Chapter 8 - The Man Behind the Name
Two years after the night at the Continental, Vincent's legitimate company opened its first community center.
The old criminal organization was gone.
In its place stood Graham Civic Arts.
Karina hated the family branding.
“Why your name?”
Vincent shrugged.
“It's what I have.”
“You could call it Yoda Arts.”
“My lawyers would have a stroke.”
She smiled.
“Good.”
The center included dance studios, legal assistance, job training, and financial education for people escaping criminal neighborhoods.
Karina ran the creative division.
Elena volunteered as a mentor.
Levi handled operations.
Life had become unexpectedly normal.
Almost.
One afternoon, Karina received a letter.
No return address.
Inside:
You should have left the Graham family alone.
She stared at it.
Vincent entered.
“What is it?”
She handed it to him.
His expression hardened.
“Roman?”
“No.”
“Could be one of his people.”
Karina shook her head.
“He's incarcerated.”
“People have friends.”
The next week, strange things happened.
A car waited outside the center.
A donor canceled a major grant.
Someone broke into the archive.
Nothing was stolen except one photograph.
The picture of Karina's father.
Vincent increased security.
Karina became angry.
“I don't want guards following me.”
“Too bad.”
“I survived twenty-seven years without them.”
“And now someone is trying to prove they can reach you.”
She turned.
“You're becoming him.”
Vincent froze.
The words hurt.
Karina immediately regretted them.
“That isn't what I meant.”
“Yes.”
He stepped back.
“I know.”
He left.
Three days passed without speaking.
Then Karina discovered why.
The person behind the threats wasn't Roman.
It was one of Adrian Graham's former partners.
A man named Thomas Vale.
He had spent decades laundering money through companies Vincent had inherited.
He believed the old empire should be restored.
And he believed Karina had the evidence needed to unlock hidden accounts.
Thomas kidnapped Elena.
Karina received a message.
Bring the second ledger.
Come alone.
Karina wanted to go.
Vincent refused.
“No.”
“My mother is there.”
“We'll get her.”
“You don't know where.”
“I will.”
Levi produced a location.
An abandoned theater.
Vincent looked at Karina.
“We do this carefully.”
They entered through separate doors.
Karina carried a decoy ledger.
Thomas waited on stage.
Elena sat tied to a chair.
“Mom!”
Thomas raised a gun.
“Don't move.”
Karina stopped.
“You wanted the ledger.”
“Yes.”
“You have it.”
She threw the decoy.
He caught it.
He opened it.
Blank pages.
His face changed.
“You think this is funny?”
“No.”
“Where is the real one?”
“I don't have it.”
“Liar.”
Vincent stepped into the light.
Thomas turned.
“You.”
Vincent's voice was calm.
“This ends now.”
Thomas laughed.
“You think you've become respectable?”
“I know I have.”
“You'll always be a Graham.”
Vincent looked at Karina.
“No.”
Then he looked at Elena.
“I am what I choose.”
Thomas raised his weapon.
A struggle followed.
Elena broke free.
Karina ran to her.
Vincent disarmed Thomas.
Police arrived.
The threat was finally over.
Later, outside the theater, Karina hugged Vincent.
“I was wrong.”
He looked at her.
“About what?”
“You are not him.”
He smiled.
“Good.”
She laughed through tears.
Then she kissed him.
It was brief.
Unexpected.
Honest.
When she stepped back, Vincent looked stunned.
“What?”
He smiled.
“Nothing.”
“Say it.”
“I've waited two years for that.”
Karina blushed.
“You could have said something.”
“I was afraid.”
She stared.
“Vincent Graham was afraid?”
“Of you.”
May you like
She laughed.
“That I believe.”
