Chapter 7 - THE MAN NATHAN TRUSTED
Carter had protected Nathan for twelve years.
He had taken a bullet for him in Chicago.
He had carried Grace's coffin.
He had held Noah at his baptism.
And now Nathan watched his oldest friend step through the dark clinic with a gun.
“Elena,” Nathan whispered.
She took Noah.
Miriam opened a service door.
“Go.”
Nathan remained.
Elena grabbed him.
“No.”
“I need answers.”
“Noah needs a father.”
The words stopped him.
Nathan followed.
They entered the basement.
Footsteps sounded above.
Carter's voice came through the darkness.
“Nathan.”
No answer.
“I know you saw the video.”
Nathan closed his eyes.
Carter continued.
“Grace was already dying.”
Nathan turned.
Elena caught his arm.
“She crashed before I reached her,” Carter shouted. “I tried to help.”
Nathan stepped into the stairwell.
Carter stood above.
Gun lowered.
“You were in her car.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Your father sent me.”
Nathan's face hardened.
“To kill her?”
“To recover the evidence.”
“Same thing.”
“No.”
Carter looked broken.
“I loved Grace.”
Nathan hit him.
Carter fell.
The gun slid away.
Nathan grabbed his shirt.
“You loved my wife?”
“Like family.”
“Then why didn't you save her?”
“I tried!”
Carter shouted.
“She drove away from Simon. Her brakes were gone.”
Nathan froze.
“Simon cut the brakes?”
“Yes.”
“Vanessa?”
“She ordered it.”
Nathan released him.
Carter coughed.
“Grace crashed. I reached her. She was alive.”
Nathan's eyes filled.
“You left her.”
“No.”
Carter's voice broke.
“She made me promise.”
“Promise what?”
“To protect you from Richard.”
Nathan laughed bitterly.
“You did a terrible job.”
“I know.”
Carter looked at Noah.
“And I failed him too.”
A red dot appeared on Carter's chest.
Elena saw it first.
“Down!”
The window exploded.
Carter fell.
Blood covered the floor.
Nathan dragged him behind the wall.
“Carter!”
Carter gasped.
“Simon.”
“Where?”
“Water.”
Nathan frowned.
Carter grabbed his sleeve.
“Grace hid another copy.”
“Where?”
“Water.”
His hand went limp.
Nathan stared.
Carter was dead.
Noah began crying.
Elena covered his eyes.
Outside, an engine started.
Simon was leaving.
Nathan stood.
Elena blocked him.
“Don't.”
“He killed Carter.”
“And he wants you angry.”
Nathan stared.
“He wants you to chase him.”
She pointed at Noah.
“Choose.”
Nathan looked at his son.
Then at the door.
For the first time in his life, Nathan Whitaker chose not to chase revenge.
He knelt beside Noah.
“I choose you.”
Noah wrapped his arms around him.
Outside, Simon Vale escaped.
But he made one mistake.
He believed Nathan's decision made him weak.
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He did not understand that a man fighting for revenge could be predicted.
A father fighting for his child could not.
