Chapter 8 - THE MAN BEHIND THE FIRE
Conrad pressed the syringe against Amelia’s arm.
Ethan stopped near the doorway.
Marcus and the tactical team waited beyond the wall.
Victor held a pistol.
“Come closer,” Conrad said.
“And she dies.”
Ethan remained still.
“Why did you start the hospital fire?”
Conrad smiled.
“Because your wife discovered the trust amendment.”
Amelia had inherited shares from her father.
Her marriage to Ethan combined two major voting blocks.
When Lily was born, the child became the future holder of a controlling interest.
Conrad believed no single descendant should possess that much power.
He wanted the company governed by the family council he controlled.
Amelia refused to place Lily’s shares into his foundation.
“She thought motherhood gave her authority,” Conrad said.
“It did,” Ethan replied.
Conrad’s eyes hardened.
He ordered Charles Dane to create a small fire in an empty hospital wing.
The evacuation would separate Amelia from the baby.
Victor was supposed to move Lily and force Amelia to sign.
The fire spread too quickly.
Several people died.
Grace Holloway rescued Lily.
Victor captured them at the service exit.
“What happened to Grace?” Amelia asked.
Victor looked away.
Conrad answered.
“She became inconvenient.”
Amelia began trembling.
Victor whispered, “I did not order her death.”
“You watched it,” Conrad said.
“You have always mistaken reluctance for innocence.”
Ethan understood the division between them.
Conrad created the system.
Victor obeyed but still wanted to believe he had limits.
Those limits had not protected anyone.
Conrad instructed Victor to shoot Ethan.
Victor raised the pistol.
His hand shook.
“You told me he would destroy the company,” Victor said.
“He already has,” Conrad replied.
“No.”
“You did.”
Victor lowered the weapon slightly.
Conrad drove the syringe into Amelia’s arm.
Ethan lunged forward.
Victor fired.
The bullet struck the wall beside Ethan.
Marcus’s team entered.
Conrad pulled Amelia’s wheelchair toward the window.
The old floorboards cracked beneath them.
Victor grabbed Conrad’s coat.
For one second, uncle and grandfather struggled beside the broken glass.
Then the floor collapsed.
Conrad fell through into the room below.
Victor remained hanging from the edge.
Ethan reached him first.
Victor looked up.
“Save me.”
Behind him, Amelia’s breathing slowed.
Ethan could release the man who destroyed his family.
Instead, he caught Victor’s wrist.
May you like
“Not for you.”
“For every courtroom that needs to hear what you did.”
