Chương 9 - Blood Is Not Loyalty
Adrian Sterling seemed harmless.
Charming.
Funny.
Irresponsible.
Exactly the kind of rich younger brother newspapers loved photographing outside nightclubs.
Jessi refused to suspect him.
“He was twenty-two when my accident happened.”
“Old enough.”
“He's my brother.”
Ivan said nothing.
Jessi hated his silence more than an accusation.
They secretly audited Adrian's accounts.
Nothing.
Then Ivan noticed monthly payments routed through a charity.
The beneficiary company matched one Laura had investigated.
Jessi stared at the records.
“No.”
They confronted Adrian privately.
He laughed at first.
Then cried.
Victor had manipulated him.
Adrian had gambling debts.
Victor offered to erase them in exchange for schedules, passwords and information.
“I never knew he'd hurt you.”
Jessi slapped him.
The sound echoed.
Adrian didn't defend himself.
“I deserved that.”
“You told him where I'd be the night of the crash.”
“I didn't know!”
Jessi turned away.
Her entire body shook.
Ivan wanted to comfort her but didn't.
Some grief needed room.
Adrian agreed to cooperate.
He would feed Victor false information.
They devised a trap.
Victor would be told Jessi possessed Laura's complete evidence.
The exchange would happen at Sterling Tower.
But hours before the operation, Adrian vanished.
His apartment was empty.
His phone lay smashed on the floor.
On his kitchen table was a single message.
BRING THE DRIVE.
Jessi stared at it.
Ivan said, “It's a trap.”
“I know.”
“You're still going.”
“Yes.”
“Then I'm coming.”
“No.”
Ivan stepped closer.
“You hired a shield.”
“This isn't your fight.”
“It became my fight when Laura's face appeared on that screen.”
Jessi looked into his eyes.
May you like
Neither moved.
Finally she whispered, “Then we finish it together.”
