Chapter 6 - ETHAN’S OFFER
Ethan stepped into the room before officers reached the hallway.
His suit was wrinkled.
Blood stained one sleeve.
He pointed the gun at Richard.
“So the dead man finally came home.”
Richard stood between Ethan and Claire.
“Put it down.”
“You do not get to give me orders.”
Ethan’s eyes moved toward Claire.
“You embarrassed me.”
Claire looked at him without fear.
“You burned my hand.”
“You stole from my company.”
“I found what you stole.”
His jaw tightened.
Ethan had always hated precise language when it turned against him.
He placed a flash drive on the table.
“Everything you copied is useless without this.”
Claire recognized it.
The drive contained the encryption key for the Black Orchard records.
“Give me the memory card,” he said.
“In exchange for what?”
“You walk away.”
Mara almost laughed.
Ethan ignored her.
“I will transfer five million dollars to you.”
Claire raised her bandaged hand.
“You believe this has a price?”
“Everything has a price.”
“That is what your mother taught you.”
His expression changed at the word mother.
Richard noticed.
“Lorraine told you I abandoned you.”
“You did.”
“She tried to kill me.”
“You were weak enough to survive.”
Richard flinched.
The cruelty sounded like Lorraine.
Claire understood that Ethan had spent his life performing strength for a woman who despised weakness.
It did not excuse him.
But it explained the shape of his violence.
Sirens echoed outside.
Ethan moved the gun toward Claire.
“You called the police.”
“They were already coming.”
He backed toward the window.
The room was on the sixth floor.
There was nowhere to escape.
“Give me the card.”
Claire slowly reached toward her blouse.
Ethan watched her hand.
Richard lunged.
The gun fired.
The bullet struck the wall.
Mara pulled Claire behind the bed.
Detective Ruiz entered and aimed at Ethan.
“Drop it.”
Ethan held Richard against his chest.
The barrel pressed beneath the older man’s jaw.
“You want the truth?”
Ethan looked at Claire.
“Come to Black Orchard.”
“Why?”
“Because Lorraine did not only steal money.”
His voice broke for the first time.
“She stole children.”
Officers surrounded him.
Ethan lowered the gun.
He surrendered without another fight.
Before they took him away, he leaned close to Claire.
“Ask Richard what happened to your mother.”
Claire stared at him.
“My mother died when I was twelve.”
May you like
Ethan smiled faintly.
“That is what Lorraine wanted you to believe.”
