Chapter 13 - His Father's Last Warning
Dominic had not seen his father's handwriting in nine years.
He opened the envelope with both hands.
Inside were six pages and a photograph.
Lorenzo Vale had known Marcus was stealing money.
He had known Arthur was helping him.
But instead of turning them in, he forced Marcus into exile and staged his death after the boating accident.
Dominic read the line twice.
I believed sending your brother away would save the family from public ruin. I was wrong. Secrets do not bury danger. They feed it.
His father admitted funding Marcus's disappearance in exchange for a promise never to return.
Arthur had managed the payments.
When Lorenzo died, the payments stopped.
Marcus came home.
Clare stood across from Dominic, furious and stunned.
"Your father protected the man who killed Caleb."
Dominic did not defend him.
"Yes."
The word cost him.
The photograph showed Lorenzo, Arthur, and Marcus at a warehouse marked BLACK HARBOR TERMINAL.
On the back was an address in Wisconsin.
Vincent checked it.
A lakeside property owned by one of the shell companies.
Before police could organize a search, Dominic received another message from Marcus.
BRING THE LEDGER. COME ALONE IF YOU WANT ANGELA'S SON ALIVE.
A photograph followed.
Angela Pierce's fourteen-year-old son sat in a chair inside a cabin, frightened but apparently unharmed.
Dominic's face went cold.
Vincent read the message over his shoulder.
"You're not going alone."
"I know."
"He'll be watching."
"I know that too."
Dominic looked at Caleb's ledger.
Then at the letter from his father.
For decades, Vale men had handled danger by hiding it.
He was finished with that tradition.
He called Detective Mara Chen, the lead investigator.
"I have a hostage location and a demand."
She arrived within ten minutes.
Dominic handed her everything.
As they prepared to move, Clare touched his arm.
"What happens if Marcus sees police?"
Dominic looked toward Ellie sleeping in a chair.
"Then for once in his life, my brother learns the world does not belong to him."
His phone rang.
Marcus again.
"You disappoint me," Marcus said. "I can already see the police cars leaving your gate."
May you like
Dominic's eyes narrowed.
Marcus had another watcher inside.
