Chapter 6 - The Man She Trusted Most
Dorian did not defend himself.
That frightened Serena more than anything.
She expected anger.
Denial.
Rage.
Instead, he went still.
"Your mother said I caused the accident."
"Yes."
He looked away.
"I need to know exactly what she meant."
Serena stepped closer.
"Do you know?"
"No."
"Have you ever seen the accident report?"
"Every version."
"Was your family there?"
"My father."
"And you?"
"Yes."
Her heart stopped.
"You were there."
"When the crash happened."
"Yes."
He nodded.
"But I didn't cause it."
"What did you do?"
He closed his eyes.
"I helped your father."
"How?"
"Your father had evidence that my father was planning to kill someone. He asked me to help him escape."
"Did you?"
"Yes."
"Then why were you at the crash?"
"I followed him."
Serena's voice broke.
"And my family?"
"I tried to get you out."
"You failed."
"Yes."
He didn't defend himself.
That answer hurt.
"Why?"
Dorian whispered:
"Because your father had already been shot."
Serena went silent.
"Someone sabotaged the brakes."
"What?"
"He tried to stop the car."
"Then why did it crash?"
"Because the brake line had been cut."
"Who?"
"I don't know."
Her mother arrived at the penthouse later that afternoon.
Serena recognized her voice immediately.
"Serena."
She cried.
"Mom."
They embraced.
Years of silence collapsed in seconds.
Serena held her as though afraid she would disappear again.
"Why did you leave me?"
Claire cried.
"Because they were looking for you."
"Who?"
"The organization your father infiltrated."
"Who runs it?"
Claire looked toward Dorian.
"The man behind your accident."
Dorian stiffened.
"Who?"
Claire's face filled with fear.
"Gabriel Vascari."
Dorian went pale.
"My uncle."
Serena frowned.
"Your father's brother?"
"Yes."
Claire nodded.
"Your father trusted him."
"And you?"
"I once did too."
Claire explained.
Gabriel had secretly built a second organization beneath Dorian's father's empire.
He manipulated politicians.
Police officers.
Judges.
Businessmen.
He used Dorian's father as a public face while quietly controlling everything.
Serena's father discovered the truth.
He began collecting evidence.
Gabriel tried to stop him.
"The night of the accident," Claire said, "your father was going to expose Gabriel."
"Then what happened?"
"He called me."
"What did he say?"
Claire trembled.
"He said, 'If anything happens to us, protect Serena.'"
Serena cried.
"You left me."
"I had to."
"You could have told me."
"They would have killed you."
Dorian remained silent.
Claire turned toward him.
"Your family destroyed mine."
Dorian nodded.
"I know."
"You know nothing."
"I know enough."
"Do you?"
Claire's voice sharpened.
"Your uncle ordered the shooting."
Dorian froze.
"Then who drove the truck?"
"Someone you trusted."
He went still.
"Who?"
Claire whispered:
"Mercer."
Silence.
The room seemed to stop breathing.
Dorian looked toward the security chief.
Mercer stood near the doorway.
He didn't move.
Then he smiled.
A tiny smile.
Almost invisible.
But Serena heard it in his breathing.
Dorian reached for his weapon.
Mercer drew first.
Gunfire erupted.
Claire fell.
Serena screamed.
Dorian fired.
Mercer fled.
Dorian rushed to Claire.
She was alive.
Barely.
Serena knelt beside her.
Her mother grabbed her wrist.
"Listen."
"I'm here."
"Your father left one final message."
"What?"
"He knew he would die."
Claire pulled a small key from her pocket.
"There's a room beneath the old concert hall."
"What room?"
"Your father called it the silent room."
Serena closed her fingers around the key.
"What is inside?"
Claire looked at Dorian.
"The truth."
Then she whispered:
"And proof that Dorian's father wasn't the real enemy."
Dorian stared.
"Then who was?"
Claire's eyes filled with tears.
"I don't know."
Her breathing slowed.
Serena panicked.
"Mom?"
Claire's hand loosened.
"Mom."
Dorian checked her pulse.
"She's alive."
Serena exhaled.
Then she heard another sound.
Footsteps.
Many footsteps.
Dorian moved toward the door.
A voice came from the hallway.
"Mr. Vascari."
Dorian's expression hardened.
"Federal agents."
The door opened.
Agents flooded the penthouse.
Weapons raised.
"Dorian Vascari, you're under arrest."
Serena stood.
"On what charge?"
The agent lifted a folder.
"Murder."
May you like
Dorian looked at her.
The final trap had been sprung.
