Chapter 4 - Vincent Returned From Captivity to Save Lily—Then She Discovered He Had Suspected His Own Bodyguard All AlongMarco didn't move.
Lily stared at him.
“Are you working for Richard?”
“No.”
“Then why did Vincent say not to trust you?”
“I don't know.”
“That's not good enough.”
Marco looked genuinely hurt.
“I've protected Vincent for twenty years.”
“And maybe that's why he suspects you.”
Marco shook his head.
“Lily, if I wanted you dead, you wouldn't be standing here.”
She believed him.
But belief wasn't enough anymore.
That night, the bakery lights went out.
Lily grabbed Grace's old flashlight.
Marco drew his weapon.
“Stay behind me.”
A door creaked.
A shadow appeared.
Lily held her breath.
Then Vincent stepped inside.
He was injured.
His lip was cut.
One arm hung stiffly.
His suit was torn.
But he was alive.
Lily ran to him.
He caught her.
She hit his chest.
“You idiot.”
“I know.”
“You disappeared.”
“I had to.”
“You scared me.”
“I know.”
“You're bleeding.”
“Occupational hazard.”
She laughed through tears.
Then kissed him.
Marco turned away.
When she pulled back, Vincent's forehead rested against hers.
“I thought I'd lost you.”
“You didn't.”
“You should have left.”
“No.”
“You don't understand what follows me.”
“I do now.”
His eyes hardened.
“You know?”
“Everything.”
She pointed to the ledger.
Vincent looked at it.
“You found it.”
“Yes.”
“Good.”
“Why did you tell me to destroy it?”
“Because Richard will kill you for it.”
“Then we'll use it.”
Vincent stared.
“Use it against him.”
“You're not supposed to be involved.”
“Too late.”
Grace stepped into the room.
“Can we please have one conversation where nobody threatens to kill anyone?”
Vincent stared.
Then laughed.
Lily smiled.
“I missed her.”
Grace crossed her arms.
“So you're the cupcake guy.”
Vincent looked at Lily.
“You told her?”
“She knew.”
Grace smiled.
“I knew before you did.”
Vincent raised an eyebrow.
“I don't know whether to be impressed or frightened.”
“Both.”
The family tension eased for a moment.
Then Vincent became serious.
“Richard isn't acting alone.”
“Who else?”
“My CFO.”
“Thomas.”
“Yes.”
“And someone else.”
“Who?”
Vincent looked at Marco.
“The person who ordered the first attack on the bakery.”
Marco's face hardened.
“Who?”
Vincent shook his head.
“I don't know yet.”
Lily frowned.
“How do you know it's someone else?”
“Because Richard wants the ledger.”
“So?”
“He wouldn't risk killing you publicly.”
“Why?”
“Because if you die, the ledger disappears.”
She understood.
Richard needed her alive.
Someone else wanted her dead.
“Who?”
“We don't know.”
They searched the ledger.
One name kept appearing.
Daniel Graves.
Lily felt sick.
Her neighbor.
The man she had trusted.
“The hardware store.”
Vincent nodded.
“I've suspected him for months.”
“You told me not to trust him.”
“Yes.”
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because I was trying to keep you out of this.”
Lily stepped closer.
“You don't get to decide what I know anymore.”
Vincent looked ashamed.
“I know.”
He reached for her hand.
“I was wrong.”
That mattered more than any apology he had ever given.
The next morning, they confronted Daniel.
He was waiting in his hardware store.
He didn't resist.
Instead, he closed the door.
“Your father saved my life,” Daniel said.
Lily stared.
“Then why are you helping Richard?”
“Because I had no choice.”
“Everyone says that.”
“Your father found something.”
“The ledger.”
“More than that.”
Daniel pulled a key from his pocket.
“A vault.”
“Where?”
“Philadelphia Federal Reserve.”
Vincent stared.
“What?”
Daniel nodded.
“Samuel didn't hide the original evidence in the bakery.”
“Then where?”
Daniel looked at Lily.
“He hid it in a bank vault under another name.”
“Whose?”
“Yours.”
Lily froze.
“My name?”
“Yes.”
Daniel explained.
Samuel had created a sealed trust for Lily before his death.
Inside was the original evidence.
The ledger in the bakery was only a copy.
Lily looked at Vincent.
“What is in the vault?”
“The proof that Richard ordered your father's murder.”
Silence.
The truth was finally close.
But before they could retrieve it, gunfire exploded outside.
Daniel fell.
Lily screamed.
Vincent pulled her behind the counter.
Marco returned fire.
The attackers fled.
Daniel lay on the floor.
He was dying.
He grabbed Lily's hand.
“I never wanted them to hurt you.”
“Who?”
“Your uncle.”
“My uncle?”
Daniel nodded.
“Richard isn't your only enemy.”
He struggled to breathe.
“There is someone closer.”
“Who?”
Daniel looked toward the back room.
Then he whispered:
“Someone you already love.”
His eyes closed.
Lily stared.
Vincent looked at her.
“Don't listen to him.”
“Why?”
“Because he's trying to make you doubt everyone.”
Lily stepped back.
Vincent watched her carefully.
“You don't trust me.”
“I don't know what to think.”
He moved closer.
“Then look at me.”
She did.
“I've lied to you.”
“Yes.”
“I've hidden things.”
“Yes.”
“But I have never betrayed you.”
Her eyes filled.
“I want to believe you.”
“You can.”
Then his phone rang.
He answered.
His face changed.
“Grace.”
Lily rushed toward him.
“What?”
Vincent hung up.
“They took her again.”
The message came seconds later.
Bring the vault key alone.
Lily looked at Vincent.
This time there was no hesitation.
“I'm coming.”
Vincent shook his head.
“No.”
She held up the key.
“My name is on the trust.”
“So?”
“So they need me.”
He understood.
And suddenly he realized the truth.
May you like
Lily was no longer the woman he needed to protect.
She was the woman who could end the war.
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