Chapter 5 - The Vault Under the City
The vault had been built beneath an abandoned train station.
For decades, the location had existed only on old maps.
The key from Khalida's father's music box fit the first lock.
A second required Elias's ring.
A third required a fingerprint.
They had no idea whose.
Elias did.
“Your father's.”
Khalida stared.
“Amir's?”
“Yes.”
“So we can't open it.”
Elias shook his head.
“Not with the key alone.”
Deacon looked around.
“Then Sloane is ahead of us.”
“Maybe.”
They entered the station after midnight.
The tunnels smelled of rust and wet stone.
Deacon's team spread out.
Khalida stayed beside him.
“You trust him?”
“Who?”
“Your father.”
He looked at Elias walking ahead.
“I want to.”
“That wasn't my question.”
Deacon paused.
“No.”
Khalida nodded.
“Good.”
They reached the steel door.
A panel lit up.
ENTER BLOODLINE CODE.
Deacon stared.
Khalida stepped forward.
“I'll try.”
She entered her birthday.
Nothing.
Then she tried her father's.
Nothing.
Elias whispered:
“Try your mother's.”
Khalida entered it.
The door unlocked.
Inside was a room packed with documents, hard drives, photographs, and sealed cases.
At the center was a table.
On it lay a letter.
For Khalida.
She opened it.
If you're reading this, then I failed to keep you away from the truth.
I am your father.
I am alive.
Khalida stopped breathing.
Her hands shook.
I disappeared because Victor Sloane threatened to kill you if I stayed.
Everything I did after that was to keep you hidden.
Forgive me.
I am sorry.
Khalida sank into a chair.
“He's alive.”
Deacon crouched beside her.
“Yes.”
A second letter contained the location.
A rural property outside the city.
But there was another document.
The legal ownership transfer of the Hale-Rahman holding company.
Khalida was listed as sole beneficiary.
Deacon read the final clause.
The beneficiary assumes control only after the disappearance or death of all senior bloodline representatives.
Elias looked grim.
“That means Sloane wants me dead.”
Deacon's expression hardened.
“He'll have to get through me.”
Elias shook his head.
“You don't understand the final part.”
“What?”
“The beneficiary also gains control of the evidence vault.”
Khalida looked at him.
“The evidence?”
“All the names.”
Deacon understood.
Politicians.
Judges.
Police commanders.
Business leaders.
People who had been protected for decades.
If Khalida opened the vault, half the city's powerful people could fall.
That made her dangerous.
Not because of money.
Because of truth.
They drove to the property.
The house was abandoned.
The basement contained one room.
Khalida found a photograph on the wall.
Her father.
She ran toward it.
A hidden door opened.
Amir Rahman stepped out.
Older.
Thinner.
But alive.
Khalida froze.
“Dad?”
He stared at her.
Then his knees nearly gave out.
“My little girl.”
She ran into his arms.
He held her as if she were still six years old.
“I thought you were dead.”
“I thought about finding you every day.”
“Why didn't you?”
“Because every time I came close, someone would die.”
Khalida cried into his coat.
Deacon stood back.
Amir noticed him.
“You must be Deacon.”
“Yes.”
“I owe you my daughter's life.”
Deacon shook his head.
“She saved mine too.”
Amir looked at him carefully.
“You are Elias's son.”
“Yes.”
Amir smiled sadly.
“Your father was always better than he believed.”
Before Deacon could respond, headlights appeared outside.
Sloane.
Armed men surrounded the property.
Amir pulled Khalida behind him.
Deacon's men raised their weapons.
Then Sloane entered.
He was older than Deacon expected.
Silver hair.
Elegant suit.
No visible weapon.
He smiled.
“Family reunion.”
Deacon stepped forward.
“You're done.”
Sloane laughed.
“You still think this is about territory.”
“It isn't?”
“No.”
Sloane looked at Khalida.
“It is about legacy.”
“You killed my mother.”
“I did.”
The admission stunned her.
“You killed my father?”
“No.”
Amir stared.
“He tried.”
Sloane smiled.
“Your father was too clever.”
Deacon moved.
Sloane raised a hand.
A dozen laser sights appeared.
“Take one more step and everyone dies.”
He looked at Khalida.
“The vault requires your authorization.”
“Never.”
“You misunderstand.”
He smiled.
“I don't need your agreement.”
He held up a tablet.
“We have someone else.”
A live video appeared.
Sarah.
Khalida's sister.
Bound to a chair.
Khalida's blood ran cold.
“Sarah!”
May you like
Sloane smiled.
“Now you understand.”
