Chapter 8 - Under the MattressThe real ledger was hidden beneath the mattress.
Sophia hadn't known.
Daniel had hidden it there before he disappeared.
Adrian opened the cover.
The entries were different.
These were not payroll records.
These were names of informants.
Police.
Judges.
Politicians.
Businessmen.
And traitors.
Every traitor had a symbol next to his name.
A black circle.
Adrian turned pages.
Then stopped.
One name appeared three times.
Vincent Hale.
Another appeared beside it.
Graham Bell.
Then a third.
Adrian Moretti.
Adrian stared.
His own name had a circle.
Lucas stepped closer.
“What does that mean?”
Adrian couldn't answer.
Sophia whispered:
“Maybe your father considered you a traitor.”
“No.”
“Then someone used his ledger after his death.”
Adrian turned the page.
A handwritten note.
The heir must never know.
Beneath it:
If he learns the truth, destroy the family.
Adrian suddenly heard Emma downstairs.
She was speaking to someone.
He ran.
A man stood in the diner doorway.
Old.
Thin.
Gray-haired.
Emma wasn't afraid of him.
Adrian raised his weapon.
“Who are you?”
The man stared at him.
“I knew your father.”
“Name.”
“Thomas Carter.”
Sophia gasped.
“My father?”
Thomas looked at her.
“No.”
“Daniel's father?”
He nodded.
Adrian lowered the weapon slightly.
“Where have you been?”
“Dead.”
“That doesn't answer the question.”
“I had to disappear.”
“Why?”
Thomas looked at Emma.
“Because your father made me promise to protect her.”
Adrian stepped forward.
“From whom?”
Thomas pointed toward the ceiling.
“From the people who were supposed to protect you.”
Adrian's expression hardened.
“Graham?”
Thomas shook his head.
“Graham is a coward.”
“Then Vincent?”
Another shake.
“Vincent is a knife.”
“Who?”
Thomas looked directly at Adrian.
“You.”
Adrian froze.
“What?”
“You built this empire.”
“Yes.”
“No.”
Thomas stepped closer.
“You inherited it.”
“That doesn't make me the villain.”
“It might.”
Adrian clenched his jaw.
Thomas handed him a photograph.
It showed Adrian's father.
Beside him stood a young Adrian.
And beside Adrian stood Graham.
On the back:
The succession plan.
Thomas whispered:
“Your father did not leave you an empire.”
“He left you a prison.”
Adrian stared.
“Why?”
“Because he knew someone would come for you.”
“Who?”
Thomas looked toward the diner window.
A black SUV had stopped outside.
He sighed.
“They're already here.”
Lucas moved to the door.
“How many?”
Thomas answered before he could look.
“Enough to kill everyone.”
Then the building lights went out.
And in the darkness, someone whispered:
“Adrian.”
May you like
A familiar voice.
Graham.
