Chapter 8 - WHAT THE FIRE COULDN'T DESTROY
We arrived to smoke filling the street.
The house was burning.
Firefighters were already working.
Dominic stood beside me.
I couldn't move.
My childhood home.
The porch where my mother used to sit.
The kitchen where she made pancakes.
The bedroom where I had hidden during thunderstorms.
All of it was disappearing.
Dominic grabbed my hand.
“Don't go in.”
“My mother left something there.”
“We'll find it.”
“You don't know that.”
“I do.”
“How?”
“Because she spent her life planning for you.”
The fire was finally contained.
Most of the house was damaged.
But one room survived.
My mother's old bedroom.
The firefighters found a metal box beneath the floorboards.
Dominic opened it.
Inside was a photograph.
A rosary.
My mother's wedding ring.
A train ticket.
And a cassette tape.
I picked up the photograph.
My mother stood beside Sofia.
Behind them was Edward.
And another man.
Frank.
The photograph had been taken the night before Mara's death.
On the back:
THEY THINK I DON'T KNOW.
Dominic picked up the rosary.
A tiny compartment was hidden inside the cross.
He opened it.
A folded piece of paper.
Edward ordered the first attempt.
My hands trembled.
Then:
Frank carried it out.
Another line:
Richard found out too late.
Dominic stared.
“Richard wasn't the mastermind.”
“No.”
“He was trying to stop Edward.”
“Yes.”
“Then why did he disappear?”
The cassette answered.
Dominic found the player in the box.
My mother's voice filled the ruined bedroom.
“If you're hearing this, Elena is safe.”
I closed my eyes.
“Edward believes he controls everything.”
A pause.
“He doesn't.”
My mother's voice softened.
“The person he trusts most is the person who will eventually betray him.”
Dominic looked at Marcus.
The tape continued.
“His own son.”
Everyone froze.
“Edward's son doesn't know the whole truth.”
Dominic whispered, “Who?”
My mother continued.
“His name is Daniel.”
Marcus looked confused.
“Daniel Vale.”
Dominic's face changed.
“Edward's son.”
My mother continued.
“He believes his father saved him from poverty.”
A pause.
“He doesn't know his father used him.”
I looked at Dominic.
“What does that mean?”
The tape crackled.
“Daniel has the accounts.”
Marcus immediately understood.
“That's why Edward never killed him.”
“He's keeping the records.”
Dominic nodded.
My mother's voice continued.
“Daniel will eventually choose between his father and the truth.”
The tape stopped.
Silence.
Then we heard footsteps outside.
Dominic turned.
A man stood in the doorway.
Late twenties.
Dark hair.
Expensive coat.
He looked frightened.
“Dominic?”
Dominic stared.
“Daniel.”
Daniel looked at me.
Then at the photograph.
He closed his eyes.
“My father knew you were here.”
Dominic stepped forward.
“Where is Edward?”
“I don't know.”
“What do you know?”
Daniel swallowed.
“I know he ordered Mara's car to be damaged.”
My heart stopped.
“He told me years later.”
Dominic's jaw tightened.
“Why did you stay with him?”
“Because I was afraid.”
That answer sounded familiar.
Wren's.
Marcus's.
Everyone who had survived Edward seemed to carry the same burden.
Fear.
Daniel continued.
“He didn't know I had copies.”
“Copies of what?”
“The accounts.”
He handed Dominic a flash drive.
“Everything.”
Dominic took it.
Then Daniel looked at me.
“Your mother knew.”
“How?”
“She gave me the first copy.”
I stared.
“When?”
“Before she died.”
I couldn't speak.
Daniel reached into his coat.
He removed a small child's bracelet.
The same one from the photograph.
“Sofia gave this to your mother.”
He handed it to me.
Inside was a tiny engraving.
HOME.
I closed my fingers around it.
For the first time, I understood why Sofia had drawn that bird.
Home wasn't a building.
It was a person who made you feel safe enough to stay.
Dominic looked at me.
Then at Daniel.
“Where is Edward now?”
Daniel shook his head.
“He knows I betrayed him.”
Marcus looked toward the street.
“Then we have a problem.”
A black car had stopped outside.
The door opened.
A man stepped out.
Edward Vale.
He looked older than the photograph.
But he was calm.
He walked toward the ruined house.
Dominic moved in front of me.
Edward smiled.
“I see you've finally found the truth.”
Dominic's voice was cold.
“You killed Sofia.”
Edward shook his head.
“No.”
“Then who?”
Edward looked at me.
“The person who killed Sofia is dead.”
I froze.
“Frank?”
Edward nodded.
“But Frank didn't act alone.”
Dominic stared.
“Who?”
Edward looked at Marcus.
Then at Daniel.
Finally at me.
“The person who gave the order was never me.”
Silence.
Dominic's face hardened.
“Then who?”
May you like
Edward's smile disappeared.
“Your father.”
