Chapter 15 - Victor DucaI wanted to destroy the room.
Every screen.
Every file.
Every lie.
Adrian stood behind me.
He looked at his father’s face.
“He should be dead.”
A speaker crackled.
“People keep saying that.”
Victor Duca’s voice.
Older.
Calm.
Terrifying.
“Come upstairs, Adrian.”
Adrian raised his weapon.
“Show yourself.”
“Bring Cara.”
I stepped backward.
“No.”
Victor laughed softly.
“You don’t understand.”
“You killed my mother.”
“No.”
“You destroyed my family.”
“No.”
“You built Black Ledger.”
“Yes.”
Adrian stepped forward.
“And Vincent?”
“Useful.”
“You ordered the poisoning.”
“Yes.”
Silence.
Adrian asked:
“Why?”
Victor’s answer was almost gentle.
“Because you stopped being obedient.”
Adrian fired into the ceiling.
“Where are you?”
The speaker clicked off.
Then every screen went black.
A door opened behind us.
Victor stood there.
White hair.
Black suit.
Walking cane.
He looked directly at Adrian.
“My son.”
Adrian stared at him.
“You watched me suffer.”
Victor smiled.
“You survived.”
“You let everyone believe you were dead.”
“I had to.”
“For what?”
Victor looked at me.
“For her.”
My heart pounded.
“You stole my daughter.”
“No.”
He shook his head.
“I took the daughter that would inherit everything.”
Adrian’s expression changed.
“Cara.”
Victor nodded.
“She was always the heir.”
“To what?”
“To Duca Holdings.”
Victor turned toward me.
“And to Black Ledger.”
I laughed.
“I don’t want any of it.”
“I know.”
“Then let me go.”
“I can’t.”
“Why?”
“Because the ledger has one final lock.”
“What lock?”
Victor smiled.
“You.”
Then the doors behind us locked.
Gas began filling the room.
Adrian grabbed me.
“Hold your breath!”
Victor watched through the glass.
And for the first time, he looked afraid.
May you like
Because the security system had begun counting down.
00:59
