Bittersweet Memories (Off-Limits)

“Silas?” I snap out of my thoughts at the sound of Amy’s voice and find her standing in front of my desk. How long has she been trying to get my attention?

“What is it?”

I haven’t been able to focus on anything at all since Alanna left. She requested holiday leave from work, so I haven’t seen her in over a week now. The security team told me she’s safely checked into a bed-and-breakfast nearby, but I’m still restless. I’m worried I’m truly losing her, and it’s killing me to give her the space she asked for. All I want to do is call her so I get to hear her voice.

“We found your father’s lawyer. He entered the country this morning, and I instructed our interception team to pick him up. He’s being transported to our interrogation room as we speak.”

I sit up in shock. “We’ve been looking for him for years.”

Amy smiles excitedly. “He must have thought it’d be safe to return now. I think we’ll get him to talk quite easily. If he’s back, he either needs more money, or he wants his life back. Whichever it is, cooperating with us will be his best bet. Mona has nothing left to offer him.”

I nod. “Let’s go. Send someone to collect Ryan for me. I want him to see this. If we get the answers we’re after, then this might finally show him his mother’s true colors. And if we don’t, then he equally has a right to know that too.”

Amy nods and walks out of my office, a determined look on her face. She’s one of very few people who know how tough the last couple of years have been. I know she must share the satisfaction I’m feeling right now. Even if we don’t get the answers we seek, at least we found him.

I’m tense as I walk into the control room, making sure the cameras are on. I don’t want to miss anything today.

“Why did you bring me here?” Ryan asks the moment Amy leads him into the interrogation room’s backroom. I turn toward him, feeling torn. With everything he’s done lately, I no longer see him as the cute kid I wanted to protect. But at the same time, I can’t let go of the obligation I feel. I can’t help but wish that he’s only this way because of his mother, and that the truth will change him.

“You’ll see.”

I watch as Michael is led in by the interception team, his eyes filled with panic. I let him sit in the room by himself for a moment, his thoughts undoubtedly going wild. If he truly did what I think he did, then I can’t be the only person he screwed over.

I inhale deeply as I open the door to the room and walk in, his eyes widening when he sees me.

“Silas.”

“Michael,” I nod. “Long time no see.”

He looks older, the calculating look in his eyes long gone. “It must have been exhausting looking over your shoulder for so many years, only to still get caught in the end.”

He looks away and shakes his head. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

I sit down opposite him and entwine my fingers as I stare him down. “I’m not the little boy you betrayed anymore,” I tell him, my voice soft. “In the time you’ve been gone, I built Sinclair Security. It’s one of the biggest security firms in the world, covering everything from private investigation, bodyguard services and even cybersecurity. Turns out I wasn’t the only one that’s been looking for you,” I bluff. “I wonder how much money I stand to make if I hand you over.”

His eyes widen, true fear finally filling his eyes. “You can’t do that to me, Silas. They’ll kill me.”

“I know.” I glance at my hands and lean back in my seat. “To be honest, I don’t need the money Mona and you took from me. It took some time, but I’ve got enough of my own. What I want is the truth. Why did you forge my father’s will? How did you do it?”

He rocks back and forth in his chair, contemplating his next move. “If I tell you, I want protection. I want the bodyguard services your firm offers in exchange for the full truth.”

I nod. “Very well. That’s easy enough. Talk.”

“I want it in writing.”

I rise from my seat and chuckle. “You’re insane if you think I’m going to wait for my lawyers to draw up a contract. I don’t have time for that. This is a take it or leave it deal. Either you talk right now, or I’m handing you over to someone who’ll make you. What is it going to be?”

He grits his teeth and nods, his expression haunted. I have no idea who is after him, but fear has always been a strong motivator.

“It was all Mona’s idea. She offered to pay me a ten percent cut of the entire estate if I forged your father’s will and left everything to her.”

I nod and sit down at the table, wondering what Ryan must be feeling right now, if he even believes Michael at all. He’s been making excuses for his mother all his life.

“What was in the original will?”

“75% went to you to account for your mother’s stake in the business, and the other 25% went to Ryan. Mona didn’t get anything. She was worried about it mostly because the will determined that you would hold Ryan’s share too, until he turned 25. She’d be left with nothing and no access to any funds, either.”

I nod, my thoughts reeling. “My father died unexpectedly, yet it was ruled to be a natural death. She had him cremated as soon as she possibly could to prevent me from doing a second autopsy. Did she have anything to do with my father’s death?”

Michael shakes his head. “I don’t know. All I know is that he’d asked me to start divorce proceedings, and a few weeks later, he was dead. If she did do it, I wasn’t involved.”

I run a hand through my hair and look up at the ceiling. I can’t prove that she killed him, but I’m certain she did. “Okay,” I tell him. “Thank you for your time. My men will see you out.”

“What about my bodyguard services?”

I frown at him. “What are you talking about?”

“S-silas, you promised me. If you could find me this easily, they will too.”

“You can’t outrun your bad deeds, Michael. You’ll pay for what you’ve done, and I won’t even need to dirty my hands.”

“You lied to me.”

I rise to my feet and smile at him. “Isn’t that exactly what you once did to me?”

I walk away without looking back, not a single ounce of remorse nagging at my conscience. He deserves whatever it is that’s coming for him.

“Did you hear that?” I ask Ryan.

He’s staring at the window, his face as white as a sheet. “How much did you pay him to say all of that?”

My heart sinks and I look away. “Ryan, if after all this, you still can’t see the truth, then you truly are a lost cause.”

He looks at me, his eyes flashing with anger. “I’m not retracting my offer. I’m still going after Alanna if you don’t give me what I’m owed. You’ve got three days left, Silas. Make them count.”

I stare at him in disbelief as he walks out of the room, my heart sinking as I think back to the little boy who cried his heart out at our father’s funeral. It’s that image of him that made me weak, and it’s that same image that’s now going to cost me everything.