Chapter 7: The File That Changed Everything
I hated that I believed him.
Not because I trusted Milo Varenne.
I didn’t.
Not anymore.
I hated it because some part of me knew there was still more.
Another layer.
Another secret.
Another piece of my life that powerful people had hidden from me while I worked two jobs and fought alone.
I looked at Milo.
“The truth about you.””
My voice sounded strange.
“What does that mean?””
Milo didn’t answer.
That was becoming his most dangerous habit.
Silence.
A weapon used by people who knew they had something to lose.
I stepped closer.
“No more.””
He looked at me.
“No more what?””
“No more protecting me with lies.””
His face tightened.
“I’m not lying.””
“You are.””
“I’m not telling you everything.””
“That’s the same thing.””
For once, Milo didn’t argue.
Because he knew.
Damian watched us from across the room, looking almost satisfied.
That was the part I hated most.
He wanted us divided.
He wanted Milo exposed.
And somehow, despite everything Milo had done, I knew Damian wanted something worse than revenge.
He wanted control.
“Where is the file?”” Milo asked.
Everyone looked at him.
Damian smiled.
“There he is.””
Milo ignored him.
“Where is it?””
Damian walked around the table slowly.
“You really think I’m going to tell you?””
“You sent the messages.””
“Yes.””
“You wanted her to know.””
“Yes.””
“Then why stop now?””
Damian’s smile faded slightly.
“Because I wanted her to understand.””
His eyes moved to me.
“Not everything.””
I felt my stomach tighten.
“What does that mean?””
“It means Milo has spent years convincing himself that he is a better man than he used to be.””
Damian looked at him.
“But the truth is much simpler.””
Milo’s expression hardened.
“Don’t.””
“You didn’t save her brother because you were noble.””
The room went quiet.
I looked at Milo.
“What is he talking about?””
Milo didn’t answer.
Damian continued.
“You saved Kit Nolan because you needed something from him.””
My heartbeat quickened.
“No.””
Milo looked at me.
“Sabra.””
“Don’t.””
I held up my hand.
“Let him finish.””
Damian smiled.
“You want the truth?””
“Yes.””
“Fine.””
He walked toward the folder.
“After the accident, Milo discovered Kit had seen something.””
I frowned.
“Seen what?””
“A meeting.””
Between who?””
Damian looked at Milo.
“Tell her.””
Milo stayed silent.
I felt anger building.
“Tell me.””
Finally, he spoke.
“Kit saw Damian’s people.””
“Doing what?””
Milo looked down.
“Moving information.””
“That doesn’t make sense.””
“It was more than information.””
A pause.
“He saw documents.””
“What kind?””
Milo didn’t answer immediately.
And that scared me.
“Documents connected to businesses.””
“Your businesses?””
“Yes.””
I stared.
“So my brother was a witness?””
“No.””
Milo’s voice was quiet.
“He was a threat.””
The words hit me.
“My brother?””
“No.””
He stepped closer.
“Not because of who he was.””
“Then why?””
“Because of what he accidentally recorded.””
I thought about Kit.
My little brother.
The kid who hated confrontation.
The kid who apologized when someone bumped into him.
The kid who once spent an entire afternoon helping a stranger carry groceries because he thought nobody else would.
He was never supposed to be part of this.
“How did he record anything?””
Milo looked at Damian.
Damian answered.
“Your brother had a camera mounted on his motorcycle.””
My breathing stopped.
“What?””
“It was damaged in the crash.””
Milo continued.
“But the memory card survived.””
I stared.
“And you knew.””
“Yes.””
“You wanted it.””
“Yes.””
The honesty was brutal.
“So that was why you helped me?””
Milo’s eyes met mine.
“No.””
“Then why?””
“Because after I found out who Kit was…”
He stopped.
“Because after I saw him in the hospital…”
His voice became quieter.
“I realized I had already failed him once.””
The room went silent.
For a second, I saw something different in him.
Not power.
Not control.
Regret.
Real regret.
But regret didn’t erase what happened.
I shook my head.
“You still wanted the file.””
“Yes.””
“And you never told me.””
“No.””
“Why?””
Milo looked away.
“Because I was afraid.””
“Of what?””
“That you would see me exactly as I was.””
I stared at him.
“And what were you?””
He didn’t answer.
Because he knew.
The answer was already there.
A man who wanted to be good.
But who had spent years doing terrible things.
Damian interrupted.
“How touching.””
Milo turned.
“Enough.””
“No.””
Damian smiled.
“You always hated that part of yourself.””
He looked at me.
“Do you know what makes Milo different from me?””
I said nothing.
“Nothing.””
Milo’s expression changed.
“That’s not true.””
“Isn’t it?””
Damian stepped closer.
“You think because you feel guilty, you’re different.””
He shook his head.
“You’re just someone who regrets getting caught.””
I watched Milo.
Waiting.
Hoping he would deny it.
He didn’t.
And that scared me.
My phone buzzed.
Again.
This time, I almost didn’t want to look.
But I did.
A message.
From Kit.
*I found the memory card.*
My breath caught.
Another message appeared.
*I know what happened that night.*
Then another.
*I know who was driving the car.*
The room changed.
Milo immediately moved toward me.
“What did he send?””
I looked at him.
“You don’t know?””
His face went pale.
“No.””
I showed him.
He read the messages.
Then his expression became something I had never seen before.
Panic.
Not fear.
Panic.
“Where is Kit?””
I stepped back.
“You tell me.””
“Sabra.””
“No.””
I shook my head.
“You knew everything about me.””
My voice broke.
“You knew where I worked. You knew about my brother. You knew about his accident.””
“I didn’t know this.””
“But you knew enough.””
Milo looked at Rurik.
“Find him.””
Rurik nodded immediately.
He grabbed his phone.
Damian laughed.
Everyone turned.
“You’re worried.””
Milo looked at him.
“If you touched him—”
Damian interrupted.
“I didn’t.””
The calmness was terrifying.
“Then who?””
Nobody answered.
Then the lights flickered again.
Victor’s phone rang.
He answered.
His face changed.
“What?””
A pause.
Then:
“Where?””
He looked at Milo.
“We have a problem.””
My heart dropped.
“What happened?””
Victor swallowed.
“Someone broke into Kit Nolan’s apartment.””
I couldn’t breathe.
“Is he okay?””
Victor looked at me.
“We don’t know.””
Everything inside me went cold.
Milo moved immediately.
“I’m coming with you.””
I looked at him.
“No.””
He stopped.
“Sabra.””
“No.””
I stepped toward the door.
“For once, you don’t get to decide.””
He stared at me.
“I’m trying to help.””
I looked at him.
“And I’m trying to figure out whether you’re the person who saves my family…”
I paused.
“Or the reason they need saving.””
Nobody spoke.
Then my phone rang.
Kit.
Everyone froze.
I answered instantly.
“Kit?””
Silence.
Then a voice.
Not my brother’s.
A stranger’s.
“Sabra Nolan?””
My blood turned cold.
“Who is this?””
A quiet laugh.
Then:
“The person who has your brother.””
I gripped the phone.
“Where is Kit?””
The voice ignored the question.
Instead, it said:
“You want the truth about Milo Varenne?””
I looked at Milo.
He was staring at me.
The stranger continued.
“Come alone.””
A pause.
“Bring the memory card.””
I swallowed.
“What memory card?””
The voice became colder.
“The one Kit found before he disappeared.””
Then the call ended.
I stood frozen.
Milo stepped closer.
“Sabra.””
I looked at him.
For the first time, I saw something in his face that frightened me.
Not guilt.
Not fear.
Desperation.
Because he knew exactly what the caller meant.
And he knew exactly where Kit had hidden the memory card.
But before he could speak…
Damian smiled.
“Looks like your brother finally made his move.””
I turned toward him.
“What?””
Damian looked at Milo.
Then at me.
“Kit Nolan didn’t just discover a secret.””
A pause.
“He discovered the one thing Milo has spent years trying to bury.””
I felt my heartbeat pounding.
“What thing?””
May you like
Damian’s smile disappeared.
“The reason your brother was targeted in the first place.””
