Chapter 6 - The Father Who Never Died

Dominic did not hit Vincent.

That surprised everyone.

He simply looked at him.

“Where?”

Vincent swallowed.

“Switzerland.”

“How long have you known?”

“Six years.”

“My father died eight years ago.”

“I learned two years later.”

“You said nothing.”

“Yes.”

Dominic looked at Elena.

“Did you know?”

“No.”

At James.

“Yes.”

At Edwin.

“No.”

At Cassandra.

She shook her head.

“No.”

Dominic looked at Marcus.

“You?”

“Always.”

Silence.

Dominic laughed.

“My family has a remarkable problem with death.”

Marcus almost smiled.

Then Dominic stepped closer.

“Why fake it?”

Marcus answered:

“Because federal investigators were close.”

“He ran.”

“Yes.”

“And left me everything.”

“Not everything.”

Marcus looked at the old office.

“Only the legal companies.”

Dominic stared.

“The criminal side stayed with you.”

“Yes.”

Dominic rubbed his jaw.

“Why tell me now?”

Marcus answered:

“Because your father is returning.”

Elena went pale.

“When?”

“Tomorrow.”

“Why?”

Marcus looked at Cassandra.

“The wedding trust.”

Dominic frowned.

“There is no wedding tomorrow.”

“There was supposed to be a legal signing at noon.”

Cassandra stared at her father.

“What signing?”

James looked ashamed.

“Marriage trust documents.”

Dominic turned.

“You planned that without me?”

James shook his head.

“Your lawyers did.”

Vincent whispered:

“Your father arranged it.”

Dominic’s face hardened.

From Switzerland.

Dead.

Still arranging his life.

Marcus continued.

“He needs your signature before the marriage.”

“For what?”

“To transfer temporary control to a trustee.”

“Who?”

Marcus handed him another page.

Trustee:

ALEXANDER VALE.

Dominic stared.

“My father.”

“Yes.”

“He wants me to give control back.”

“For ninety days.”

“Why?”

“Long enough to drain the company.”

Silence.

Dominic looked at Elena.

“Did he ever love anyone?”

She answered honestly.

“Yes.”

Dominic waited.

“Who?”

“Power.”

Marcus laughed softly.

No one else did.

Cassandra stepped closer.

“My father said Marcus was dangerous.”

James flinched.

Marcus looked at her.

“I am.”

At least he admitted it.

Dominic asked:

“Have you killed people?”

Marcus answered:

“Yes.”

No excuse.

Cassandra looked afraid.

Dominic did not.

“Did you order the federal contact killed?”

“No.”

“My mother?”

“No.”

“My father?”

“No.”

“Anyone in this room?”

Marcus looked at Vincent.

Vincent stared back.

“No.”

Dominic nodded once.

Then:

“Good.”

Marcus frowned.

“Why?”

“Because if you had, this conversation would be shorter.”

Elena closed her eyes.

Adrian? No, Dominic.

Dominic looked toward the old tracks.

“Where is my father landing?”

Marcus hesitated.

Dominic noticed.

“You want out?”

“Yes.”

“Then earn it.”

Marcus looked at him.

“Private airfield north of the city.

Nine tomorrow morning.”

James whispered:

“He will not come alone.”

Marcus nodded.

Dominic turned to Edwin.

“Do you still know the freight control rooms?”

Edwin smiled.

“Better than the current staff.”

To me:

“Anna.”

“Yes?”

“You know the estate staff entrances.”

“Yes.”

“To Cassandra.”

She looked at him.

He paused.

“You know your father’s files.”

“Yes.”

“And Vincent knows the company.”

Vincent nodded.

Dominic looked at Elena.

“And you know the original accounts.”

“Yes.”

Then Marcus.

“You know my father.”

Marcus smiled.

“Unfortunately.”

Dominic looked around.

“Then tomorrow no one keeps a separate version of the truth.”

Silence.

Elena nodded first.

Then James.

Then Cassandra.

Vincent.

Edwin.

Marcus last.

Dominic turned to leave.

Cassandra followed.

“Dominic.”

He stopped.

She whispered:

“Are we still engaged?”

He looked at the ring on her hand.

Long silence.

“I do not know.”

Tears filled her eyes.

“That is fair.”

He looked at her father.

Then at her.

“But tomorrow you tell me everything before I have to ask.”

“Yes.”

“No protecting him.”

She looked at James.

Then back at Dominic.

“No protecting anyone.”

Dominic nodded.

Then a phone rang.

Marcus’s.

He looked at the screen.

His face changed.

Dominic saw it.

“Who?”

Marcus answered.

“My father.”

Silence.

Dominic stared.

“Your father?”

Marcus corrected himself.

“Our father.”

He answered.

Alexander Vale’s voice came through the speaker.

Calm.

Older.

Alive.

“Marcus.”

Marcus said nothing.

Alexander continued.

“Tell Dominic his mother should have stayed in Canada.”

Dominic’s face went cold.

Then:

“And tell him Anna Cole should not have opened the service door this afternoon.”

I froze.

Dominic turned toward me.

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Alexander knew my name.

The line went dead.