Chapter 20: The Truth in His Hands

“It was your father’s suicide note,” she said. “And Victor’s confession.”

My mom held out the red drive. 

My hands did not move. 

“Take it,” she said. “Please.” 

I did. 

It was warm from her hand. Small. Like it weighed nothing. Like it weighed everything. 

“Why now?” I asked. “Why lie to me for fourteen years?” 

“Because I was afraid,” my mom said. Her eyes filled. “Your dad made me promise. He said if anyone found out, they would come for you. Victor threatened us. He said if the truth got out, you would not be safe.” 

So she hid it. She told me it was music. She let me think my dad left me songs. 

He left me the truth. 

“Isla,” Singh said behind me. “We need that drive.” 

“Not yet,” I said. 

I looked at Roman. 

He was awake. Watching. The plastic cuff glinted under the hospital lights. 

“Trust me,” he mouthed again. 

I did. 

But I needed to know what I was trusting him with. 

I plugged the drive into the room’s computer. 

Two files. 

One labeled For Isla. 

One labeled Victor. 

My dad’s voice filled the room. 

“Isla, sweetheart. If you are hearing this, it means I am gone. And it means I failed you.” 

My throat closed. 

“I worked for Victor Kade,” his voice said. “I saw what he did. Weapons testing. On people. He helped me. He said if I told anyone, he would hurt you. Hurt your mom.” 

The room was silent. 

“I could not live with it,” Dad said. “I recorded Victor. His confession. He admits everything. The testing. The cover up. The order to silence me. I sent a copy to a lawyer. But I kept one for you. So you would know the truth. So you would know I loved you.” 

Tears ran down my face. 

“I am sorry,” Dad said. “Be brave. Be better than me. I love you.” 

The recording ended. 

I could not speak. 

Roman reached for me. The cuff stopped him. 

“Isla,” he said. 

I opened the second file. 

Victor’s voice. Cold. Arrogant. 

“I authorized Project Halo,” Victor said. “We tested on homeless veterans. Off the books. Your dad found out. He threatened to go to the police. I told him I would take his daughter if he did.” 

Me. 

“I told Roman to keep her isolated,” Victor said. “Keep her scared. Keep her silent. He refused. So I beat him. I cut him off. But he would not break.” 

My hands shook. 

“So I went after her father,” Victor said. “I made it look like a suicide. One less problem.” 

He killed my dad. 

And he made Roman watch. 

“I am recording this because Roman has a copy of the blue drive,” Victor said. “If I die, he will use it. This is my insurance. If I go down, he goes down with me. For my murder.” 

The recording stopped. 

That was it. 

Victor’s confession. To my dad’s murder. To the testing. To force Roman. 

And his plan. 

If he died, Roman would be blamed. 

That was why Roman hid the video. That was why he paid the tech. 

Because Victor set him up. 

“Roman did not kill him,” I said. “Victor killed himself.” 

Singh stared at the screen. “He took pills. Overdose. We found them in his system.” 

“After Roman left,” I said. “Victor took the pills after Roman gave him mercy. He used Roman. One last time. To make him look guilty.” 

Briggs, the IA detective, stepped forward. “This is new evidence. We need to verify it.” 

“Verify it,” I said. “But take these cuffs off him. Now.” 

“He is still a suspect,” Briggs said. 

“He is innocent,” I said. “And I have proof.” 

I held up the red drive. 

“This clears him,” I said. “This clears me. This proves Julian knew. He helped Victor cover up the testing. He helped fake my dad’s suicide.” 

Julian. Who was already in custody. 

Who just filed for guardianship of me. 

Who would lose everything when this went public. 

“This is a major development,” Carol said. “The guardianship hearing cannot proceed. Ms. Monroe is not unstable. She is a witness.” 

“And the morality clause is void,” I said. “Roman did not commit murder. The trust stands.” 

The clinic was safe. 

Roman was safe. 

I looked at him. 

He was watching me like I was the only good thing he ever had. 

Like he did at seventeen. 

Like he did when he woke up with amnesia. 

Like he always had. 

“You did it,” he whispered. 

“We did it,” I said. 

Briggs sighed. “Take the cuffs off. But he does not leave this room. Not until the DA clears him.” 

An officer unlocked the cuff. 

Roman rubbed his wrist. Then he reached for me. 

I went to him. 

He pulled me down, careful of his tubes, careful of his chest. 

His forehead touched mine. 

“You saved me,” he said. 

“You saved me first,” I said. “In Vegas. Ten years ago.” 

His hand came up. Touched my cheek. 

“I meant it,” he said. “I love you. No contracts. No conditions. Just you.” 

My heart cracked open. 

“I love you,” I said. “Even when I was afraid to. Even when I did not trust you. I love you.” 

He kissed me. 

It was slow. Gentle. Real. 

No panic. No fear. No lies. 

Just us. 

Singh cleared her throat. “As much as I hate to interrupt, we have twelve hours to get this to the DA. Julian’s lawyer will try to suppress it.” 

“Then we go now,” I said. 

I pulled back from Roman. 

“I have to go,” I said. “I have to make sure they hear this. I have to make sure you are free.” 

“Be careful,” Roman said. 

“I will,” I said. “You rest. Doctor’s orders.” 

He smiled. “Yes, Nurse Monroe.” 

I took the red drive. I took my mom’s hand. 

We left with Singh. 

The hallway was full of officers now. Guarding Roman. Guarding the evidence. 

We got to the elevator. 

I thought the truth would set us free. I did not think it would break me again. 

The doors opened. 

Adrian stood inside. 

He was in cuffs. Two officers behind him. 

He smiled at me. 

“Hello, wife,” he said. 

He was not looking at me. 

He was looking at my mom. 

“Carla,” Adrian said. “Long time.” 

My mom went white. 

“You know him?” I asked her. 

My mom did not answer. 

Adrian laughed. “She knows me. We worked together. At Kade Technologies. Before your dad died.” 

What? 

“Your mom did not just hide the drive,” Adrian said. “She helped make it.” 

He looked at me. 

“She helped Victor fake your dad’s suicide,” Adrian said. “She was there that night.”