Chapter 12 - THE CHOICE

I reached into my pocket and pulled out the USB drive.

Elena’s eyes locked onto it instantly. Her breathing quickened. The crowbar wavered in her hand.

“This is what you want?” I said, holding it up. “This tiny thing? This is worth breaking into my cabin? Threatening your own brother and niece?”

“It is worth everything,” she whispered. “Hand it over.”

“Come and take it.”

Elena hesitated. She saw the way I stood. She saw that I would not step aside.

“Adrian… don’t do this. I don’t want to hurt you. But I will. I swear it.”

“Then you will have to hurt me. Because I will not let you destroy what Claire left to protect Sophie.”

Elena’s face twisted. For a moment I saw something like grief in her eyes. Then it was gone, replaced by desperate resolve.

“Fine,” she said. “If that is your choice.”

She stepped forward and swung the crowbar.

I dodged to the side. It crashed into the mantelpiece, sending stone and wood flying.

Elena spun around, breathless.

“Stop it, Adrian! Just give it to me!”

“Not until every single document is filed with the police! Not until you are held accountable!”

“There is no accountability!” she screamed, swinging again. “There is only who survives! And who gets forgotten!”

I grabbed a heavy iron poker from beside the fireplace and blocked her next blow. Metal rang out. Sparks flew.

Elena was stronger than she looked. She pushed forward, forcing me back toward the wall. Her face was flushed, wild, her eyes wide and frantic.

“Claire won!” she cried, shoving me hard. “Claire always won! But this time… this time I win!”

I stumbled and fell back against the table. The drive slipped from my fingers and skittered across the wood.

Elena saw it. She lunged forward, dropping the crowbar, reaching out with both hands.

I grabbed her arm. We struggled. Twisting, straining, both of us reaching for that small black piece of plastic.

And then… the bedroom door creaked.

“Daddy?”

Sophie stood there in her pajamas, rubbing her eyes, clutching the tattered bear to her chest.

Elena froze. Her hand was inches from the drive. She turned her head slowly and looked at our niece.

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Sophie blinked.

“Aunt Elena?”