Page 73 of Saving it with My Best Friend's Brother

“Is it?” Desperation aged him backward to fifteen as he looked at Arthur. “Tell them, Dad. Tell them what we found in the mine surveys.”

Arthur seemed to collapse inward, moonlight harsh on his features. “The uranium deposits... they’re not just valuable. They’re dangerous. Exposed. Leaching into groundwater.”

“The cancer clusters in the valley.” Amelia’s fingers tightened in mine. “The mysterious illnesses...”

“Crystal Ridge wasn’t just buying properties.” Understanding hit like an avalanche starting. “They were covering up an environmental disaster.”

“And Mom died trying to expose it.” Steel entered Amelia’s voice. “That’s why you cut power tonight, isn’t it, Michael? To destroy evidence before the FBI found it.”

“To protect you!” The detonator shook in his grip. “If this gets out, everyone involved goes down. Including Dad. Including me.”

“Then let them.” Arthur straightened despite weakness, showing me where Amelia got her strength. “No more secrets. No more protecting the guilty by hurting the innocent.”

“Listen to him, Michael.” Mom’s voice carried years of regret. “Margaret wouldn’t want—“

“Don’t!” The detonator trembled, red light painting cabin walls like blood. “Don’t tell me what Mom would want. She’s dead because of me. Because I was too cowardly to admit what I’d done.”

“You were scared.” Amelia stepped toward her brother, moonlight catching tears on her cheeks. “Just a kid trying to protect everyone.”

“Stay back.” But his voice wavered like dying flame.

My heart swelled watching Amelia advance, even as fear churned my stomach. The cabin creaked beneath her careful steps.

“Remember when I fell off my bike?” Her voice fell soft as snow. “You carried me home. Told me everything would be okay.”

“Amelia—“

“Let me do that for you now.” Another step, dust swirling in her wake. “Let me help carry this.”

Wind picked up outside, making timbers groan. Agent Blake’s team shifted in shadows, ready, but I held up a hand. This moment belonged to Amelia.

“Seven minutes to midnight.” Rachel’s whisper hung in the frigid air.

Michael’s eyes darted between the detonator and his sister, tears catching the moonlight. “I can’t let them take Dad. Can’t let them destroy everything Mom died protecting.”

“Mom died protecting us.” Amelia could almost touch him now, her voice steady as a mountain stone. “Not secrets. Not property. Us.”

Something in Michael crumbled like spring snow. The detonator slipped—I lunged forward as Agent Blake shouted—

But Amelia was faster.

She caught her brother as he collapsed; the detonator falling harmless as she cradled him like she had in the driveway. Hospital antiseptic still clung to his clothes.

“I’m sorry,” he sobbed against her shoulder. “I’m so sorry...”

FBI moved in smoothly, securing the scene as Rachel surrendered, the fight finally leaving her elegant frame.

I reached Amelia as her strength gave out. She fell back against my chest, still holding Michael while Agent Blake’s team disabled the remaining explosives. Vanilla shampoo mixed with mountain air and tears.

“I’ve got you,” I whispered, arms encircling them both. “I’ve got you.”

Movement caught my eye—Mom helping Arthur toward us, their steps uncertain on worn floorboards.

Two families, torn apart by secrets, finally face the truth under mountain stars.

But before anyone could speak, a phone chimed sharp against cabin silence.

Blue light painted our faces as one message appeared on every screen:

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