Chapter 17 - Over the Rail
"Ethan!"
Ethan was on one knee, gripping his bleeding upper arm but still conscious.
"I'm okay," he gasped.
"You are officially banned from saying that."
Sofia reached Mara and ducked behind the truck.
Keene fired again.
The bullet struck metal.
Ethan tackled him.
Nolan grabbed the backpack from Mara.
She held on.
"Let go," he snarled.
"No."
He struck her shoulder with his forearm.
Mara stumbled but kept both arms away from her stomach.
Nolan yanked the backpack free and opened it.
The black ledger was inside.
He smiled.
Then Mara smiled back.
"What?" he demanded.
"Look closer."
He opened the cover.
Blank pages.
Rosa had made a decoy from an old accounting book.
Nolan's face twisted.
"Where is it?"
"Somewhere you'll never find it."
He grabbed Mara by the coat and dragged her toward the bridge rail.
Ethan saw them.
"Nolan!"
"Stay back!"
Keene lay stunned on the pavement. Sofia kicked his gun away.
Ethan took one step forward.
Nolan shoved Mara against the rail.
Below them, the river churned black and violent.
"You ruined my life," Nolan hissed into her face.
Mara's fear disappeared beneath anger.
"I cleaned your toilets. You ruined your own life."
He tightened his grip.
Sirens wailed in the distance.
Nolan looked toward the sound.
Mara drove her knee into his thigh and twisted free.
He caught her sleeve.
Fabric ripped.
For a second, Nolan lost his balance.
He slammed against the rail.
Ethan reached for him.
Nolan looked at his brother's hand.
"After everything, you'd still save me?"
"Take my hand."
Nolan laughed bitterly.
Then Keene, barely conscious, lunged for the gun Sofia had kicked away.
Sofia screamed.
Mara turned.
That split second was enough.
Nolan shoved Ethan backward and climbed over the bridge rail.
"Nolan, don't!" Ethan shouted.
Nolan stood on the narrow outer ledge, rain blowing against his face.
"You want the truth?" he said.
He looked at Mara.
May you like
"Ask Bianca whose idea the baby was."
Then he let go.
