Chapter 7 - THE MAN INSIDE THE TOWER
The betrayal went higher than anyone expected.
Gus's CFO had been moving money through shell companies for years.
He had manipulated contracts.
He had paid intermediaries.
He had helped conceal the Sinclair network.
But he hadn't killed Elias.
The final piece came from security footage.
A black sedan followed Elias onto I-90.
The driver was Paul Hawthorne.
Dela's brother-in-law.
He had not intended to kill Elias.
He had intended to scare him.
But Elias lost control.
The sedative in his blood made the crash unavoidable.
Paul had then arrived at the hospital before Dela.
He forged her signature.
He destroyed evidence.
And he told himself he was protecting the family.
When Gus confronted him, Paul broke.
He confessed.
"I never meant for him to die."
Dela stood behind Gus.
She looked at Paul.
"You watched me bury my husband."
Paul began sobbing.
"I'm sorry."
Dela's voice was quiet.
"You don't get to ask me to forgive you."
She turned away.
Gus did not threaten Paul.
He didn't need to.
The evidence was already enough.
Paul was arrested.
Vincent Sinclair was arrested soon afterward.
The CFO cooperated with federal investigators.
The Meridian began cooperating with authorities.
And for the first time in seven months, Dela could finally say the words she had been afraid to say.
May you like
"Elias didn't abandon me."
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