Chapter 7 - The LedgerVincent rushed into the study.

The room looked exactly as his father had left it.

Dark wood.

Old books.

A massive desk.

Photographs untouched for years.

Emily was standing beside the fireplace.

Charles held a pistol to her shoulder.

“You're late.”

Vincent raised his gun.

“Let her go.”

Charles smiled.

“You found Vault 17.”

“You killed for that ledger.”

“No.”

Charles shook his head.

“I killed because your father stole from mine.”

Vincent stared.

“My father?”

“Yes.”

Charles's voice sharpened.

“Your father took control of Bellamy assets, buried them inside Moretti companies, and then called himself a visionary.”

“I never knew.”

“Of course you didn't.”

Charles looked toward the desk.

“Men like your father never tell their sons what they are afraid of.”

Vincent's eyes narrowed.

“Where is Sofia?”

“Closer than you think.”

“You've kept her for three years.”

“I kept her alive.”

“You imprisoned her.”

“She would be dead otherwise.”

Vincent laughed bitterly.

“That's your excuse?”

Charles's expression changed.

“You still don't understand.”

He threw a file onto the desk.

Vincent opened it.

Inside were photographs of attacks against Sofia.

A car crash.

A poisoned drink.

A staged robbery.

A fire.

Someone had tried to kill her repeatedly.

And every report had been signed by Moretti security.

Vincent stared.

“I didn't order these.”

“I know.”

“Then who did?”

Charles pointed toward the wall.

“The people your father left behind.”

Vincent looked at the old family photograph.

His father stood in the center.

Around him were twelve men.

Six had died.

Three had disappeared.

Three still controlled pieces of Vincent's organization.

Charles said:

“They wanted Sofia dead because she knew what the ledger contained.”

“What?”

“The names.”

Vincent looked at him.

“The names of everyone your father paid.”

Vincent felt cold.

Judges.

Police officials.

Bankers.

Politicians.

Businessmen.

People who could destroy Moretti operations with one investigation.

Charles continued.

“Your father didn't build an empire.”

“He built a shield.”

“And the ledger lists everyone who owes that shield.”

Emily interrupted.

“Then why didn't Sofia just give it to the police?”

Charles smiled sadly.

“Because the police were in it.”

Vincent stared at him.

Charles leaned closer.

“She didn't trust the police.”

“She trusted you?”

“No.”

The answer surprised him.

“She didn't trust me either.”

Charles looked at Emily.

“She trusted one person.”

“Who?”

Charles said:

“You.”

Vincent stared.

“Then why did she stay away?”

“Because she knew you were being watched.”

Vincent looked at Emily.

“You could have killed me.”

“Yes.”

“But you didn't.”

“Because I need you alive.”

“For what?”

Charles took a key from his pocket.

“The ledger opens one door.”

“What door?”

“The door to the private vault your father built beneath the estate.”

Vincent's eyes narrowed.

“There is no vault beneath the estate.”

Charles smiled.

“Yes, there is.”

He pointed to the fireplace.

“Behind it.”

Vincent looked.

The fireplace had been sealed for decades.

Charles took another step.

“Your father left something there for Sofia.”

“What?”

Charles's smile disappeared.

“A confession.”

Emily suddenly looked at Vincent.

“Mr. Moretti…”

“What?”

“She told me to tell you something.”

Charles stiffened.

Vincent crouched beside her.

“What?”

Emily whispered:

“She said the ledger isn't the dangerous part.”

“What is?”

“The list of witnesses.”

Charles's face changed.

Vincent looked at him.

“What witnesses?”

Emily looked at Charles.

“People who saw what he did.”

Charles raised his gun.

“Enough.”

A shot exploded.

But before Charles could fire at Emily, Dominic crashed through the door.

He tackled him.

The gun skidded across the floor.

Vincent grabbed Emily.

“Run!”

Dominic and Charles fought violently.

Charles slammed Dominic into the desk.

Dominic hit him back.

Vincent pulled Emily toward the hallway.

Then Emily stopped.

“Wait!”

“What?”

She pointed behind the fireplace.

“There's a door.”

Vincent stared.

A thin line had appeared in the stone.

He ran his fingers across it.

A hidden panel opened.

Behind it was a narrow staircase descending into darkness.

And on the first step was a single red rose.

Still fresh.

Vincent stared.

Then heard a woman's voice from below.

“Vince…”

His blood stopped.

Sofia.

Alive.

Very close.

But before he could descend, the hidden door slammed shut behind him.

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