Chapter 4 - The Black Bird
The black bird symbol appeared everywhere.
On a wall near the gates.
On a note left inside Vincent's car.
On the wrist of another guard who was beaten unconscious.
It became a warning.
A promise.
Or perhaps a challenge.
Vincent responded the only way he knew how.
He tightened the estate's security.
He moved Fay's mother to a private medical facility.
He placed two armed guards outside her room.
And he refused to tell Fay everything.
That made her furious.
“You can't keep doing this.”
Vincent didn't look up from his desk.
“Doing what?”
“Deciding what I can handle.”
“I am deciding what can kill you.”
“It's my life.”
“Yes.”
He finally looked at her.
“That is why I care.”
The words stunned them both.
Vincent looked away.
Fay remained standing.
“You care?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because I should have found this sooner.”
“You didn't know.”
“I knew there were missing files.”
“You didn't know they were about my family.”
“I should have.”
Fay walked closer.
“You can't blame yourself for everything.”
“I can.”
“Why?”
“Because when you are responsible for people, their pain becomes your failure.”
Fay softened.
For the first time she understood why he carried himself like a man who had not slept in years.
He wasn't merely running a criminal empire.
He was carrying the weight of everyone inside it.
Then Julian entered.
“Donovan escaped.”
Vincent stood.
“How?”
“He bribed a guard.”
“Which guard?”
Julian hesitated.
“Daniel.”
Vincent's expression darkened.
Daniel had been one of his most trusted security men.
“What did Donovan take?”
“A vehicle.”
“Anything else?”
Julian handed him a photograph.
It showed Donovan meeting a man in a warehouse.
The man wore a dark coat.
His face was hidden.
But the black bird symbol was visible on his sleeve.
Elias Voss.
Vincent clenched the photograph.
“Find them.”
Julian looked at Fay.
“She's coming.”
Vincent turned.
“No.”
Fay crossed her arms.
“Yes.”
“No.”
“I heard everything.”
“This isn't a game.”
“I know.”
“Then stay here.”
“My father is involved.”
“Which is why you stay alive.”
She stared at him.
“I'm tired of being protected.”
Vincent's eyes hardened.
“You think protection means weakness?”
“No.”
“You think I am keeping you behind glass?”
“A little.”
He stepped closer.
“Then understand this.”
His voice dropped.
“You are the only person in this house I cannot afford to lose.”
Fay's breath caught.
Neither moved.
Julian cleared his throat.
“We should leave.”
The warehouse raid went wrong.
By the time they arrived, Donovan was gone.
Three men were dead.
The walls were covered in black bird symbols.
On a table sat a single envelope.
Vincent opened it.
Inside was a photograph of Fay's mother.
On the back:
She remembers.
Fay stared.
“What does my mother remember?”
Vincent didn't answer.
They returned to the estate.
Her mother was waiting.
She looked frightened.
“Fay.”
“What do you remember?”
Her mother shook her head.
“Not here.”
They went upstairs.
The older woman closed the door.
“Your father didn't disappear.”
Fay froze.
“He was taken.”
“By Elias?”
“No.”
“Then who?”
“Anthony Cross.”
Vincent's uncle.
“He wanted the ledger.”
“Did Dad give it to him?”
“No.”
“What happened?”
“He hid it.”
“Where?”
Her mother looked at Vincent.
“You were the one he trusted.”
Vincent stiffened.
“Me?”
“He came to you.”
Fay stared at him.
“You knew my father?”
“I was fifteen.”
“That's not what I asked.”
Vincent closed his eyes.
“Your father found me the night before he disappeared.”
“Why?”
“To tell me my uncle was planning to betray my father.”
Fay's heart hammered.
“What did he say?”
“He told me to keep something safe.”
“What?”
“I never got it.”
Her mother interrupted.
“He gave it to someone else.”
“Who?”
She whispered:
“Evelyn Cross.”
Vincent's mother.
His expression hardened.
“My mother?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“I don't know.”
Fay stared at Vincent.
Suddenly the family history became even more tangled.
That night, Evelyn Cross arrived at the estate.
She was elegant.
Cold.
Beautiful.
And immediately furious.
“Why have you brought her into this?”
Vincent replied:
“She deserves the truth.”
Evelyn looked at Fay.
“Your father destroyed our family.”
Fay's voice shook.
“My father was trying to save yours.”
Evelyn said nothing.
Then she slowly opened her handbag.
Inside was an old brass key.
“This is what he left me.”
Vincent stared.
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because I wanted to protect you.”
Fay almost laughed.
“Everyone says that.”
Evelyn looked at her.
“He told me the ledger would destroy the family.”
“Where is it?”
“I don't know.”
“Then why keep the key?”
“Because he said someone would eventually come for it.”
“Who?”
Evelyn looked at Vincent.
“Your uncle.”
The door suddenly slammed open.
A gunshot shattered the chandelier.
Glass rained down.
Vincent grabbed Fay and dragged her to the floor.
Security flooded the hallway.
Another shot.
Then silence.
When they looked up, Evelyn was gone.
And so was the key.
Vincent's face became terrifyingly calm.
“He has her.”
Fay whispered:
“Who?”
He looked at her.
May you like
“My uncle.”
The black bird had finally entered the house.
