Chapter 14 - TWO FAMILIES, ONE WAR
Z
Eleanor did not deny it.
That was what scared me most.
Daniel’s video ended.
Nobody spoke.
Eleanor stood in the doorway with her hands folded.
Ethan looked at his mother.
“How long?”
She entered slowly.
“Sit down.”
“No.”
“Ethan.”
“How long have you worked with Roman?”
“Worked with is inaccurate.”
“Try again.”
“We had an arrangement.”
My skin crawled.
“What arrangement?” I asked.
She looked at me.
“One that kept this city stable.”
Ethan laughed bitterly.
“You killed half our family to keep Chicago stable?”
“Your father was destroying everything.”
“You mean he wouldn’t share power.”
“He was reckless.”
“And Roman?”
“Predictable.”
I stared.
All these years, Callahans and Marconis had supposedly been enemies.
But behind the war, Eleanor and Roman had been negotiating.
Trading.
Controlling damage.
“Patrick knew?” Ethan asked.
“Yes.”
“Isabelle?”
“No.”
“Daniel?”
“He discovered it.”
“That’s why Adrian killed him.”
Eleanor hesitated.
I felt sick.
“No.”
I stepped forward.
“Who killed Daniel?”
“Rachel.”
“Who?”
She looked at Ethan.
“Roman ordered it.”
My knees weakened.
“Because Daniel wanted out?”
“Because he threatened to expose us both.”
“And you let him?”
Silence.
That was enough.
I slapped her again.
This time, Ethan caught my wrist afterward.
Not to stop me.
To keep me from hitting harder.
“You let Roman murder Sophie’s father.”
“I didn’t know he would kill him.”
“Stop saying you didn’t know!”
My voice cracked.
“You people always know enough.”
Eleanor’s composure finally broke.
“Do you think power comes clean?”
“I don’t care.”
“You will.”
“No.”
She looked toward Sophie’s photograph on Ethan’s desk.
“When someone you love is threatened, you will do things you once thought impossible.”
I stared at her.
“No.”
“You already have.”
“What?”
“You released Javier’s files. Men went to prison. Families lost everything. Some will retaliate.”
“That was evidence.”
“And consequences.”
“That is not the same as murder.”
“Not to you.”
Ethan stepped between us.
“Enough.”
His voice ended the room.
He looked at Eleanor.
“You’re leaving.”
“This is my house.”
“No.”
His face went cold.
“It was my father’s house. Then mine.”
She studied him.
“You would put me out for her?”
“For myself.”
That surprised everyone.
Ethan continued.
“I should have done it years ago.”
Eleanor smiled sadly.
“Then you are weaker than I thought.”
“No.”
He looked at me.
“I’m finally strong enough not to become you.”
For the first time, Eleanor had no response.
She left an hour later.
Not arrested.
Not yet.
Ethan wanted proof.
Real proof.
Enough that even a Callahan name couldn’t bury it.
Roman was still missing.
Eleanor would lead us to him.
So we let her walk.
I hated it.
But I understood.
For three days, everything was quiet.
Too quiet.
The restaurant stayed closed.
Elena moved into Ethan’s house.
Sophie slept in our room.
Security doubled.
Margaret was gone.
Eleanor vanished.
Roman vanished.
Adrian remained in federal custody but refused to speak.
Then on the fourth morning, Adrian requested me.
Specifically.
“No,” Ethan said.
I didn’t even look at him.
“Where?”
He stared.
“Rachel.”
“He asked for me?”
Declan nodded.
“Says he’ll only talk to you.”
“Absolutely not.”
I looked at Ethan.
“Do we want Roman?”
“Yes.”
“Do we want Eleanor?”
“Yes.”
“Then I’m going.”
He muttered something under his breath.
“Was that Spanish?”
“No.”
“Sounded religious.”
“It wasn’t.”
The federal detention center smelled like bleach.
Adrian entered wearing gray.
No suit.
No charm.
No wedding ring.
He sat behind the glass.
I picked up the phone.
“So.”
He looked at me.
“Where’s Elena?”
“Not here.”
“I know.”
“You don’t get to ask about her.”
His face tightened.
“I loved her.”
“You kidnapped her.”
“I panicked.”
“That’s a strange synonym.”
He looked down.
Then back up.
“Roman is planning something.”
“What?”
“I don’t know.”
“Then this was pointless.”
I moved to hang up.
“Wait.”
I stopped.
“He talked about Sophie.”
Every muscle in my body locked.
“What did he say?”
“That Callahan has something Roman wants.”
“The ledger?”
“No.”
“What?”
“You.”
I stared.
“Me?”
“Not you personally.”
“That’s reassuring.”
“Your name.”
“My name?”
“Morales.”
I felt cold.
Adrian leaned closer.
“Your father didn’t just keep records.”
“What else?”
“He controlled the access codes to a reserve account.”
“How much?”
“I don’t know.”
“Millions?”
He laughed once.
“Try hundreds.”
My mouth went dry.
“Hundreds of millions?”
“Old money. Hidden money. Callahan and Marconi assets from decades ago.”
“And Dad controlled it?”
“He created the encryption.”
“Why?”
“Because both families trusted him.”
That sounded insane.
Then I remembered Dad.
Quiet electrician.
Invisible man.
Exactly the kind of person criminals ignored until it was too late.
“Where is the account?”
“Nobody knows.”
“Then how does Roman expect me to help?”
Adrian’s gaze dropped to my ring.
“Because the password is supposed to be something Javier’s daughters would know.”
My heart pounded.
Elena and me.
Something from childhood.
“What?”
“I don’t know.”
“Then why tell me?”
His expression changed.
“For Elena.”
I almost laughed.
“You want redemption?”
“No.”
“At least you’re honest.”
“I want her alive.”
“She is.”
“Keep it that way.”
I stood.
Then Adrian added:
“Roman won’t come after you first.”
I turned.
“He’ll come after Sophie.”
My blood froze.
“You don’t know that.”
“I do.”
“How?”
“Because he did the same thing once before.”
“What?”
Adrian’s eyes darkened.
“With Grace Callahan.”
My hand tightened around the phone.
“You said Grace died accidentally.”
“That’s what Roman told Ethan.”
“And?”
Adrian leaned closer.
“She wasn’t in the car.”
I stopped breathing.
May you like
“What?”
“She never died.”
