Chapter 5 - THE BROTHER WHO DIED
Julian pulled me into the SUV.
“Drive.”
The driver accelerated.
I couldn't stop staring at my brother.
He looked older.
Harder.
But alive.
Alive.
“You're dead.”
“I know.”
“I buried you.”
“I know.”
“You let me mourn you.”
“I had no choice.”
“You always have a choice.”
His eyes met mine.
“No, Alexander.”
His voice was quiet.
“Not when they have your daughter.”
I looked away.
“Who are they?”
“The people who built our family.”
“What does that mean?”
“Our father wasn't the beginning.”
Julian stared through the windshield.
“He inherited everything.”
“From whom?”
“People who don't exist officially.”
My stomach tightened.
“What did Dad do?”
“He protected them.”
“And you?”
“I tried to destroy them.”
I stared.
“That got you killed?”
“No.”
He looked at me.
“It got Grace targeted.”
Silence filled the car.
“Why did you hide her?”
“Because everyone I trusted was compromised.”
“Hannah?”
“No.”
“Vincent?”
Julian didn't answer.
I understood.
“You don't trust Vincent.”
“I don't trust anyone.”
“Then why trust me?”
He looked at me.
“Because you're the only one they didn't control.”
I almost laughed.
“They controlled me for eighteen months.”
“No.”
He shook his head.
“They manipulated you.”
“How?”
“They showed you the body.”
I froze.
“What body?”
“Mine.”
I stared at him.
“That wasn't you.”
“No.”
The car slowed.
“Where are we going?”
“To the place Dad hid the truth.”
“Where?”
“Your mother's house.”
“My mother is dead.”
“I know.”
He looked at me.
“But the house isn't.”
We arrived forty minutes later.
It was an abandoned property outside the city.
My mother had owned it secretly.
I'd never known.
Inside, Julian walked directly to the basement.
He removed a floorboard.
Underneath was a metal box.
He opened it.
Documents.
Photographs.
Bank records.
Birth certificates.
And one video tape.
I looked at him.
“What is this?”
“Watch.”
We found an old television.
Julian inserted the tape.
The screen flickered.
My father appeared.
Older.
Tired.
Alive.
My knees nearly buckled.
He looked directly into the camera.
“If you're watching this, my sons are probably fighting.”
Julian gave a bitter laugh.
Dad continued.
“Alexander, forgive your brother.”
Then:
“Julian, forgive Alexander.”
We both went still.
My father sighed.
“The Caruso family has never belonged to us.”
The screen changed.
Names appeared.
Companies.
Politicians.
Judges.
Banks.
Police chiefs.
Millions of dollars.
Then one name appeared repeatedly.
THE CROWN.
My father continued.
“They created the Caruso empire.”
“They also control the people who enforce it.”
Julian whispered:
“The Crown.”
Dad looked terrified.
“If they learn about Grace, they'll take her.”
The screen went black.
Then a second video began.
My mother appeared.
She was crying.
“If Julian survives, tell him this.”
She looked directly into the camera.
“Your father didn't betray you.”
She paused.
“I did.”
Julian stepped backward.
“What?”
My mother continued.
“I gave them your location.”
Julian's face changed.
“Mom.”
She whispered:
“I thought I was saving the family.”
The screen froze.
Then one final sentence appeared.
THE CROWN HAS A NEW HEIR.
I looked at Julian.
He looked at me.
Neither of us spoke.
Then my phone rang.
Hannah.
I answered.
Her voice was shaking.
“Alexander…”
“Where are you?”
“At the house.”
“Is Grace with you?”
Silence.
Then Hannah whispered:
“No.”
A man's voice took the phone.
“Good evening, Mr. Caruso.”
I knew that voice.
It belonged to the man who had negotiated the $60 million deal with me that morning.
The man I had trusted.
The man who had been sitting across my desk when Grace crawled into my office.
“Your business partner is waiting for you.”
I froze.
“Who?”
May you like
The answer came softly.
“Vincent.”
