Page 79 of Bound

His smile returns.

I stop a few feet away. “You killed my parents.” I stare back at the screen.

“Yes. I did. A payback for a favor for Marina. And you were to be mine.”

I want to look away, but I can’t. I have needed the answer to this question my entire adult life.

I need to know exactly how my parents died.

I know I’m off my game, that I’ve let my guard too far down, but I’m enthralled with the grainy image of the blue sedan turning down Sixth Street. I want to move closer to see my mother’s face up close.

Carlos could end me now if he wanted.

But I have to watch.

Gregory’s voice fills my ear. “Marina’s files are live and… now!”

“Wait!”

But it’s too late. We’ve overridden the feed. All screens go dark. Carlos’s videos disappear.

The screens change. Payment chains. Warehouse rosters. Old authorization records. Caleb and his father shaking hands with men outside of Glasgow. Boats on a river. The Hoax. Glasgow routes. Carlos’s transfers.

Carlos’s edits to the Bachman emergency system.

Every lie stripped of his theatrics. Every one of them bare on the screen.

Marina must be smiling down on us, her microfilm as alive as can be.

Every ghost has been given a name. Every one of his criminal acts has been documented.

Now, it’s my turn to smile.

He takes in my face. Then Carlos turns toward the screens.

His voice, murderous. “What did you do?”

Rafe steps into the room. “Marina died so that Isobel could bring this to us.”

“The two closest women in your lives working together to destroy you,” I say.

“You really are bad at choosing broads, aren’t you?” Blaze enters the room.

Blaze smiles. “Oxford grew claws.”

Carlos looks at me. For the first time ever in my life, I see the panic beneath the polish.

“You think files matter?” he snaps, clearly losing control.

It’s strange for me to see him like this. Others may have seen his weakness, but I couldn’t.

Not until now.

“I think exposure matters to a man who wanted to write the ending.”

His eyes darken. “You were a grieving boy with a famous name you refused to take. I made you.”

“No.” I step closer. “But you should have killed me when you had the chance.”