Chapter 5: The Man Who Was Supposed to Be Dead
The name Marcus Vale followed us like a shadow.
Nobody explained much during the drive back.
That bothered me.
I hated secrets.
My whole life had been destroyed by things people refused to tell me.
My father disappeared because people hid the truth.
My mother died carrying secrets.
And now I was sitting in a truck surrounded by men who knew more than they were saying.
Finally, I couldn't take it anymore.
"Who is Marcus Vale?""
Razor kept driving.
For several seconds, he said nothing.
Then:
"He was Daniel's closest friend.""
The answer surprised me.
"Friend?""
Razor nodded.
"Before everything happened.""
I looked at him.
"And now?""
His jaw tightened.
"Now we don't know.""
That wasn't an answer.
I knew that.
"You think he's the traitor.""
Razor didn't respond.
But his silence told me enough.
When we arrived at the clubhouse, the atmosphere was tense.
The building looked like any ordinary old warehouse from the outside.
But inside, it was different.
Photos covered the walls.
Old memories.
Old friendships.
And everywhere I looked...
I saw pieces of my father.
A picture of Daniel standing with the same men.
A younger Razor laughing beside him.
My chest tightened.
My father had a whole life I never knew about.
A family I never met.
And now I was learning all of it at once.
Razor placed the storage box on a table.
"We need to find out what Daniel left behind.""
Tommy picked up the recording device.
"It might tell us everything.""
I watched as he pressed the button.
Static filled the room.
Then a voice.
My father's voice.
I stopped breathing.
"Razor...""
Nobody moved.
Daniel sounded tired.
Like someone who knew time was running out.
"If you're hearing this, something went wrong.""
Razor closed his eyes.
The recording continued.
"I need you to listen carefully. Do not trust official reports. Do not trust the people who say they know what happened.""
A pause.
Then my father said:
"The person who betrayed me wasn't a stranger.""
Everyone became still.
"It was someone I loved.""
My hands went cold.
The recording continued.
"I made one mistake. I believed loyalty was stronger than greed.""
Then another sound appeared.
A door opening.
My father's breathing changed.
Someone had entered the room where he recorded this.
Daniel whispered:
"No...""
The recording ended.
Nobody spoke.
Because we all understood.
My father had known he was in danger.
He had recorded his final message knowing someone was coming.
Razor stared at the device.
"Play it again.""
Tommy did.
Same message.
Same warning.
Same ending.
But this time, something else happened.
At the very end...
A voice.
Quiet.
Almost impossible to hear.
But there.
A man's voice.
Daniel had not been alone.
Everyone leaned closer.
Tommy increased the volume.
The voice came through.
Three words.
And they changed everything.
"You're too late.""
Razor stepped back.
Because he recognized that voice.
I saw it on his face.
"Who is it?""
He didn't answer.
"Razor.""
His eyes met mine.
And for the first time, I saw fear.
Not anger.
Not sadness.
Fear.
"It's Marcus.""
The room went silent.
Then the front door opened.
Everyone turned.
A man stood there.
Older.
Tired.
Wearing a faded leather jacket.
Nobody moved.
Because every person in the room recognized him.
Marcus Vale.
The man who was supposed to be dead.
He looked directly at me.
At my father's jacket.
And whispered:
"Daniel's daughter.""
Razor stepped forward.
"How are you alive?""
Marcus ignored him.
His eyes stayed on me.
"I was hoping you'd never find this place.""
My heart raced.
"Why?""
Marcus looked away.
May you like
Because the answer hurt.
"Because your father died trying to protect you from what comes next.""
