Chapter 6 - The Man Roman Buried Was Waiting for Him
Roman refused to come alone.
He took me.
Darius.
And six men he trusted.
That left six.
We drove to an abandoned coastal mansion.
It belonged to Roman’s father.
The doors opened before we reached them.
Inside stood the old man.
Richard Hail.
Alive.
Older.
Walking with a cane.
Roman stared at him.
“You watched me believe you were dead.”
Richard nodded.
“You needed to.”
Roman raised his gun.
“You let them murder Daniel.”
Richard’s face changed.
“I tried to save him.”
“Then why did he die?”
“Because I failed.”
Roman stepped closer.
“You created everything.”
Richard looked at me.
“No.”
He looked at Lily.
“She was the reason I wanted to stop.”
I held Lily tightly.
Richard sighed.
“Daniel discovered your mother and Victor were stealing from the organization.”
Roman’s eyes narrowed.
“My mother?”
“She wanted power.”
“And Victor?”
“Victor wanted the money.”
“Marcus?”
“Marcus wanted protection.”
“What about Darius?”
Richard looked at him.
“He was loyal.”
Darius lowered his eyes.
Richard continued.
“Daniel found records proving Victor had arranged several killings and framed them as internal disputes.”
Roman said nothing.
“Daniel planned to expose him.”
“Why didn’t he?”
“Because Victor kidnapped him.”
My chest tightened.
“Daniel stayed alive for six months.”
I whispered:
“Where?”
Richard hesitated.
“Underground.”
Roman’s face changed.
“What?”
“Daniel escaped.”
“When?”
“Three weeks before his death.”
“Then how?”
Richard looked toward me.
“He came to see you.”
Tears filled my eyes.
“I knew.”
Richard nodded.
“He told me about Lily.”
Roman closed his eyes.
Richard continued.
“I helped Daniel disappear.”
“Why did he die?”
“Victor found him.”
Roman stepped back.
“Then why didn’t you kill Victor?”
“I tried.”
His mother entered the room.
She had a gun.
She pointed it at Richard.
“This is pointless.”
Roman turned.
“Mother.”
She smiled.
“You were always your father’s favorite.”
Roman’s voice shook.
“You killed Daniel.”
“I authorized the kidnapping.”
She looked toward Lily.
“And I would have killed the child if Victor had not decided a living alibi was more useful.”
That was the moment Roman snapped.
He moved faster than anyone expected.
He knocked the gun from her hand.
Darius tackled Victor as he entered from another room.
Gunfire erupted.
I dropped to the floor with Lily.
Roman fought his mother across the room.
She screamed:
“You think you can rule without us?”
Roman replied:
“I never needed you.”
Police sirens suddenly echoed outside.
My eyes widened.
Roman looked confused.
Darius smiled.
“I called them before we came.”
Richard looked at his son.
“Good.”
Roman’s mother was arrested.
Victor too.
But one problem remained.
The financial records showed millions still missing.
The conspiracy was larger than all of them.
Someone had been moving money internationally.
Someone neither Richard nor Victor admitted knowing.
Then Lily tugged my sleeve.
“Mommy.”
“What?”
She pointed toward Richard.
“Grandpa has the same watch.”
Everyone froze.
The black watch.
The one Lily had noticed at the estate.
Richard looked at his wrist.
He slowly removed it.
Inside was a tiny transmitter.
Roman stared.
“Who gave you that?”
Richard’s face turned pale.
“I don’t know.”
Darius removed the back.
A tracking chip was hidden inside.
The signal originated from one place.
May you like
The Blackridge Estate.
Someone still inside was controlling everything.
