Chapter 6 - The Father Who Was Supposed to Be DeadThomas Vale stepped into the vault.
Cormack stared.
For thirty-five years, he had believed his father died in prison.
Now the man stood in front of him.
Older.
Lean.
Still powerful.
Sloan gripped Cormack's arm.
Thomas looked at her.
“Anna's daughter.”
Sloan stepped forward.
“Where is Tobias?”
“Alive.”
“Where?”
“Safe.”
Cormack's voice was cold.
“Why bring us here?”
“Because the truth cannot remain buried.”
Cormack laughed.
“You buried it.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“To protect you.”
“That word again.”
Thomas looked at Sloan.
“Your mother and I were partners.”
Cormack's face changed.
“You were lovers?”
Thomas shook his head.
“Friends.”
“Then why kill her?”
“I didn't.”
“Who did?”
“Victor.”
Sloan looked toward him.
“Your father?”
“No.”
“Then?”
Thomas said:
“Your mother's brother.”
Sloan's face fell.
“My uncle?”
“Yes.”
Cormack stared.
“Why?”
“Because Anna discovered that the family trust had been compromised.”
Thomas explained.
The Ror family had infiltrated Riverline.
They wanted its hidden assets.
Anna tried to stop them.
Victor manipulated her.
Daniel helped her disappear.
The conspiracy became too large.
Eventually, Anna was killed.
Sloan was hidden.
Tobias was later born.
The family records were changed.
Thomas went into hiding.
Cormack's mother disappeared.
Everyone believed them dead.
“You let me grieve.”
“I had to.”
“You abandoned me.”
Thomas's eyes filled.
“I saved you.”
Cormack's voice broke.
“No.”
He stepped closer.
“You saved yourself from making a choice.”
Silence.
Thomas looked away.
“I was afraid.”
Cormack had never heard those words from his father.
Not once.
Thomas handed him a file.
“Your mother left this.”
Cormack opened it.
A photograph of Cormack as a boy.
His mother holding him.
On the back:
Tell him I loved him.
Cormack's face crumpled.
He turned away.
Sloan looked down.
She understood.
Grief did not disappear because the dead returned.
It simply changed shape.
Thomas spoke again.
“Leon has the final ledger.”
“Where?”
“With Gideon.”
Cormack looked up.
“Then we're going.”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because Gideon expects you.”
Cormack smiled.
“Good.”
They left the vault.
The next forty-eight hours were spent planning.
Sloan learned how Cormack worked.
He never yelled.
Never panicked.
He built layers.
Plan A.
Plan B.
Plan C.
And then a secret Plan D no one knew existed.
She asked why.
He answered:
“People become dangerous when they think you are predictable.”
She nodded.
“I understand.”
“You do.”
They grew closer.
Not quickly.
Not dramatically.
Quietly.
She learned his habits.
He learned hers.
He drank black coffee.
She added cinnamon.
He never slept more than four hours.
She forced him to rest.
He hated elevators.
She didn't know why.
He loved old jazz.
She teased him for it.
One night, during a power outage, they sat by the fireplace.
Sloan asked:
“Do you trust me?”
Cormack looked at her.
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“You asked for help when you knew it could cost your brother's life.”
“And?”
“You did it anyway.”
She smiled.
“That's a strange reason.”
“No.”
He looked at her.
“That's courage.”
She went quiet.
Then:
“I've never felt brave.”
“Neither have I.”
Their eyes met.
Neither moved.
Cormack reached for her hand.
Sloan let him.
That was the first time they touched without fear.
Then the fire alarm sounded.
Fitz ran inside.
“Boss.”
Cormack stood.
“What?”
“We found Gideon's location.”
“Where?”
“The Ror family estate.”
Cormack looked at Sloan.
“Stay here.”
“No.”
“You're not going.”
“I am.”
“Sloan.”
“You need me.”
“I need you alive.”
She stepped closer.
“Then keep me alive.”
His eyes softened.
May you like
“All right.”
They left together.
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