Chapter 4 - The Rule Vincent Broke for Her
The mansion became a fortress overnight.
Vincent doubled the security team.
The gates remained locked.
Staff schedules changed.
Every employee was escorted home.
Emma was moved into a guest suite until the threat was contained.
She hated it.
“I have a perfectly good apartment.”
“Not safe.”
“You don't get to decide where I live.”
Vincent looked at her.
“Actually, right now I do.”
Emma crossed her arms.
“I work for you. I don't belong to you.”
Vincent paused.
She had hit something important.
“You're right.”
He softened his voice.
“But I won't let someone use you to get to me.”
“They're not after you.”
“They fired a bullet through my window.”
“They fired it at me.”
Vincent stared.
That was true.
Richard was not attacking Vincent directly.
He was attacking the person Vincent cared about.
And somehow, that frightened Vincent more than a direct threat ever had.
Meanwhile, Lily settled into the mansion with surprising speed.
She discovered the indoor pool.
The library.
The enormous kitchen.
And Danny Bell's secret stash of chocolate chips.
She also discovered that Vincent was terrible at pretending he didn't like children.
One morning, Lily found him in the garden.
“Can I ask you something?”
Vincent turned.
“Yes.”
“Do you have a family?”
He looked away.
“Not anymore.”
“What happened?”
“My parents died.”
“Do you miss them?”
“Yes.”
“Do you cry?”
Vincent frowned.
“Sometimes.”
Lily nodded.
“Mommy cries too.”
“I know.”
“She's trying not to.”
“I know.”
Lily walked away.
Vincent watched her.
For years, he had built walls around himself.
Lily seemed determined to walk through them.
That same afternoon, Emma found Vincent repairing the rabbit.
He had taken it apart.
Cleaned the stuffing.
Reattached the missing ear.
She stared.
“You actually fixed it.”
Vincent looked uncomfortable.
“I said I knew someone.”
She smiled.
“You did it yourself.”
“Don't tell anyone.”
“Why?”
“It ruins my reputation.”
Emma laughed.
It was the first time Vincent had heard that sound without fear underneath it.
He realized he wanted to hear it again.
That realization terrified him.
Because Vincent Carver knew how to protect people.
He didn't know how to love them.
By Friday, Marcus delivered the breakthrough.
“We found the person leaking information.”
Vincent looked up.
“Who?”
Marcus placed a file on the desk.
“House manager. Harold Crane.”
Vincent's eyes narrowed.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
“Why would Harold work for Richard?”
“We don't know.”
“Bring him.”
Harold was not found.
His room was empty.
His car was gone.
And on the kitchen table sat a note.
YOU'RE TOO LATE.
Vincent immediately understood.
Harold had warned Richard.
Then Emma disappeared.
It happened in broad daylight.
One moment she was helping Lily in the library.
The next, she was gone.
Security footage showed Emma walking toward the garage.
A black SUV blocked the camera.
Three minutes later, it left.
Vincent nearly killed someone with his bare hands.
Marcus grabbed his shoulder.
“Vincent.”
“Find her.”
“We will.”
“Find her.”
The operation moved fast.
License plate.
Traffic cameras.
Toll records.
Within twenty minutes, they had a location.
An abandoned warehouse near the river.
Vincent went himself.
Marcus tried to stop him.
“No.”
“You're not bulletproof.”
“Neither is Emma.”
The warehouse was dark.
Too dark.
Vincent moved slowly.
A gunshot echoed.
He fired back.
Men scattered.
Then he heard her voice.
“Vincent!”
He ran.
Emma was tied to a chair.
A man stood behind her.
Richard Vale stepped into the light.
He looked older.
Thinner.
But his smile was unchanged.
“Hello, Vincent.”
Vincent raised his gun.
Richard laughed.
“Still impatient.”
“Let her go.”
Richard shook his head.
“That's not how this works.”
“What do you want?”
“What's mine.”
Emma looked confused.
Vincent's eyes narrowed.
“What does that mean?”
Richard looked at Emma.
“Ask her.”
Emma shook her head.
“I don't know what he's talking about.”
Richard smiled.
“Your husband left something in your care.”
“No.”
“He did.”
Vincent stepped forward.
“Daniel was investigating you.”
“He was trying to steal from me.”
“He was trying to expose you.”
Richard laughed.
“Same difference.”
Then he pulled out a small key.
Emma's breathing stopped.
She recognized it.
“The box,” she whispered.
Vincent looked at her.
“What box?”
“My husband's.”
Richard smiled.
“Now we're getting somewhere.”
Emma suddenly remembered.
After Daniel died, police had searched their apartment.
But there had been one place they hadn't checked.
A storage locker.
She had forgotten the key.
Richard hadn't.
Vincent lowered his weapon slightly.
“What is in the box?”
Richard said, “A ledger.”
“Of what?”
“Everything.”
Names.
Payments.
Bribes.
Politicians.
Judges.
Police.
Businessmen.
And one more thing.
Proof that Vincent Carver had once been betrayed by his closest friend.
Richard.
Vincent looked at Emma.
“Did Daniel know about all of this?”
“Yes.”
“Why did he die?”
Richard shrugged.
“He made a mistake.”
Vincent's face turned deadly.
“You killed him.”
Richard smiled.
“I gave the order.”
Emma cried.
Vincent's finger tightened on the trigger.
Then another gunshot rang out.
Marcus appeared.
Richard escaped through a side door.
Vincent chased him.
But Richard vanished.
When Vincent returned, Emma was crying.
He untied her.
She stared at him.
“Why didn't you shoot him?”
Vincent looked toward the darkness.
“Because I wanted him to tell the truth first.”
Emma shook.
“My husband died because of him.”
“I know.”
“You said you would protect us.”
“I will.”
She looked directly into his eyes.
“Then don't protect me by deciding everything for me.”
Vincent stopped.
She continued.
“I don't need another man controlling my life.”
He understood.
This time, he didn't argue.
“All right.”
Emma blinked.
“All right?”
“You're right.”
Her expression softened.
“Thank you.”
Vincent looked at the old warehouse.
Richard had escaped.
May you like
The ledger still existed.
And Emma's husband's final secret was waiting.
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