Chapter 4 - The Man Roman Trusted Most
His name was Adrian Vale.
Roman had known him for twenty-three years.
Adrian had been there when Roman's father died.
He had been there when Roman took over.
He had been there when Roman married Serena.
He had stood beside him through every war.
Every negotiation.
Every funeral.
Every betrayal.
Roman trusted him with his life.
Now Luca stood in the office saying:
"Adrian has been meeting Vescari."
Roman said nothing.
"There's more."
Luca placed a photograph on the desk.
Adrian.
Vescari.
Harmon Cruz.
And Senator Graves.
All in one room.
Serena stared.
"It's everyone from the gala."
"Exactly," Luca said.
Roman's eyes narrowed.
"What's their plan?"
Luca hesitated.
"Your removal."
Roman looked up.
"Meaning?"
"They don't want to kill you."
"Then what?"
"They want you arrested."
Silence.
Serena understood immediately.
"If Roman is arrested, the whole organization fractures."
"And they control what's left," Luca said.
Roman looked at the documents from Easton.
"The Harrington Trust."
Luca nodded.
"That's the financial key."
"If they control the trust, they control the legitimate companies."
Roman looked at Serena.
"And the foundation."
She realized.
"They want access to everything."
Roman stood.
"We need Adrian alive."
"Why?"
"Because he's the only one who knows where the transfer records are."
They found Adrian at a private club that night.
Roman entered alone.
Adrian sat at the bar.
"You're late."
Roman sat beside him.
"I've been busy."
Adrian poured two drinks.
"You should have trusted me."
Roman stared at him.
"I did."
Adrian smiled sadly.
"That was your mistake."
Roman's voice was quiet.
"Why?"
"Because you were always too sentimental."
"About what?"
"Her."
Adrian glanced toward the doorway.
Serena had stayed behind with Luca.
"She was supposed to be leverage."
Roman's expression hardened.
"You used my wife."
"Your wife is the reason the Harrington account was never activated."
"What?"
"Your father tied it to her name."
Roman went still.
"Why?"
"He knew you would eventually need a reason to leave the family."
That stunned him.
"My father wanted me to leave?"
"He knew what you would become if you stayed."
Roman stood.
"Give me the records."
Adrian laughed.
"You don't understand."
"Then explain."
"Your father had one condition."
Adrian leaned closer.
"You had to choose Serena before the family chose for you."
Roman's face broke into something raw.
"He loved her."
"He loved you both."
Adrian drank.
"Unfortunately, your uncle didn't."
Roman's eyes darkened.
"Salvatore."
Adrian nodded.
"Salvatore has been behind Vescari from the beginning."
"But Salvatore died."
Adrian laughed.
"No."
The room seemed to tilt.
Roman remembered the funeral.
The coffin.
The sealed body.
The silence.
A staged death.
Adrian looked at him.
"Your uncle has been running things from Europe for years."
Roman's jaw clenched.
"Where is he?"
"Coming here."
"When?"
"Tomorrow."
The lights flickered.
A gunshot cracked through the glass.
Adrian collapsed.
Roman caught him.
"Adrian!"
Blood spread across his shirt.
He whispered:
"The harbor."
Then he died.
Roman closed Adrian's eyes.
Serena entered moments later.
She saw the body.
Her face went pale.
Roman stood.
"I'm sorry."
She came closer.
"You knew?"
"No."
She looked at him.
"Then what now?"
He took a breath.
"We leave."
"Where?"
"Anywhere."
She almost smiled.
"That's not your style."
"It is now."
They returned to the penthouse.
Roman walked straight to the closet.
Serena followed.
"What are you doing?"
"Packing."
She stared.
"You want to run?"
"I want you alive."
"What about everything?"
"Let it burn."
She looked at him.
"Roman."
He stopped.
"What?"
"I don't want you to become nothing just to save me."
His eyes softened.
"You're not asking me to become nothing."
"Then what?"
He looked at her.
"You are asking me to become someone."
She stared.
He continued.
"I'm tired of being the man everyone fears."
He took off his ring.
Looked at it.
Put it back on.
"I want to be your husband."
Her breath caught.
"That sounds nice."
"I mean it."
"How do I know?"
"You don't."
She nodded.
"That's fair."
He stepped closer.
"Then I'll spend the rest of my life proving it."
She looked into his eyes.
For the first time, she believed him.
Not completely.
But enough.
At 2:11 a.m., the alarm sounded.
Luca called.
"The harbor is under attack."
Roman grabbed his coat.
Serena stood.
"I'm coming."
"No."
"Yes."
"This is dangerous."
"So is being left alone in a penthouse while your enemies know exactly where I am."
He stopped.
She was right.
He handed her a coat.
"Stay beside me."
She smiled.
"Publicly?"
His expression softened.
"Especially publicly."
They drove toward the harbor.
Behind them, the penthouse windows reflected the city.
And on one of those windows, from a rooftop across the street, a red laser dot briefly appeared.
May you like
Then disappeared.
Someone had already found them.
