Chapter 6 - The Man Ronan Trusted
Ronan stared at Leo's signature.
Fifteen years.
That was how long Leo had stood beside him.
At funerals.
Weddings.
Business meetings.
Through his father's death.
Through every internal war that followed.
“He knew everything,” Ronan said.
Sadie understood what that meant.
Where Ronan lived.
Where Evelyn lived.
Who protected whom.
And now Leo knew about Sadie.
“Call the police.”
Ronan looked at her.
“I already did.”
Sadie blinked.
That surprised her.
Ronan noticed.
“Not every problem requires my world.”
“What happens now?”
“We give them the ledger.”
“No.”
“It's paper.”
“It got my father killed.”
“Which is why I'm not sacrificing another person for it.”
Sadie stared.
The man everyone described as ruthless had just reduced decades of power and secrets to paper.
Ronan photographed every page.
Encrypted copies were sent to attorneys and investigators.
Then he placed the original inside a plain backpack.
At midnight, a message arrived.
Warehouse 19.
The same waterfront where Daniel Mercer had once worked.
Sadie insisted on going.
Ronan refused.
They argued for ten minutes.
Finally Sadie said, “This started with my father.”
“It ends with you alive.”
“It ends with me choosing.”
That stopped him.
Ronan had spent days telling Sadie she had choices.
Now he had to respect one he hated.
“All right.”
Warehouse 19 stood beside the dark river.
Sadie entered beside Ronan.
Leo waited inside.
So did Victor Sloane.
Evelyn sat nearby, frightened but unharmed.
Leo smiled.
“Boss.”
Ronan's expression contained nothing.
“Don't call me that.”
Leo sighed.
“Fifteen years and that's all I get?”
“You sold my father.”
“No. Your father sold himself.”
Victor stepped forward.
He was older than Sadie expected.
Silver hair.
Expensive coat.
A businessman.
Not a monster from a nightmare.
That made him worse.
“Daniel Mercer created an enormous inconvenience,” Victor said.
Sadie looked at him.
“My father?”
“An idealistic accountant.”
“Did you kill him?”
Victor smiled.
“No.”
Sadie looked toward Leo.
Leo didn't smile.
And she knew.
“You.”
Leo shrugged.
“It was supposed to look accidental.”
Ronan moved.
Sadie caught his arm.
“No.”
Ronan stopped.
She looked into his eyes.
“Don't become him.”
Something passed between them.
Ronan stepped back.
Sirens sounded outside.
Leo's expression changed.
Victor turned toward Ronan.
“You called police?”
“No,” Sadie said.
Everyone looked at her.
She held up her phone.
“I did.”
She had activated the emergency call before entering.
Everything had been recorded.
Leo stared.
“You little—”
Ronan stepped between them.
Doors opened.
Police entered.
Commands filled the warehouse.
Victor raised his hands.
Leo looked toward an exit.
Then stopped.
There was nowhere to go.
For Sadie, the moment was strangely quiet.
No triumph.
No revenge.
Just an ending.
Hours later, Evelyn was safe.
Victor and Leo were in custody.
The ledger had been turned over.
Sadie stood outside watching sunrise touch the river.
Ronan joined her.
“You were right.”
“About?”
“Calling the police.”
Sadie smiled faintly.
“You sound surprised.”
“I dislike being wrong.”
“I noticed.”
He almost smiled.
Then Sadie's phone rang.
Unknown number.
She answered.
“Hello?”
Silence.
Then Carl's voice.
“Sadie.”
Her expression changed.
Ronan noticed.
“Where are you?” she asked.
“Hospital.”
“Why?”
“Leo's men found me.”
Sadie closed her eyes.
Carl continued.
“I need to tell you something.”
“You've told me enough.”
“No.”
His voice weakened.
“Your father didn't hide only the ledger.”
Sadie looked at Ronan.
“What else?”
“A letter.”
“For who?”
Carl whispered.
“For you.”
“Where?”
“Your mother's house.”
Sadie swallowed.
“Where exactly?”
Carl gave her the location.
Then added:
“And Sadie?”
“What?”
“Your father knew Ronan.”
She looked toward him.
“I know.”
“No,” Carl said.
“You don't.”
May you like
The line crackled.
“Daniel Mercer saved Ronan Hayes's life the night before he died.”
