Chapter 9 - THE FRIEND WHO STOOD BESIDE MY ENEMY
For nineteen years, I carried one belief inside my heart.
Victor Hale destroyed my life.
Victor betrayed me.
Victor was the reason everything fell apart.
But the man standing in front of me had just shattered that belief.
“The person who killed Elena…”
His voice was quiet.
“Was your closest friend.”
I stared at him.
Unable to speak.
Because there was only one person who had ever been close enough to destroy me.
One person who knew everything.
My secrets.
My business.
My family.
My weaknesses.
Marcus Vale.
My former right hand.
The only man I trusted besides Elena.
The man who helped build The Ghost.
The man who disappeared the same night my old life collapsed.
I stepped forward.
“Say that again.”
Marcus looked older than I remembered.
His hair was gray.
His face carried years of regret.
“I said Elena wasn’t killed by Victor.”
My jaw tightened.
“Then who killed her?”
He looked away.
“Someone you invited into your home.”
The words hit harder than any weapon.
“No.”
Marcus looked at me.
“You don’t want to believe it.”
“Because it’s impossible.”
He shook his head.
“No, Daniel.”
His voice became heavier.
“Because it’s painful.”
I remembered the years before Elena died.
The people around us.
The people who knew our lives.
The people who knew exactly where to hurt me.
I looked at the old documents on the table.
“Why are you here?”
Marcus hesitated.
“Because Elena asked me to protect you.”
A bitter laugh escaped me.
“Protect me?”
I looked around the abandoned room.
“You disappeared for nineteen years.”
His eyes filled with guilt.
“Because she made me promise.”
I stepped closer.
“She made you promise what?”
“That if she died…”
He swallowed.
“I would never tell you the truth.”
My hands tightened.
“Why?”
“Because she knew what you would do.”
I said nothing.
Because I already knew.
I would have destroyed everyone involved.
Marcus walked toward the table.
He opened an old folder.
Inside were documents.
Photos.
Records.
Everything Elena had hidden.
“She discovered something before her death.”
“What?”
Marcus placed a photograph in front of me.
It showed a meeting.
Five people sitting around a table.
Victor Hale.
Santiago’s father.
Maurice’s mother.
Emmett’s father.
And one more person.
I stopped breathing.
Because I knew him.
The man sitting beside them.
Smiling.
Comfortable.
Was my best friend.
Thomas Reed.
The man who attended my wedding.
The man who held Renata when she was born.
The man who cried at Elena’s funeral.
“No.”
Marcus looked at me.
“Yes.”
My fingers trembled.
“Thomas?”
Marcus nodded.
“He was never your friend.”
I looked at the photograph again.
The memories came back.
Thomas always asked questions.
Where I was going.
Who I trusted.
What I planned.
I thought he cared.
I thought he was loyal.
But maybe…
He was collecting information.
“Why?”
Marcus looked at the documents.
“Because The Ghost was becoming too powerful.”
I stared at him.
“They wanted my empire?”
“No.”
He shook his head.
“They wanted your knowledge.”
I frowned.
“My knowledge?”
Marcus opened another file.
“Your organization was not just about money.”
He pointed to the documents.
“You had information about politicians, corporations, judges, and powerful families.”
I understood.
The Ghost was dangerous because I knew things.
Things people paid millions to hide.
Marcus continued.
“Thomas wanted that information.”
“And Elena?”
His expression changed.
“She found out.”
Silence.
“She discovered Thomas was working with Victor and the three families.”
I looked at the photograph.
“So Victor wasn’t the mastermind.”
Marcus shook his head.
“No.”
“Then what was Victor doing?”
“Trying to stop him.”
I froze.
“Victor?”
Marcus nodded.
“Victor was your enemy.”
A pause.
“But Thomas was your friend.”
The truth hurt more because it made sense.
Enemies were easy to watch.
Friends were dangerous.
Because you lowered your guard.
My phone suddenly rang.
Unknown number.
I answered.
A familiar voice spoke.
“Hello, Daniel.”
I froze.
Thomas.
After nineteen years.
“Where are you?”
He laughed softly.
“You always were direct.”
My voice became cold.
“You killed Elena.”
Silence.
Then:
“You still think everything is that simple?”
I gripped the phone.
“You were there.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Another pause.
Then Thomas answered:
“Because Elena was going to tell you the truth.”
“What truth?”
His voice lowered.
“The truth about Renata.”
My eyes moved toward the photograph.
“What about her?”
Thomas laughed.
“Your daughter is not the innocent victim you think she is.”
My expression changed.
“Watch your words.”
“I’m serious, Daniel.”
He continued.
“Ask her what happened the night before the attack.”
I looked at Marcus.
“What are you talking about?”
Thomas ignored the question.
“You think I hurt your daughter because of revenge.”
A pause.
“You’re wrong.”
“Then why?”
His answer froze me.
“Because Renata found out what Elena did.”
The call ended.
I stood completely still.
Marcus looked at me.
“What did he say?”
I didn’t answer.
Because for the first time…
I had a new fear.
Not that someone wanted to hurt my daughter.
But that my daughter knew something about her mother…
Something even I didn’t know.
I returned to the hospital before sunrise.
Renata was awake.
The moment she saw my face…
She knew.
“You talked to him.”
I stopped.
“How do you know Thomas?”
Her eyes filled with tears.
Because she had already heard the name.
“Renata…”
My voice became softer.
“What happened before the attack?”
She looked away.
Then slowly wrote something in her notebook.
Something that changed everything.
I DIDN’T FIND MOM’S SECRET.
MOM FOUND ME.
I stared at the words.
“What does that mean?”
Renata looked at me.
And whispered:
“Dad…”
A tear fell down her face.
“Mom was alive six months after the accident.”
My entire world stopped.
“What?”
She continued:
“I saw her.”
The room became silent.
“Where?”
Renata looked toward the window.
And whispered:
“She came to me.”
My heart stopped.
Because if Elena was alive…
Then the last nineteen years were built on a lie.
And the woman I buried…
May you like
Might have been watching me the entire time.
TO BE CONTINUED...
