Chapter 7 - The Betrayal Inside the Family
Adrian refused to believe it.
Dominic had saved his life.
He had taken bullets for him.
He had stood beside him when Adrian's father disappeared.
He had buried Michael.
He had guarded Claire.
He was family in every way that mattered.
“Michael could have been wrong,” Adrian said.
Thomas nodded.
“He could.”
Claire looked at Thomas.
“Then why accuse Dominic?”
“He was the only person who knew Michael had the records.”
Adrian frowned.
“Thomas, you told him about the Circle.”
“He already knew.”
Claire watched Adrian.
He was torn between loyalty and evidence.
Then Victor stepped into the room.
His face was grim.
“I know who Dominic is.”
Adrian looked at him.
“Then tell me.”
Victor exhaled.
“Dominic Russo was Vincent Cross's son.”
Silence.
Adrian stared.
“What?”
Dominic had told Adrian his father died when he was young.
He had claimed his family came from Naples.
He had never mentioned Boston.
Never mentioned the Cross name.
Victor continued.
“He changed his surname when Vincent disappeared.”
Adrian's face hardened.
“Why?”
“Because Vincent ordered him to.”
Thomas nodded.
“Dominic was supposed to inherit the Circle.”
Claire's stomach turned.
Adrian shook his head.
“No.”
Victor looked at him.
“Yes.”
Adrian remembered every moment.
Every secret conversation.
Every location Dominic knew.
Every time Dominic had encouraged Adrian to pursue a rival.
Every time Dominic had told him Michael was becoming unreliable.
Every time Dominic had warned him about Claire.
The pieces aligned.
Then Adrian heard a noise behind him.
Dominic.
He had followed them.
He stood in the doorway.
Nobody spoke.
Dominic looked at Adrian.
“You finally know.”
Adrian raised his weapon.
“You killed Michael.”
Dominic shook his head.
“No.”
“You sold information.”
“Yes.”
“You worked for Vincent.”
“Yes.”
“You tried to kill Claire.”
“No.”
Adrian stared.
“Why?”
“Because I was trapped.”
“That's what everyone says.”
Dominic laughed bitterly.
“You think I wanted this?”
He pulled out a photograph.
A young woman.
A little girl.
Adrian recognized her.
Dominic's daughter.
“She was taken by Vincent.”
Claire softened.
“That is why you stayed.”
Dominic nodded.
“He threatened to kill her.”
Adrian lowered his weapon slightly.
“Where is she?”
“Alive.”
“Where?”
“I don't know.”
Victor stepped forward.
“Dominic, enough.”
Dominic looked at him.
“You have no idea what I sacrificed.”
Victor's voice hardened.
“Neither do you.”
“Why?”
“Because Vincent has been dead for three years.”
Dominic froze.
Thomas stared.
“What?”
Victor continued.
“Vincent died in prison.”
Dominic shook his head.
“No.”
“Yes.”
“Then who has been giving me orders?”
Nobody answered.
A voice came from behind them.
“Me.”
Everyone turned.
James Caruso stood at the end of the hall.
Alive.
Older.
Thin.
But unmistakably Adrian's father.
Adrian stopped breathing.
“Dad.”
James looked at him.
“My son.”
Adrian's weapon lowered.
“You're alive.”
James nodded.
“I always was.”
“Why?”
“To protect you.”
Adrian laughed in disbelief.
“Everyone says that.”
James looked at Claire.
“Your father discovered the Circle.”
Claire stepped closer.
“And you started it.”
James nodded.
“Yes.”
Adrian closed his eyes.
“You destroyed lives.”
“Yes.”
“You let Michael die.”
“No.”
James looked at him.
“I didn't order his death.”
“Who did?”
James looked at Dominic.
“Your son.”
Dominic's face changed.
“What?”
James continued.
“Vincent is dead. But his son, Sebastian Cross, has continued the operation.”
Adrian stared.
“Sebastian.”
Thomas nodded slowly.
“That name appeared in Michael's records.”
James looked at Claire.
“Your father's ledger has every transaction.”
Claire whispered.
“Why do they need me?”
“Because your father copied the ledger into your mother's memory.”
Claire frowned.
“What?”
“She memorized the access sequence.”
Her mother stepped forward.
“Yes.”
Claire stared.
“All these years?”
“I was carrying the key.”
James continued.
“Your birth date is the final password.”
Claire's breath caught.
Everything had been built around her.
Her father died protecting the information.
Her mother disappeared protecting the key.
Michael died protecting her.
Adrian had married her because Michael believed marriage would shield her.
And Sebastian had been hunting her because she was the final piece.
James handed Adrian a file.
“Sebastian has your estate surrounded.”
Adrian looked at the security monitor.
Cars were approaching.
Dozens.
James sighed.
“He wants the ledger.”
Claire turned to Adrian.
“What do we do?”
Adrian took her hand.
“We give him what he wants.”
Thomas looked at him.
“No.”
Adrian smiled coldly.
“Not the ledger.”
May you like
He looked toward the approaching convoy.
“We give him a war.”
