Chapter 8 - THE CROWN
We reached Chicago before midnight.
Not because we trusted the message.
Because we understood the trap.
They wanted me alone.
So I'd make them believe I was.
Julian stayed three blocks away.
Vincent positioned two teams around the building.
Hannah and Grace were hidden in a safe location.
I entered the abandoned warehouse alone.
The lights came on.
Dozens of men stood around me.
At the center was an elderly man sitting in a wheelchair.
I knew him.
Elias Grant.
The richest man I'd ever met.
The man who had introduced my father to the banking world.
The man everyone called a philanthropist.
He smiled.
“Alexander.”
“So you're the Crown.”
He nodded.
“The Crown isn't a person.”
“Then what is it?”
“A system.”
He gestured around.
“Men like your father built it.”
“Men like you destroyed families with it.”
He smiled.
“You sound like Julian.”
“Where is Grace?”
“Safe.”
“If you touch her—”
“You'll do what?”
He laughed.
“You've already lost everything.”
I stepped closer.
“No.”
I smiled.
“That's where you're wrong.”
I pressed a button.
Every television in the warehouse switched on.
News channels.
Bank records.
Police reports.
Names.
Everything my father had hidden.
Everything we'd found.
Elias's smile disappeared.
“You wouldn't.”
“I already did.”
“You'll destroy the country.”
“No.”
I looked at him.
“I'll destroy you.”
His guards raised their weapons.
Then the warehouse lights went dark.
Gunfire erupted.
Julian.
Vincent.
Chaos.
I tackled Elias.
He fell from his wheelchair.
“You don't understand!” he shouted.
“You're finished.”
He grabbed my jacket.
“Your father didn't build the Crown.”
I froze.
“Who did?”
He whispered:
“Your grandfather.”
My blood ran cold.
My grandfather had died before I was born.
Elias continued.
“Your family has controlled this network for three generations.”
I shook my head.
“No.”
“Your father tried to leave.”
“Why?”
“Because he discovered the truth about Julian.”
I stopped.
“What truth?”
Elias smiled.
“Julian isn't your brother.”
Silence.
The entire room seemed to stop.
Julian entered.
His gun was aimed at Elias.
“Don't.”
Elias laughed.
“Tell him.”
Julian's face was pale.
I looked at him.
“What does he mean?”
Julian said nothing.
“Tell me.”
Elias shouted:
“Your father adopted Julian.”
I stared.
Julian lowered his gun.
“I was eight.”
I couldn't breathe.
“You're not my brother?”
“I am.”
“But we're not blood.”
Julian nodded.
“Does that mean anything?”
He looked at me.
“You're still my brother.”
My eyes burned.
All my life, I'd thought Julian was the only person who shared my blood.
Now I realized something more powerful.
He had chosen to be my brother.
Elias laughed.
“And Grace?”
I turned.
“What about her?”
“She is the first Caruso heir in generations who carries the original bloodline.”
I stared.
“What original bloodline?”
Elias smiled.
“The woman who founded everything.”
He paused.
“Your grandmother.”
I felt the room tilt.
May you like
Then he whispered:
“She wasn't human enough to be trusted.”
