Chapter 63: The Flash drive
997words
Everleigh messaged me, asking to meet. I wondered what was up with her. Hadn't she gone back to her father's house after the breakup?
'Tell her to come out," Gabriel said as he parked along the road.
A few minutes later, Everleigh joined us. She got into the backseat, and I turned to face her. 'What was so important, Eve?" I asked.
'I have something for you." She handed me a flash drive. 'I shouldn't be doing this, but I think you deserve to know."
'What's on it?" I inquired.
'Just check it out. It's about your family. I got it from my dad," she explained.
'Alright then. Thanks. So, how have you been? Why are you staying here?" I asked, pointing at a small gate leading to a bungalow.
'It's a long story, but I'm fine. I need to go now," she said, opening the door.
'Take care of yourself."
'You too," she replied, closing the door. We watched her leave before driving off.
'What could this be?" I wondered, looking at the flash drive.
'You won't know until you check it," Gabriel said.
'Do you have your laptop?"
'What would a bodyguard be doing with a laptop?" he teased.
I playfully slapped his shoulder. 'Don't call yourself that. You're more than just a bodyguard, Gabriel."
'I loved the way you defended me," he smiled.
'You're my baby boy; I can't let anyone mess with you," I said, making him laugh.
When we got home, I had breakfast with Gabriel before heading to my room to check the flash drive. It was filled with random files—old business transactions and other irrelevant stuff.
'This is just business transaction junk. What does Everleigh want me to see in here?" I complained.
'You're just skimming, Scarlett. I bet you haven't read beyond the titles," Gabriel remarked. I shot him a glare, but he took the laptop from me. I scrolled through my phone while he went through the files.
'Your dad made a transaction. It looks like he sold a company… and it was to someone named Johnson Reyes," Gabriel said, catching my attention.
'Johnson Reyes? That's Nathan's father. But my dad never owned a company, so how could he sell one?" I asked, inspecting the document.
'There's a video file too," he said and clicked on it.
'That's my dad!" I gasped, feeling a mix of excitement and confusion. 'Wait, why is he tied to a chair?"
'What do you think it looks like?" Gabriel said, placing the laptop on the bed between us.
'Was my dad kidnapped?" I whispered, watching a shadowy figure approach my father in a dimly lit warehouse. My dad looked exhausted, though he had no visible injuries. How long had they kept him there? Suddenly, his eyes snapped open as the shadow came into view. I gasped.
'Do you recognize him?" Gabriel asked.
'Do I recognize him? That's Nathan's father! Did he kidnap my dad?" My heart began to race.
'Isn't it obvious, Scarlett?" Gabriel said, sounding frustrated by my questions.
'Johnson?" my dad said weakly in the video.
Without warning, Johnson slapped my dad hard, jerking his head to the side. 'Argh!" I screamed, covering my mouth. Johnson slapped him again, and I screamed once more. 'Why is he hitting my dad?" I cried as blood dripped from my dad's split lips.
Gabriel pulled me into his arms. 'This isn't new, Scarlett. Stay strong," he tried to console me.
'This is for making me do this," Johnson said in the video, forcing my dad to look up at him. 'You're going to sign those documents now, and I won't pay you a dime for it."
'What's he talking about?" I muttered.
'Sign here," Johnson commanded, placing some files on my dad's lap.
'I would rather die," my dad spat back, earning another harsh slap from Johnson.
'Pedro!" Johnson called, and a huge man emerged from the shadows. 'If he doesn't sign, kill his wife and daughter," Johnson ordered before turning to leave.
'You'll rot in hell, Johnson!" my father spat, and the video abruptly ended.
'That explains these documents," Gabriel said, flipping back to the files. I was too consumed with anger to listen. My dad was gone, but it felt like I was reliving the trauma in real-time.
'Scarlett?" Gabriel nudged me, snapping me out of my thoughts.
'It doesn't matter, Gabriel. I need to find out why Nathan's father would force my dad to give up a company," I growled, jumping out of bed.
'Where are you going?"
'Nathan has some explaining to do!" I said through gritted teeth. Without bothering to change, I grabbed my phone and stormed out of the room.
'Wait," Gabriel called, hurrying after me.
Luckily, that monster's son had just arrived. I saw Nathan greeting my mother, and I bolted down the stairs, shoving him hard in the chest. He stumbled back, shocked by my sudden outburst.
'How dare you!" I screamed, thrashing against Gabriel's hold as he tried to restrain me.
'What's going on, Scarlett?" my mother intervened, alarmed.
'I want to kill this son of a monster!" I cried, breaking free from Gabriel's grip and pounding on Nathan's chest. He didn't resist; he just stood there, letting me vent my rage, which only infuriated me more.
'Say something!" I yelled at him.
'That's enough, Scarlett," Gabriel pulled me away again.
'Let me go, Gabriel. I want him to feel every ounce of pain my dad endured. How dare he touch my father!" I sobbed, struggling against him.
'What are you talking about?" Nathan finally spoke, his voice calm but confused. 'I don't even know your father."
'Cut the crap! You and your family are the worst! You're despicable!" I screamed, wrenching free once more before my mother stepped between us.
'That's enough, Scarlett. Control yourself," she ordered.
I gritted my teeth, my fists clenched, every part of me trembling with rage. 'Argh!" I screamed in frustration, turning and running back upstairs.
