Chapter 13 - ISABEL'S RECORDING
Arthur fell against the vault shelves, hit in the side.
Dominic drove into Adrian before he could fire again.
His injured knee screamed.
Marcus grabbed Adrian's wrist.
Vincent and two detectives rushed in and pinned him to the floor.
Dominic knelt beside Arthur.
"Stay awake."
Arthur gave a weak laugh. "Still giving orders."
"You don't get to die yet."
Arthur pointed weakly toward a shelf.
"Isabel's box."
Marcus opened a small metal case.
Inside was a cassette recorder and a letter.
Dominic pressed play.
His mother's voice filled the vault.
"If Dominic hears this, then Antonio failed to bury Black Harbor."
Dominic stopped breathing.
"And if Arthur is still beside him, tell my son the truth."
Arthur turned his face away.
The recording continued.
"Arthur Voss is Dominic's biological father."
Silence.
Marcus stared at Dominic.
Adrian stopped fighting.
Dominic looked at Arthur.
"No."
Arthur closed his eyes.
"Antonio knew," Isabel's voice said. "He raised Dominic as a Vale because he needed an heir. Arthur stayed because leaving would have exposed all of us."
Dominic felt every childhood memory shift.
Arthur had always been there.
At school events.
At funerals.
At board meetings.
Always one step behind Antonio.
Never once calling Dominic son.
"Why didn't you tell me?" Dominic asked.
Arthur whispered, "Because Antonio would have killed you."
"He's been dead eleven years."
Arthur looked at him.
"And I was a coward eleven years longer."
Dominic stood.
Then he handed Vincent the second ledger.
"Copy every page."
Marcus looked at him. "For what?"
"State police. Federal investigators. Everyone."
"That could destroy Vale Group."
May you like
Dominic looked around the vault.
"Then it deserves to be destroyed."
