"Your father's brother."
My mother's words echoed through the room.
I stared at her.
"My uncle?"
She nodded slowly.
"But why?"
Nobody answered.
Adrian stepped closer to me.
"Because he has the original agreement."
I turned toward him.
"And what exactly does that agreement contain?"
He looked at my father.
My father's face had gone pale.
"Everything," he said.
I swallowed.
"Everything?"
"The names. The trust. The original conditions. What happened the night of the fire."
My heart pounded.
"And the person who ordered the fire?"
Silence.
That silence told me enough.
I turned toward the door.
"I'm going after him."
My father grabbed my wrist.
"No."
I pulled away.
"You have lied to me my entire life. You don't get to tell me what to do anymore."
His eyes filled with something I had never seen before.
Fear.
"He wants you to come after him."
"Then let him."
"He has the agreement."
"I know."
"He has people everywhere."
"I don't care."
Adrian stepped between us.
"I'm coming with you."
My father immediately shook his head.
"No."
Adrian looked at him.
"You don't get to make that decision anymore."
For a moment, neither man moved.
Then my phone vibrated.
Unknown number.
I opened the message.
COME TO THE OLD CHURCH. ALONE.
A second message appeared.
BRING ADRIAN IF YOU WANT TO KNOW WHO ORDERED THE FIRE.
My blood ran cold.
Adrian read it over my shoulder.
"He knows we're coming."
My mother grabbed my hand.
"Don't go."
I looked into her eyes.
"Mom, I've spent my whole life being afraid of secrets I didn't even understand."
I squeezed her hand.
"I'm done."
We left.
But before I stepped outside, my father called my name.
I turned.
He looked broken.
"If you see your uncle…"
He stopped.
"What?"
His voice dropped.
"Don't believe everything he tells you."
I stared at him.
"Why?"
He looked away.
"Because he was never the victim."