Chapter 14 - THE HOUSE BY THE WATER
Police surrounded their father’s old house before Declan arrived. Ruiz allowed him close enough to speak through a car window, with officers beside him and Camille waiting farther up the road.
Sean stood on the porch beneath a roof that leaked whenever it rained. He looked tired. In his hand was a small drive.
“Is that the rest?” Declan called.
“Copies of every deal,” Sean said. “Enough to bury me. Enough to bury you too.”
“Give it to Ruiz.”
Sean looked at the officers. “You finally found someone else to do your talking.”
“I should have done it sooner.”
Sean came down one step. “You left me your mess for years. When Dad died, who handled the docks? Who kept people paid while you were at Camille’s bedside?”
“You made sure she stayed there.”
Sean’s jaw tightened. “She woke up, and I panicked.”
“You had sixteen months to stop.”
“I know.”
For the first time, Sean sounded like a man who understood the length of what he had done. It changed nothing for Declan.
A noise came from inside the house. Ruiz raised a hand, and officers moved toward the back. Sean glanced over his shoulder.
“Luca sent a man,” he said. “He wants the drive.”
“Come off the porch.”
Sean stepped into the yard. A window broke behind him. He dropped flat as officers shouted. Declan ducked behind the car. Within seconds, police had the house covered. The man inside surrendered through the back door.
Sean stayed on the wet grass, both hands visible. Ruiz approached and took the drive from him.
As officers helped him up, he looked at Declan. “Camille really didn’t know I’d put her in that car.”
Declan thought of her walking into the garage that morning, asking for the keys.
“She didn’t put herself in it,” he said.
Sean let the officers lead him away.
Ruiz checked the drive in her car. It opened. Alongside the deals was a list of payments to Aris and the guards.
May you like
Then she found an entry Declan had not expected: a payment he himself had authorized after the bombing. It had gone to the garage where the device was planted.
Ruiz turned the screen toward him. “I need you to explain this.”
