CHAPTER 11 — BROTHERS
CHAPTER 11 — BROTHERS
The paramedics worked on Luke on the boardroom floor.
“No pulse.”
Olivia sobbed.
Ethan stood holding Noah, unable to look away.
“Charging.”
Luke’s body jerked.
Nothing.
“Again.”
The second shock filled the room with the smell of burned fabric.
The monitor remained flat.
Ethan handed Noah to his mother and knelt beside Luke.
“You don’t get to come back after fifteen years and leave again.”
The paramedic pushed him back.
“Sir—”
Ethan grabbed Luke’s hand.
“You hear me? You owe me fifteen birthdays. You owe Mom twelve Christmases. You owe Noah the truth.”
The monitor beeped.
Once.
Then again.
A weak rhythm appeared.
The paramedics rushed Luke toward the medical helicopter.
Ethan watched it lift from the rooftop.
Then he turned toward Olivia.
“Stay with Noah.”
“Where are you going?”
“To finish this.”
Richard’s escape elevator descended into a private garage beneath the tower.
Ethan followed through the fire stairs.
He found Richard beside an armored car, loading company records into the trunk.
Richard aimed his gun.
“You should be at the hospital.”
“You should be in a grave.”
Richard smiled.
“You sound like your father.”
“You killed him too.”
Richard’s expression gave Ethan the answer before his mouth did.
Their father had supposedly died from a heart attack.
Richard shrugged.
“He discovered the accounts.”
Ethan stepped closer.
“He trusted you.”
“That was his weakness.”
“No. Loving you was his weakness.”
Richard fired.
The bullet struck the concrete beside Ethan.
Ethan lunged behind a pillar.
Richard moved toward the car.
Then the garage doors closed.
Olivia stood at the control panel.
Ethan stared at her.
“I told you to stay upstairs.”
“I’ve followed enough orders.”
Richard fired toward her.
Ethan tackled him.
The gun slid beneath the car.
The two men fought across the concrete.
Richard was older, but hatred made him vicious.
He drove his thumb into Ethan’s injured shoulder and reached for the weapon.
Olivia kicked the gun away.
Richard grabbed her throat.
“You were nothing before me.”
Olivia clawed at his hands.
“And I’ll spend the rest of my life regretting that I believed you.”
Ethan struck Richard and pulled him off her.
Richard fell against the edge of the platform.
Below him, the garage ramp descended four stories.
Ethan grabbed his wrist before he fell.
Richard hung over the drop.
He looked up, shocked.
“Pull me up.”
Ethan stared at the man who had destroyed his family.
Richard’s grip began slipping.
“You need me,” Richard said. “I know where everything is hidden.”
Ethan tightened his hold.
Then police sirens entered the garage.
Detective Cole raised her weapon.
“Don’t let go.”
Ethan pulled Richard back onto the platform.
Richard laughed.
“You’re weak, just like your father.”
Ethan looked down at him.
“No.”
May you like
He stepped away as officers handcuffed Richard.
“I’m nothing like you.”
