Page 65 of They Will Fall

“That’s right,” I say as I follow closely behind. “It ends now.”

Dad rips the front door open, exuding confidence and authority as he enters the cabin. His light skates around the room, but what he’s looking for isn’t here. “Where the hell is she?”

My fingers grasp the edges of the trapdoor, feeling the wood's splinters under my skin. I flip the adjoined boards up and they hit the floor with a thud.

I look over my shoulder at my dad, eyebrows raised. “She’s down here.”

“I’ve heard of this place,” he says as he kneels beside me, peering down into the hall.

“And now you get to see it.”In one fell swoop, I give him a shove, sending him down the hole and into the underground room.

Surprisingly, there isn’t an ounce of remorse as his body crashes against the concrete floor. Even his grunts and groans don’t faze me.

I grab the trapdoor and steady it against my shoulder, so it closes as I go down.

When I reach the bottom, I see my dad curled over, babying his shoulder. “What’s wrong with you? I need a paramedic, son. I think it’s broken.”

“Good,” I huff as I crouch over him. My right hand trembles as I reach into the inside pocket of my coat and pull out my dad’s pistol. His eyes widen, body stiff, as I press it to his temple. “Maybe it will motivate you to answer my questions.”

“Son,” he chokes. “Wha…what are you doing?”

“What I should have done a long time ago.” I give him a swift kick to the ribs and it’s so satisfying that I do it again. “If I’d known then, what I know now, you bet your sorry ass I would have. Now get yourself off this fucking floor and stand up like a man.”

He curls into a ball like a little bitch, moaning and crying.

“I said get up!” I shout. I reach into my pocket and pull out the recorder while still pointing the gun at him.

“I can’t. I think my shoulder is shattered,” he sputters and whines as he tries to push himself up to no avail. “I think my leg is broken, too.” Hopeful eyes peer up at me, as if he thinks I might actually help him. “Call an ambulance, son. I need help.” Then he cries out even louder. “God, help me!”

A devilish grin spreads across my face. “No one can save you here. Not a paramedic, and not even God.”

I kneel beside him, knowing there’s no way in hell he’s getting off this floor. I press the gun back to his temple and grit out, “Is this yours?” I show him the recorder. “Is this what you planned to use when you kidnapped my girlfriend and tried to scare a confession out of her for something she didn’t do?”

“She did do it, though. She shot Governor Saint and she needs to pay for her sins.”

“And who the fuck are you to play God with her life, or anyone else’s, for that matter?” I hit the record button on the side of the recorder. “What was your connection with Governor Saint, anyway?”

“I…I barely knew the guy. He was a Blue Blood, just like all of us.”

“You’re lying.”

“Son, I need help.”

“You’re gonna need help when I’m done with you. I’m just not so sure anyone will care enough to save you.” I dig the gun deeper into his temple. “Tell me what he has on you? Is it proof that you killed the Pemberley family?”

His eyes widen in surprise, bottom lip quivering. “No. No, I didn’t do that.”

“What if I told you I have those files that you so desperately wanted to remain sealed, and I know everything?”

“That’s not possible. Those records won’t be handed over for two more days. And even then, the contents remain classified for months, maybe even years.”

“Do I look like a guy who follows the rules,Dad? I mean, after all, I did learn from the best.” He doesn’t respond, just lies there trembling while pleading with sorrowful eyes. “I know you did it, and soon, everyone else will, too. The question is, why? Why the fuck would you murder that poor family? Those sweet girls?”

Suddenly, there’s a shift in his demeanor. He breaks into a sob as he tries again to get up, only to fall right back down on the concrete while letting out an unrestrained whimper. “I didn’t wanna hurt those little girls. His family was in the wrong place at the wrong time and it will haunt me for the rest of my life.”

It’s true. He did it. My eyes brim with tears at just the thought of what he did to Lev’s sisters, or any of them, for that matter. But I push the sadness away because I can’t dwell on that at the moment.

“What the fuck, Dad? How could you?”

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