Calum sat with his handcuffed hand resting on the metal table in the interrogation room. He wore the orange uniform of an inmate, the same one he'd been wearing for the past three days. Three days since the disastrous events, three days in prison. Sleep had eluded him. Aside from the discomfort of his bed, his mind was adrift, lost in a sea of thoughts. And his heart, it ached with a deep, unbearable grief.
The image of Mariana, lifeless, was etched into his memory. The memories she left behind were an inescapable part of his existence. He blamed himself. There's no night that he wished he can turn back time and he will trade himself in her position , it could have been easier if it was him that died.
But she saved him.
It was harder for him to accept it, that she risk her life for him.
He saw himself as the sole reason for her loss, and he couldn't find any forgiveness within himself. He deserved more than just imprisonment; he deserved the harshest punishment, death.
Lost in his contemplation, the door to the room creaked open. It was the first time someone had come to question him since he was locked up. He hadn't spoken to Trae since, and he had no intention of seeing him. He didn't want Trae to witness his current state of despair. He was a wreck.
A man in a formal suit entered the room, a few strands of gray in his hair hinting at his age. He was in his fifties. Calum recognized him instantly.
"What are you doing here?" Calum asked, his voice devoid of emotion. His eyes remained fixed on the table, avoiding the man's gaze.
"I came to see you, Calum. I have a lot to discuss, a lot to cover up for your idiocy."
Calum couldn't contain himself. He slammed his hands on the table, anger surging through him at the man's words. He glared at him with a look that could kill.
"I never asked you to do this. I never wanted to see your face. If you have nothing else to say, get me back to my cell. You're useless. I don't need you."
The older man stood and punched Calum in the face. Calum spat out the blood that filled his mouth, his rage burning hotter than ever.
"I'm doing everything I can to protect you, Calum! You're my son!"
The old man leaned on the edge of the metal table, his voice booming as he shouted at Calum's face.
"All I ask for is a little respect, a little chance to be a part of your life, Cal."
He wiped his hands across his face, trying to stop the tears welling in his eyes. The sadness in his words was evident in his face. There was no mistaking it – this man was Calum's father. They shared the same features, only his father was older.
"I can maybe give you a little respect, Mr. Director. But you'll never be a part of my life. You haven't been for a long time now. And I'm more comfortable with that."
The old man took a deep breath and sat down again. He tried to put his personal feelings aside, to act professionally. He was Calum's father, but he was also Jack Bryant, Chief Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
"Eagle is dead. The state is relieved to be rid of such a large syndicate. Our next target is Crow. I'm here to negotiate with you, Calum. To ask for your help in taking down Crow. You were one of his trusted men. We need your help in exchange for your freedom."
Calum never took his eyes off his father's face. His anger and irritation were palpable in his gaze. He clenched his jaw.
"How do you know I want freedom? I never wanted it."
He continued, his voice laced with sarcasm.
"By the way, you forgot to congratulate me on killing Eagle. And by asking for my help to take down my former boss, you're just looking for an excuse to avoid doing your job. You're useless."
The old man shook his head.
"No, Calum. It's an excuse to set you free. Alton Morant will never let you go. He's filing a lot of charges against you because of the Mariana Rodriguez incident. I don't want you to be stuck in this cell forever because of the crimes you committed. And you never wanted to be free? Okay, I have news that might change your mind."
Calum let him continue.
"The reason we arrived at the scene where you killed Eagle is because Trae informed me. He was worried you might be killed, so he told me everything. I didn't let him visit you to avoid raising suspicion from the media."
The Director continued.
"Trae told me about you and the woman, Mariana . You were in love."
Calum's eyes widened, and he took a deep breath.
"What does that matter to you?" he asked, his voice charged with anger, his hands clenched into fists.
"What if I told you she's alive? Would you agree to my offer?"
Calum shouted in anger.
"You shut up!"
He took a shaky breath and asked, his voice barely a whisper.
"Tell me, is she alive?"
Their eyes locked, neither breaking the connection.
"She is."
Calum had never felt such happiness before, not even when he heard the news of Eagle's death. But this gave him hope, a reason to live. His happiness didn't show on his face, but his heart pounded with an overwhelming joy.
"Is she okay? Where is she?" he asked, his voice echoing his previous question.
"She's in the hospital. She regained consciousness today, but she's lost her memories. She has traumatic amnesia."
Calum bowed his head, tears streaming down his face. He'd tried so hard to hold them back, to keep his father from seeing his weakness, but he couldn't hold them in anymore. His face remained emotionless, but deep inside, he was overly tortured. He had blamed himself for everything that had happened to her. He couldn't accept that she was suffering because of him. He thought killing Eagle would bring him peace, but he never realized he also needed happiness, and it had been taken away from him just as quickly as it had arrived. His happiness had been her. She had shown him that the world wasn't just filled with hatred and bad intentions; it had beauty, love, and good intentions too.
"So tell me what I need to do," Calum said, looking up at his father. He had no choice but to give them what they wanted. He couldn't let this opportunity slip away. He wanted to see Mariana. He needed to tell her things he'd never said before, not because he was a coward, but because he hadn't had the courage to do so.
***