Chapter 9 - The Confession
Graham looked impeccable in a custom tuxedo, but his eyes were frantic and wild.
He stepped fully into the moonlight, keeping the barrel of the gun perfectly level with my heart.
"Put the ledger back in the safe, June," Graham ordered, his voice trembling slightly.
I clutched the black book tightly against my chest, refusing to move.
"You left me at the altar to take the fall for your theft," I fired back, my anger finally overpowering my fear.
Graham let out a bitter, exhausted laugh and shook his head.
"I left you at the altar because marrying you would have signed your death warrant."
He stepped closer, the gun unwavering in his grip.
"My father owed the Sterling syndicate millions, and they demanded I marry Victoria to pay the debt with my loyalty."
Graham looked deeply into my eyes, and for a terrifying second, he looked like the man I had loved.
"If I had married you, they would have slaughtered you just to punish me."
"So you framed me for stealing their money instead?" I yelled, disgusted by his twisted logic.
"I needed a scapegoat to buy us time while I secured the funds to run away together," he pleaded.
He reached his free hand out toward me.
"Give me the ledger, and we can disappear tonight."
Before I could answer, the heavy oak door behind Graham exploded inward in a shower of splinters.
Silas Thorne kicked through the ruined wood like a force of nature.
Graham spun around, raising his weapon, but Silas was incredibly fast.
Silas grabbed the barrel of the pistol, twisting it violently upward as a suppressed shot shattered the ceiling.
With a brutal, calculated strike, Silas drove his knee into Graham's ribs.
Graham collapsed to the carpet, gasping for air as the gun skittered across the floor.
Silas stood over him, straightening his tailored suit cuffs with chilling calm.
"You talk too much, Vale," Silas stated coldly.
I rushed forward and handed Silas the heavy black ledger.
Silas checked the pages quickly, a rare smile of genuine triumph crossing his face.
"We have the routing numbers," Silas told me, securing the book inside his jacket.
"Let's go before the Sterlings realize their money is gone."
We turned to leave, but Graham began to laugh hysterically from the floor.
He clutched his bruised ribs, spitting blood onto the expensive carpet.
"You think he saved you, June?" Graham wheezed, his eyes filled with malicious pity.
I stopped in the doorway and looked back at my bleeding former fiancé.
"Silas Thorne doesn't work for the Sterlings," Graham smiled weakly.
"He works for the people who actually killed your mother."
May you like
Silas grabbed my arm firmly and pulled me into the hallway before Graham could say another word.
"Do not listen to a dying snake," Silas commanded, dragging me toward the stairs.
