CHAPTER 14: THE ROOFTOP
Rain covered the roof of Hart Tower.
Rebecca stood near the edge with one hand wrapped around Cecilia’s arm.
Adrian remained chained to the railing.
Evelyn walked toward them carrying the leather folder.
“You came alone,” Rebecca said.
“I followed your instructions.”
“Put the documents down.”
Evelyn placed the folder on the wet concrete.
Rebecca pushed Cecilia toward Adrian.
“Open it.”
Rebecca retrieved the folder and examined the contents.
Her expression changed.
“These are copies.”
“Yes.”
Rebecca raised her pistol.
“Where are the originals?”
“Already filed with the federal court.”
Adrian laughed softly.
Rebecca struck him across the face.
“You think this is funny?”
“I think Malcolm raised two daughters,” Adrian said. “And the one he ignored destroyed him.”
Rebecca aimed the pistol at Naomi, who had just stepped from the stairwell.
“You should not have come.”
Naomi stopped beside Evelyn.
“I’m done running from you.”
Rebecca looked between them.
“You chose her over your own blood.”
“Family is not blood,” Naomi said. “It’s who refuses to turn your pain into a weapon.”
Rebecca’s hand trembled.
For the first time, her confidence broke.
Cecilia suddenly drove her elbow into Rebecca’s ribs.
Adrian pulled the chain around Rebecca’s ankle.
She fell, and the pistol slid across the roof.
Evelyn kicked it away.
Rebecca rolled toward the edge and grabbed Cecilia’s coat, nearly pulling her over.
Naomi caught Cecilia’s arm.
Roman and federal agents rushed onto the roof.
Rebecca clung to the ledge with one hand.
Evelyn dropped beside her and reached down.
“Take my hand.”
Rebecca stared at her.
“Why would you save me?”
“Because I refuse to become what your father created.”
Rebecca hesitated.
Then she took Evelyn’s hand.
Roman helped pull her onto the roof, where agents immediately restrained her.
Adrian watched from the railing.
“You saved her,” he said.
“Yes.”
“You would have let me fall.”
Evelyn looked at him.
“No. But I would never confuse saving you with forgiving you.”
Agents unlocked his chain and placed him in custody.
As he passed Evelyn, Adrian stopped.
“Was the gala planned?”
“The recording was.”
“You knew Roman would come through those doors?”
“Yes.”
“And you let me believe I was in control.”
Evelyn met his eyes.
“You were never in control. You were simply surrounded by people too afraid to tell you the truth.”
Adrian lowered his head.
For once, he had no answer.
But as agents led him away, Cecilia placed a hand on Evelyn’s shoulder.
“There is something you still don’t know about your father.”
Evelyn turned.
Cecilia looked toward the city below.
“He left one final instruction.”
“What instruction?”
May you like
Cecilia smiled through her tears.
“To build something better from everything they tried to destroy.”
