust. The CEO chair. Every room we walked into, you were the responsible one.”
“So you stole seven million dollars?”
“I wanted something that was mine.”
“You had half the company!”
“I had half your shadow!”
Daniel punched him.
Marcus fell.
Claire shouted.
“Daniel!”
Marcus wiped blood from his mouth.
Then laughed.
“There he is.”
Daniel stepped forward again.
Elena moved between them.
“Enough.”
Marcus stood.
“I made a deal with Alan. I moved company money. I knew it was unauthorized.”
Daniel stared at him with pure disgust.
“But I didn’t know the Sterling operation was this big,” Marcus said. “And I never ordered anyone hurt.”
“What about Evan?”
“That was Alan.”
“The house?”
“Alan.”
“Claire?”
Marcus looked at her.
“I sent Daniel the video.”
“Why?”
“To make him doubt you.”
Claire stepped forward.
“You coward.”
“Yes.”
The answer surprised everyone.
Marcus looked at Daniel.
“I thought if you two turned on each other, you’d stop digging.”
Daniel’s voice cracked.
“You tried to destroy my marriage.”
“I was scared.”
“So was Dad.”
Marcus went quiet.
Daniel pointed toward the burning warehouse.
“You betrayed him too.”
Marcus looked at the ground.
Then Elena’s phone rang.
She answered.
Listened.
Her expression sharpened.
“Where?”
Everyone watched her.
She hung up.
“What?” Daniel asked.
“Alan’s credit card was just used.”
“Where?”
“O’Hare.”
Marcus’s head snapped up.
“He’s leaving.”
Elena grabbed her keys.
Daniel stopped her.
“Wait.”
Marcus was already pulling out his phone.
“What are you doing?”
“Alan won’t leave through the airport.”
“How do you know?”
Marcus looked at Daniel.
“Because he made me buy him a plane.”
Silence.
Claire stared.
“You bought him a what?”
“A private jet.”
“When?”
“Four months ago.”
“Where is it?”
Marcus looked toward the highway.
“DuPage Airport.”
Then his phone buzzed.
May you like
A message from Alan.
YOU SHOULD HAVE LET YOUR BROTHER BURN.
