Chapter 18 - The Confession
"Nathan!" I screamed, dropping to my knees beside him on the cold concrete.
Blood was rapidly blooming across his crisp white shirt. The chaotic sound of Marcus tackling the final assassin echoed in the background, but my entire world narrowed down to the dying man in my arms.
Arthur Cole looked at his bleeding son in absolute shock, frozen by the horrific reality of his own ruthless orders. Marcus used the distraction to knock Arthur to the ground, heavily binding his wrists with zip-ties from his jacket.
I pressed my trembling hands frantically against Nathan's chest, trying desperately to stop the massive bleeding.
"Hold on, please hold on," I sobbed, the tears falling freely onto his pale face.
Nathan reached up with a weak, shaking hand and gently wiped a tear from my cheek. He reached into his pocket and pulled out his own cell phone, handing it to me. The screen was actively recording, and it was connected directly to a live feed at the FBI field office.
"I triggered the silent alarm... and broadcasted his confession... the moment I crashed the gate," Nathan choked out, coughing up a terrifying amount of blood. "They heard everything, Elena. They heard my father admit to David's murder."
He weakly grabbed the glowing silver USB drive from Marcus's hand and pressed it firmly into my palm.
"I was a coward for hiding the truth," Nathan whispered, his breathing becoming dangerously shallow and ragged. "I was terrified of losing my family, and then I was terrified of losing you. But I never wanted anyone to hurt you... I just wanted to give you and Sophia the beautiful life you deserved."
"Shh, save your strength," I cried, pressing harder on his wound.
May you like
"Tell Sophia... I love her," Nathan gasped, his dark eyes slowly losing their bright focus. "Please, Elena... please forgive me for not saving him."
Nathan's heavy head rolled to the side, and his eyes fluttered shut. His hand slipped from mine, hitting the concrete floor with a dull thud. The man who had lied to me, protected me, and ultimately sacrificed everything for me, lay completely motionless.
