Chapter 6 - The Man Who Was Supposed to Be DeadFinding Sebastian Vale should have been impossible.
Dead men did not own houses.
They did not use credit cards.
They did not appear on tax records.
But they made mistakes.
And Sebastian had always loved horses.
Daniel discovered an agricultural corporation purchasing thoroughbreds outside Lexington, Kentucky.
The company’s registered agent was a lawyer.
The lawyer represented another shell company.
That shell company paid property taxes on an isolated estate thirty miles outside the city.
The owner listed on paper was eighty-three-year-old Harold Mercer.
Harold Mercer had been dead for eleven years.
Gabriel looked at Adrian across the kitchen island.
“That’s either your uncle or the most elaborate horse enthusiast in America.”
Adrian folded the property report.
“When do we leave?”
Elena answered first.
“Tomorrow.”
Adrian looked at her.
“You’re not going.”
She stared.
“Excuse me?”
“This could be dangerous.”
“So was marrying you.”
Gabriel suddenly found the floor fascinating.
Adrian’s expression tightened.
“That’s different.”
“No. It isn’t.”
“Elena—”
“You said I would decide what happens to me.”
“I said—”
“You said no one would make decisions over my head.”
Adrian stopped.
She had him.
She knew it too.
“I’m going.”
He exhaled slowly.
“You stay in the vehicle until we know it’s secure.”
“We’ll discuss it when we get there.”
“Elena.”
“That wasn’t a promise.”
Gabriel coughed to hide a laugh.
Adrian glared at him.
By seven the next morning, they were on a private plane south.
Elena had never flown privately.
She also had not been outside Illinois since childhood.
Adrian discovered both things when she stared through the window during takeoff.
“You okay?”
“Yes.”
“You’re gripping the seat.”
“I don’t like not controlling the ground.”
“That sounds philosophical.”
“It’s terror.”
He almost smiled.
She caught him.
“You’re enjoying this.”
“A little.”
For several minutes, they almost resembled newlyweds.
Then Elena noticed Adrian rubbing his left hand.
“What happened?”
“Old injury.”
“From what?”
“Gunshot.”
Her eyes widened.
“You were shot?”
“Several times.”
“That doesn’t make it better.”
“No.”
“Does it still hurt?”
“When it’s cold.”
She looked at the snow-covered landscape below.
“It’s February.”
“I’m aware.”
Without thinking, Elena reached across and touched his hand.
Both froze.
It was the first voluntary physical contact between them since she grabbed his wrist on their wedding night.
She withdrew immediately.
“Sorry.”
“Don’t be.”
Her cheeks warmed.
Adrian looked away before she could see the effect it had on him.
They landed near Lexington and drove through rolling horse country.
The estate appeared behind stone walls and leafless oak trees.
No visible guards.
That meant nothing.
Gabriel sent two men around the perimeter.
Another drone surveyed the house.
“Three vehicles,” Gabriel reported. “Heat signatures suggest four people inside.”
Adrian looked at Elena.
“You stay here.”
She opened the door.
He closed his eyes briefly.
Of course she did.
“Elena.”
“If Sebastian was involved with my mother, he may speak to me.”
“He may shoot at you.”
“So stand in front of me.”
Gabriel turned away.
Adrian stared at her.
“Was that a joke?”
“Maybe.”
It was progress.
Terrifying progress.
They approached the house together.
Adrian rang the bell.
No answer.
Again.
Footsteps.
Then the door opened.
The man standing inside looked older.
Thinner.
White hair instead of black.
But Adrian recognized him instantly.
Sebastian Vale stared at his nephew.
Then at Elena.
His face went gray.
“You shouldn’t be here.”
Adrian’s voice became cold.
“You’re dead.”
Sebastian glanced past them toward Gabriel.
“Come inside.”
“No.”
“Adrian.”
“Seventeen years.”
Sebastian’s expression twisted.
“I can explain.”
“Start.”
“Not on the porch.”
Elena stepped forward.
“My mother trusted you.”
Sebastian’s eyes moved to her.
“You look like Sofia.”
Elena stiffened.
“Did you betray her?”
Sebastian closed his eyes.
“That question deserves a longer answer.”
Adrian pushed past him.
They entered.
The house smelled of cedar and coffee.
No criminal headquarters.
No hidden army.
Just framed paintings, riding trophies, and books.
Adrian hated how normal it looked.
“You faked your death.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Victor.”
Adrian laughed once.
“Convenient.”
“It’s true.”
“You spent years telling me Sofia killed Matteo.”
“I was protecting you.”
“From what?”
“Knowing what your father did.”
Adrian stopped.
“My father?”
Sebastian’s face became tired.
“Sit down.”
“No.”
Sebastian looked at Elena.
“You should.”
She remained beside Adrian.
Sebastian sighed.
“Matteo discovered Victor’s theft, yes.”
“We know.”
“And Sofia helped him leave.”
“We know.”
“What you don’t know is that Matteo contacted your father before he left.”
Adrian stared.
“No.”
“He did.”
“My father spent years searching.”
“Your father knew where Matteo was.”
The room went silent.
Adrian’s expression hardened dangerously.
“That’s a lie.”
“I helped arrange the call.”
“Why?”
“Because Matteo wanted his father to know he was safe.”
Adrian shook his head.
“No.”
Sebastian continued.
“Your father demanded Matteo return.”
“He would have protected him.”
“No.”
Sebastian’s eyes filled with something that looked like shame.
“He wanted the evidence.”
Adrian stared.
“What evidence?”
“Proof that Victor had diverted money through Vale companies.”
“Why would my father care more about evidence than Matteo?”
“Because your father wasn’t innocent.”
Elena watched Adrian’s face change.
Sebastian continued carefully.
“Victor did not steal alone.”
Adrian understood before the sentence finished.
“My father was his partner.”
“Yes.”
“No.”
“They laundered money through shipping contracts for years.”
“You’re lying.”
“I wish I were.”
Adrian grabbed Sebastian by the shirt and slammed him against the wall.
Gabriel moved but stopped.
Sebastian did not fight.
“You watched him grieve.”
“Yes.”
“You watched me search.”
“Yes.”
“You let me blame Sofia.”
“Yes.”
Adrian’s fist tightened.
Elena spoke behind him.
“Adrian.”
He did not move.
“Adrian.”
Her voice was softer the second time.
He released Sebastian.
Sebastian coughed.
“Why?”
Adrian demanded.
“Because Victor threatened everyone.”
“You were a Vale.”
“So was your father.”
“Where is Matteo?”
Sebastian looked away.
Adrian’s heart stopped.
“You know.”
Sebastian remained silent.
Adrian moved toward him.
Elena caught Adrian’s sleeve.
Not his wrist.
Not his hand.
Just fabric.
But he stopped.
Sebastian finally said, “He came back.”
“When?”
“Fourteen years ago.”
Adrian stared.
“He was twenty.”
“Why didn’t he contact me?”
“He tried.”
Adrian’s face emptied.
“What happened?”
Sebastian’s voice lowered.
“He came to Chicago with evidence.”
“What evidence?”
“Accounts, recorded conversations, everything.”
“And?”
“Victor intercepted him.”
Elena whispered, “Did my father kill him?”
Sebastian looked at her.
“No.”
Adrian barely breathed.
“Then where is he?”
Sebastian walked to a cabinet.
He opened it and removed an old photograph.
He handed it to Adrian.
A man stood beside a fishing boat.
Older than seventeen.
Lean.
Bearded.
But unquestionably Matteo.
The date on the back was three years earlier.
Adrian sat down.
His brother was alive.
Three years ago.
Alive.
Elena covered her mouth.
“Where?”
Sebastian looked toward the windows.
“Canada.”
Adrian stared at him.
“Give me the address.”
“I can’t.”
“Why?”
“Because Matteo made me promise.”
“I don’t care.”
“He doesn’t want to be found.”
Adrian rose.
“He’s my brother.”
“And he is terrified.”
“Of Victor?”
“Of everyone.”
Sebastian looked at Adrian.
“Including you.”
That hurt more than Adrian expected.
“Why me?”
“Because he thinks you became your father.”
Adrian did not answer.
Sebastian’s eyes shifted to Elena.
“Victor told Matteo that Adrian knew about the operation.”
“I didn’t.”
“I know.”
“Does Matteo?”
“I tried to convince him.”
“Apparently not hard enough.”
Sebastian ignored the insult.
“Elena’s mother spent years trying to clear your name.”
Elena looked up.
“My mother?”
“She believed bringing Matteo home would destroy Victor.”
“Why didn’t she?”
“Because Victor controlled you and Dominic.”
Sebastian’s face darkened.
“He threatened to kill one child if Sofia saved the other.”
Elena turned away.
Adrian watched her.
Then Sebastian said something worse.
“When Sofia finally decided to leave, Victor discovered it.”
Elena slowly turned back.
“My mother died in a car accident.”
Sebastian said nothing.
Elena’s face changed.
“No.”
“I’m sorry.”
“No.”
“Elena—”
“The police said she fell asleep.”
“She didn’t.”
Elena stepped backward.
“No.”
“Victor had the brake line cut.”
The world seemed to stop.
Adrian looked at Sebastian.
“You have proof?”
“I had proof.”
“Had?”
“Victor found most of it.”
Elena’s voice broke.
“My father killed my mother.”
Sebastian stepped toward her.
She recoiled.
He stopped.
“I tried to get Sofia out.”
“You failed.”
“Yes.”
“You let me live with him.”
Sebastian’s eyes lowered.
“Yes.”
“For eight years.”
“Yes.”
Elena stared at him.
Then turned toward the door.
Adrian followed.
Outside, the Kentucky air was sharp and cold.
She reached the edge of the driveway before her knees gave out.
Adrian caught her.
This time she did not scream.
She collapsed against his chest.
“My mother tried to leave.”
“I know.”
“My father killed her.”
Adrian held her carefully.
“Yes.”
“I lived in his house.”
Her body shook.
“I ate dinner with him.”
“I know.”
“I hugged him at Christmas.”
“Elena.”
“I believed him.”
Adrian tightened his arms slightly.
She did not pull away.
Behind them, Sebastian appeared at the door.
“Adrian.”
Adrian looked up.
“There’s more.”
Elena went still.
Sebastian held a small key.
“Matteo left something for you.”
Adrian stared.
“What?”
Sebastian’s voice became grave.
“Evidence strong enough to destroy Victor.”
“Where?”
“Chicago.”
Adrian frowned.
“Where in Chicago?”
Sebastian looked at Elena.
“In the Moretti house.”
Her childhood home.
May you like
The place she feared most.
And the one place Victor would never expect his daughter to willingly enter again.
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