23. Sebastian
CHAPTER 23
sebastian
T he house felt hollow now. Empty rooms echoed with unspoken words as crime scene technicians moved through the halls, collecting evidence of a betrayal years in the making. I sat on the steps of the grand staircase, watching as they boxed up David's laptop, his files, and pieces of the life I thought I knew.
Brooklyn appeared beside me, two cups of coffee in hand. "You're not allowed to be mad at me."
"I'm not mad." I took the offered cup as I studied my sister's face. She looked exhausted; the shadows under her eyes betrayed weeks of secret keeping. "I'm proud of you, Bee. And scared out of my mind with what could have happened if they'd caught you."
"That's why I didn't tell you." She bumped my shoulder with hers. "You're a terrible liar, big brother. You would've given it away in five seconds flat."
"Who?"
"Says the guy who couldn't even hide his crush on Maxine for five minutes." Her smile faded. "How is she?"
I glanced toward the kitchen where Maxine sat staring into space, trying to take in all we had learned and what Ciara said about her dad. She hadn't spoken much since we left the stables.
"Processing," I said finally. "It's one thing to suspect your mother helped kill your father. It's another to hear her admit it."
"They've requested a meeting," Brooklyn said quietly. "David and Ciara. Their lawyers reached out."
My fingers tightened around the coffee cup. "No way in hell."
"That's what I said. But"—she gestured toward Maxine—"it's not just our decision."
As if sensing our discussion, Maxine appeared in the kitchen doorway. Sunlight caught the delicate gold chain of her locket around her neck.
"I want to see them," she said, her voice steady despite her red-rimmed eyes. "I need to understand why."
"Max..." I stood, but she held up a hand.
"Not today. Not tomorrow. But soon." She moved to join us on the stairs, fitting herself against my side like she belonged there. Maybe she did. "I have questions only they can answer."
Brooklyn studied her for a moment before nodding. "I'll set it up. With lawyers present, in a secure location."
"Thank you." Maxine's fingers found mine, and she gently squeezed. "For everything. What you did, putting yourself at risk like that..."
"Hey, what's family for?" Brooklyn's attempt at lightness wobbled slightly. "Besides, someone had to be the brains of this operation."
A crime scene technician appeared at the top of the stairs with a familiar leather briefcase in his hands. "Mr. Trevino? We found this in your father's study safe. You might want to take a look."
The briefcase was heavy with secrets. Marriage certificates, old photos, letters—a paper trail of deception dating back years before Carlos's death. David and Ciara's relationship hadn't started with their respective marriages. They'd been playing this game all along. We wouldn’t be able to thoroughly go through it until the investigations into Carlos’s death and other crimes the two committed were closed. We just got a sneak peek.
"I keep thinking about all the family dinners," Maxine whispered as we sorted through the documents. "The holidays, the vacations. Were they laughing at us the whole time? Planning even then how to..."
She couldn't finish the sentence. I pulled her closer and pressed my lips to her temple.
"We can't change the past," Brooklyn said, practical as always. "But we can decide what happens next. The board meeting to discuss interim leadership is scheduled for tomorrow."
Right. The company. Somewhere between uncovering murder plots and watching our parents be led away in handcuffs, I'd almost forgotten about the empire they'd killed to protect.
"They'll want to appoint outside management," I said. "Given the circumstances..."
"No." Maxine straightened, some of Carlos's steel entering her voice. "This company was my father's life. His legacy. I won't let strangers decide its fate."
"You're thinking of taking control?" Brooklyn raised an eyebrow. "The shareholders might resist, given everything that's happened."
"Then we'll just have to convince them." Maxine turned to me, her eyes bright with challenge. "Together. You handle Operations; I'll take Development. Brooklyn can manage Legal and Compliance—God knows we need someone watching for irregularities after this mess."
"A family business," I said slowly. "But run the right way this time."
"Exactly." She squeezed my hand. "What do you say?"
I looked at Brooklyn, who shrugged. "I'm in if you are. Someone has to keep you two focused on actual work instead of making eyes at each other across conference tables."
"We don't make eyes," I protested.
"Please." Brooklyn rolled her eyes. "I had to start recording board meetings just to prove to Detective Martinez that you two weren't secretly passing notes like teenagers."
Maxine laughed—really laughed—for the first time since our parents’ arrests. The sound echoed through the hollow house, filling the empty spaces with something new. Something full of hope.
"So?" She looked at me expectantly. "Partners?"
"Partners," I agreed, sealing the promise with a kiss that made Brooklyn groan dramatically.
"Great. I'm going to go call the lawyers before you two start planning the office layout." She paused at the top of the stairs. "For what it's worth, Carlos would be so proud of both of you.”
She disappeared down the hall, leaving us surrounded by the wreckage of our parents' lies and the foundation to build something new.
"We're going to be okay," Maxine murmured, half question, half statement.
I looked down at our entwined hands, at the scattered papers documenting a past we couldn't change, at the sunlight streaming through windows that suddenly seemed brighter.
"Yeah," I said, believing it for the first time. "We are."
After all, we had something David and Ciara never did: the truth. And maybe that was the strongest foundation of all.