Chapter 7 - The First Truth
Stallone hit the hallway at a run.
Bell was behind him.
Two officers entered through a side door.
A shot ripped through the wall.
“Down!”
Stallone ducked behind a metal desk.
Another shot.
Then Bell fired.
The gunman disappeared around the corner.
“Ethan!” Stallone shouted.
“DAD!”
The answer came from upstairs.
Alive.
That was enough.
Stallone ran toward the stairwell.
Bell grabbed his arm.
“Wait.”
“He’s up there.”
“And they’re armed.”
“He’s my son.”
Bell released him.
There was no point arguing.
They climbed.
At the top floor, Vanessa dragged Ethan through a door.
Keller followed.
“Where are we going?” he demanded.
“The old surgical wing.”
“You’re insane.”
“We need another exit.”
“There isn’t one.”
Vanessa turned on him.
“Then make one.”
Keller looked at Ethan.
“You’ve destroyed enough.”
Her eyes narrowed.
“So have you.”
They entered a dark room filled with covered equipment.
Ethan pulled away.
Vanessa slapped him.
The sound cracked through the room.
Keller shouted, “Stop!”
Ethan stared at her.
Not crying.
Not this time.
“You lose.”
Vanessa blinked.
“What?”
“My dad came.”
Her mouth twisted.
“You think that means he wins?”
“Yes.”
Something about his certainty broke through her control.
She grabbed him by the shirt.
“Your father doesn’t even know what was taken from him.”
Ethan’s voice shook.
“He will.”
The door burst open.
Stallone entered.
Vanessa grabbed a scalpel from a tray and pressed it near Ethan’s throat.
“Stop.”
Stallone froze.
“Let him go.”
“Back up.”
Bell appeared behind him.
Vanessa screamed, “BACK UP!”
They did.
Keller stood against the wall, shaking.
Stallone looked only at Ethan.
“Hey, buddy.”
Ethan swallowed.
“Hey, Dad.”
“You hurt?”
“She hit me.”
Vanessa closed her eyes.
“Of course you had to say that.”
Stallone’s face changed.
Not rage.
Something colder.
“You touched my son?”
“Your son?”
Vanessa laughed.
“You still don’t understand.”
“I understand enough.”
“No, you don’t.”
Keller spoke quietly.
“He deserves to know.”
Vanessa turned toward him.
That was the mistake.
Ethan twisted away.
Stallone crossed the room in two steps.
He caught Vanessa’s wrist.
The scalpel dropped.
Bell moved in.
Vanessa fought.
Kicked.
Screamed.
But seconds later, she was in handcuffs.
Stallone dropped to his knees and pulled Ethan against him.
The boy shook.
“I thought you weren’t coming.”
“I’ll always come.”
“You didn’t before.”
The words landed hard.
Stallone leaned back.
“What do you mean?”
“When she hurt me before.”
Silence.
“How long?”
Ethan looked at the floor.
“A while.”
Stallone closed his eyes.
Then hugged him again.
“I’m sorry.”
Behind them, Keller began to cry.
Bell looked at him.
“Doctor.”
Keller raised both hands.
“I’ll tell you everything.”
Vanessa screamed.
“Shut your mouth!”
Keller ignored her.
“Twelve years ago, Vanessa paid me to falsify two infant death certificates.”
Stallone slowly turned.
“Both girls lived?”
“Yes.”
“Where are they?”
Keller’s face folded.
“I only know where one went.”
“Tell me.”
“Her name is Rose.”
Stallone took a step closer.
“Where?”
Keller looked at Ethan.
Then whispered:
“You already know her.”
Stallone froze.
“What?”
Keller pointed toward Ethan.
May you like
“The girl you’ve been looking for has been inside your life for years.”
Then every light in the clinic went out.
