Chapter 5 - The Ledger Beneath My Father's Grave
The ledger was hidden beneath my father's grave.
That was the answer Elena had been trying to give me.
Silas wanted it.
My father had hidden it there because he knew no one would search beneath his own grave.
I stood in the cemetery with Gabriel and Victor.
Snow covered the stone.
I hated the man buried there.
But for the first time, I was asking what he had tried to protect.
We opened the grave.
Beneath the coffin was a steel box.
Inside was the ledger.
Thousands of names.
Dozens of bank accounts.
And one photograph.
My father.
Silas.
My mother.
Elena.
All standing together.
On the back:
We built this family together.
We destroyed it together.
I turned the page.
My father had documented everything.
Silas had created Crown Meridian.
My mother had helped move money.
Elena had discovered it.
Daniel had tried to expose it.
I had been kept ignorant.
Then I found something else.
A birth certificate.
Lily Moretti.
Mother: Elena Voss.
Father: Adrian Moretti.
I stared at the paper.
Of course.
Everything had been intentional.
My father knew Lily existed.
Silas knew.
Gabriel knew.
Elena knew.
Everyone had known except me.
Then I saw a second document.
A child named Noah Voss.
Son of Daniel Voss.
Deceased.
The date of death was false.
Noah was alive.
Silas had him.
I looked at Gabriel.
“How old is he?”
“Ten.”
“Where?”
“Unknown.”
I closed the ledger.
Now I knew why Lily had been a target.
Silas wasn't just controlling one child.
He had two.
Two pieces in a game he had been playing for years.
I called Elena.
No answer.
Then a message came.
BLUE DOOR.
MIDNIGHT.
COME ALONE.
I didn't.
I brought twenty men.
But they stayed three blocks away.
I entered the building alone.
The blue door opened.
Inside, the room was warm.
A piano played.
Elena sat beside it.
I stopped.
She looked older.
Her hair had silver through it.
But her eyes were the same.
She stood.
Neither of us moved.
Then I crossed the room.
She ran into my arms.
I held her so tightly she couldn't breathe.
“I thought you were dead.”
“So did I.”
“I searched everywhere.”
“I know.”
“Why didn't you call?”
“Because Silas had Lily.”
“She was with you?”
“No.”
“Then where?”
“He took her from the hospital.”
I froze.
“What?”
Elena explained.
After the attack, Silas took Lily.
Daniel rescued her.
Daniel escaped.
Silas staged Daniel's death.
Elena had been forced into hiding.
Everything had been designed to keep me angry and isolated.
I looked at her.
“Did you ever stop loving me?”
She shook her head.
“Not once.”
I kissed her forehead.
Then I asked the question I'd been afraid to ask.
“Why did you let me believe Daniel betrayed you?”
“Because Daniel made me promise.”
“Why?”
“He wanted you to survive.”
“By making me hate him?”
“Yes.”
I laughed bitterly.
“He succeeded.”
She cried.
“I am sorry.”
I wiped her tears.
“I spent twelve years being angry.”
“I know.”
“Now I don't know what to feel.”
“You don't have to know yet.”
We sat together.
Then she looked at the ledger.
“You found it.”
“Yes.”
“Good.”
“Silas wants it.”
“He always did.”
“What does he want to do with it?”
“Destroy everyone connected to it.”
I frowned.
“Why?”
“Because if the records become public, hundreds of people will be exposed.”
“Politicians.”
“Yes.”
“Judges.”
“Yes.”
“Businessmen.”
“Yes.”
“And him.”
“Yes.”
I closed the ledger.
“We end it.”
Elena stared.
“How?”
“We release everything.”
She shook her head.
“They'll come after the children.”
“They already are.”
I called Victor.
“Prepare a secure transfer.”
“To where?”
“Federal authorities.”
Elena looked at me.
“You're going to hand over the empire.”
“Yes.”
She smiled.
“Your father would hate that.”
“I know.”
“That may be the first good thing you ever do to him.”
I laughed.
Then the lights went out.
Silas's voice filled the room.
“Adrian.”
Elena froze.
“Where's Lily?”
Silence.
“Bring her.”
“You know I won't.”
“Then you'll never see her mother again.”
I looked at Elena.
She shook her head.
“No.”
Silas continued.
“You have one hour.”
The call ended.
Elena grabbed my arm.
“Don't trade the ledger.”
“I won't.”
“Then what?”
“I trade myself.”
She stared.
“No.”
“I'll go.”
“Adrian…”
“I've been fighting for an empire my entire life.”
I looked at her.
“I'm not fighting for it anymore.”
I walked into the cold night.
Behind me, Elena cried.
At the meeting location, Silas stood beside Lily.
She was unharmed.
Bear was beside her.
Silas smiled.
“You came.”
“Yes.”
“Where's the ledger?”
“Safe.”
“Bring it.”
“No.”
His smile disappeared.
“Then why are you here?”
“For her.”
I looked at Lily.
Silas laughed.
“You really do love your daughter.”
“Yes.”
“Then kneel.”
I did.
Silas seemed disappointed.
“Is that all?”
“No.”
I looked at the hidden camera above him.
“You're being recorded.”
Silas froze.
Marcus had placed the camera before I arrived.
I continued.
“Everything you've said is live.”
Police sirens echoed.
Silas grabbed Lily.
Bear attacked.
Lily escaped.
I tackled Silas.
We fought.
He was older.
But strong.
He pulled a knife.
I caught his wrist.
“You took twelve years from me.”
He laughed.
“I gave you a reason to live.”
“No.”
I threw him to the ground.
“She did.”
Elena stepped from the shadows.
Silas stared at her.
“You.”
Elena walked toward him.
“You should have stayed dead.”
Silas smiled.
“I couldn't.”
Police arrested him.
But before they took him, he looked at Lily.
“She isn't your only child.”
I froze.
“What?”
He laughed.
“Ask Elena about the boy.”
Noah.
Silas knew.
May you like
He had another secret.
And now I knew where our next battle would lead.
