Chapter 14 - Mom stopped walking.Her entire body went rigid.
Daniel looked exactly the same.
Older.
Tired.
But alive.
For several seconds, neither of them moved.
Then Mom whispered:
“Why?”
Daniel's eyes filled with tears.
“I tried to come back.”
“You didn't.”
“I couldn't.”
“You let me bury you.”
“I know.”
“You let me think you were dead for six years.”
“I know.”
She slapped him.
The sound echoed through the tunnel.
Daniel didn't react.
Mom cried harder.
“I hate you.”
“I know.”
“You left me alone.”
“I know.”
“And you knew they were watching Rory.”
“Yes.”
“You knew my mother was murdered.”
“Yes.”
“You knew I was being followed.”
“Yes.”
Her voice cracked.
“Then why?”
Daniel looked at me.
“Because they were waiting for me to come back.”
He knelt.
“Rory.”
I stared.
“Are you my dad?”
He smiled sadly.
“Yes.”
I walked toward him.
He hugged me.
He was shaking.
Mom looked away.
Claire stood silently.
Daniel asked:
“Did Vincent bring you here?”
Mom shook her head.
“Claire did.”
Daniel looked at Claire.
“Then the plan changed.”
“What plan?”
Daniel stood.
“The plan where Vincent dies.”
Mom froze.
“What?”
Daniel explained that Vincent's father had infiltrated Kane Security years earlier.
He had spent decades building a network of loyal men.
When Vincent inherited the company, they remained hidden.
The betrayal tonight had been predicted.
Vincent wasn't fighting an enemy inside his house.
He was fighting his own father's network.
“Where is he now?”
Daniel answered:
“In the old casino.”
Vincent's father was gathering the final seventy-seven accounts there.
Mom stared.
“And Vincent?”
Daniel looked at her.
“Captured.”
I stepped forward.
“Then go get him.”
Daniel looked surprised.
“Rory.”
“He helped us.”
Daniel smiled.
“You're right.”
He looked at Claire.
“You still have the key?”
She nodded.
“The real key?”
She reached into her coat.
“Always.”
They led us into a hidden room beneath the city.
Maps covered the walls.
Photographs.
Weapons.
Documents.
And a giant board showing seventy-seven names.
Mom walked toward it.
Her name was there.
Vincent's name was there.
Daniel's name was crossed out.
Rory's name was circled.
At the bottom:
FINAL TRANSFER: TOMORROW.
Daniel explained the plan.
They would enter the casino through an abandoned subway tunnel.
Claire would disable the security.
Mom would access Room 77.
Daniel would find Vincent.
I was supposed to stay hidden.
But I noticed something.
There was another name on the board.
DAVID STERLING.
It was crossed out.
I pointed.
“Does that mean he's dead?”
Daniel looked away.
“No.”
Then we heard a voice from the speakers.
David.
“Hello, Daniel.”
Everyone froze.
The screen turned on.
David appeared beside Vincent.
Vincent's hands were tied.
Behind him stood Vincent's father.
David smiled.
“Bring Rory.”
Daniel stared at the screen.
“Where?”
The camera moved.
A giant vault appeared.
Seven doors.
Seven guards.
Seventy-seven folders.
And Vincent.
Vincent's father looked into the camera.
“You wanted to know why your daughter matters?”
He stepped closer.
“Because she is the final descendant of the original trustees.”
Mom's face went pale.
“What trustees?”
Daniel answered:
“The people who built Northstar.”
Vincent's father smiled.
“Your family.”
Mom shook her head.
“No.”
He continued.
“Your bloodline was chosen to control the money.”
“Why?”
“Because no government could seize it.”
He smiled.
“Until your daughter was born.”
Daniel stepped forward.
“What do you want?”
The old man answered:
“Tomorrow, Rory signs the trust transfer.”
“And if we refuse?”
He looked toward Vincent.
“Then Vincent Kane dies.”
Mom's face crumpled.
Daniel clenched his fist.
Then Vincent lifted his head.
He looked directly into the camera.
And smiled.
The old man frowned.
Vincent said:
“You should have checked the second ledger.”
The screen went black.
Daniel turned.
“What second ledger?”
Claire stared at Vincent's frozen image.
Then she whispered:
“He never told us.”
Mom looked at her.
“What?”
May you like
Claire pointed toward the city map.
“Vincent already had a plan.”
