Chapter 6 - The King Behind the Kings
Dominic stood perfectly still.
The old man on the screen looked almost ninety.
But his eyes were clear.
Sharp.
Predatory.
Alessandro Vale.
Founder of the modern Vale organization.
Officially dead for thirty-four years.
"Impossible," Dominic said.
The old man smiled.
"You've said that often tonight."
Elena looked toward Marco.
"Can he see us?"
Marco examined the system.
"Yes."
Alessandro answered first.
"I can."
Dominic stepped toward the screen.
"Where are you?"
"Close."
"You're Adrian's master."
"No."
Alessandro leaned back.
"Adrian believes that."
Sofia approached.
"You destroyed this family."
Alessandro's expression softened.
"Sofia."
She recoiled.
"You should have stayed dead."
"So should you."
Dominic moved between his mother and the screen.
"What do you want?"
"To meet my grandson."
"You've had thirty-four years."
"You weren't ready."
Dominic laughed without humor.
"And now?"
"Now you've discovered love."
His eyes shifted toward Elena.
Dominic's hand curled.
Alessandro smiled.
"There it is."
Elena understood.
The same vulnerability Victor described.
The same reason Adrian sent the photograph.
They wanted Dominic emotionally exposed.
"Don't use me to manipulate him," Elena said.
Alessandro studied her.
"Gabriel's daughter."
"Unfortunately for you."
The old man smiled wider.
"Very much his daughter."
Dominic stepped closer.
"Enough. Tell me where you are."
"Pier Nine."
Marco shook his head.
"Trap."
Alessandro heard him.
"Of course it's a trap."
He seemed amused.
"But it's also where Adrian is."
Dominic frowned.
"Why betray him?"
"Because he has become ambitious."
"And you're not?"
"I created the system."
Alessandro leaned forward.
"I don't need ambition."
Dominic's face hardened.
"You killed my mother."
"No."
"You ordered it."
"No."
"You let Mercer take her."
"Yes."
Sofia closed her eyes.
Dominic looked ready to break the screen.
Alessandro continued.
"Mercer became careless. Your mother discovered too much. I allowed him to solve his problem."
"You call that a distinction?"
"No. I call it accuracy."
Elena hated him instantly.
Alessandro had the calmness Dominic possessed but none of the humanity.
Perhaps that was what Dominic could have become.
Without love.
Without Sofia.
Without Elena.
The old man said:
"Bring both chips."
"Why?"
"Because Adrian plans to expose everything."
Elena frowned.
"Why would he?"
"Because he discovered I intended to replace him."
Dominic looked at Marco.
"So Adrian is rebelling."
"Yes."
Alessandro smiled.
"Which gives you and me common interests."
Dominic laughed.
"No."
"You haven't heard my offer."
"I don't need to."
"I'll give you Adrian."
"He's already dead."
"Dominic," Elena said quietly.
He looked at her.
She shook her head.
Don't become them.
He understood.
Alessandro noticed.
Again that faint smile.
"A remarkable woman."
Dominic turned back to the screen.
"You have one hour."
"For what?"
"To leave Pier Nine."
Alessandro laughed.
"Or?"
"Or I come there."
"That's what I want."
The screens went black.
Marco exhaled.
"He wants us to attack."
Victor entered.
"Then don't."
Dominic looked at him.
"We have alternatives?"
"One."
Victor placed blueprints on the table.
Pier Nine had been built by Vale Construction forty years earlier.
Underneath the main warehouse ran an emergency tunnel used during the city's prohibition era.
Adrian probably knew.
Alessandro probably knew.
But there was another access shaft sealed decades ago.
Victor knew because he had used it during Sofia's disappearance.
Dominic planned quickly.
Police couldn't be trusted.
Neither could much of his own organization.
So he reduced the team to six.
Marco.
Luca.
Victor.
Two guards personally raised alongside Marco.
And Dominic.
Elena watched.
"What about me?"
"You stay."
She shook her head.
"Adrian is my brother."
"Half brother."
"Still blood."
"Blood is overrated."
Sofia almost smiled.
Elena stepped closer.
"If I can talk to him—"
"No."
"You don't know what he wants from me."
"Neither do you."
"Exactly."
Dominic stared at her.
She stared back.
Finally he said, "You stay beside me."
Marco groaned quietly.
Dominic looked at him.
"Problem?"
"No, boss."
"Good."
Sofia insisted on coming too.
Dominic refused.
Sofia ignored him.
Elena watched with amusement.
"Now you know what it's like."
"This family is impossible."
"Your family."
He looked at her.
"Our family," she corrected.
Something in Dominic's face softened.
Then he kissed her forehead.
It was quick.
Almost private.
Except Marco saw it.
Dominic caught him looking.
Marco immediately turned away.
"Not a word."
"Never, boss."
Pier Nine smelled of salt, diesel and old wood.
They entered through the sealed shaft at 11:42 p.m.
Victor led them beneath the warehouse.
Voices echoed above.
Adrian.
Other men.
Then Alessandro.
They reached a grated vent beneath the central office.
Dominic looked through.
Adrian stood near the desk.
Alessandro sat opposite him.
They were arguing.
"You said Elena would bring the chip," Alessandro said.
"She will."
"You underestimated Dominic."
"He loves her."
"That doesn't make him stupid."
Adrian's face tightened.
"It makes everyone stupid eventually."
Elena heard bitterness.
Not hatred.
Pain.
Alessandro said, "Gabriel chose her too."
Adrian looked away.
There it was.
The wound.
His father.
Elena touched Dominic's arm.
Wait.
Dominic nodded reluctantly.
Adrian said:
"He had a son and still chose the daughter who already had everything."
Alessandro laughed.
"Gabriel offered you a relationship."
"He offered secrecy."
"He tried to protect you."
"From what?"
"From becoming this."
Adrian slammed his hand onto the desk.
Dominic tensed.
Alessandro remained calm.
"You never wanted Gabriel's love. You wanted his guilt."
Adrian stared.
"And you used that."
"Of course."
Elena finally understood Adrian.
A young man discovered his father.
Then discovered his father already had a beloved daughter.
Charles Mercer found resentment.
Fed it.
Weaponized it.
Adrian spent years believing he had been discarded.
Elena whispered to Dominic.
"I need to talk to him."
"No."
"Dominic."
"Absolutely not."
She touched his face.
"He became this because people kept turning pain into anger."
Dominic knew exactly what she meant.
Eventually he nodded.
They emerged.
Weapons raised instantly.
Dominic's team spread.
Adrian turned.
His expression froze when he saw Elena.
"You came."
She stepped forward.
Dominic stayed half a pace behind.
Alessandro smiled.
"Perfect."
Elena ignored him.
She looked at Adrian.
"You're my brother."
His face twisted.
"Don't."
"Our father should have told me."
"He should have claimed me."
"Yes."
Adrian seemed surprised.
Elena continued.
"He failed you."
Dominic glanced at her.
Adrian's eyes narrowed.
"You think admitting that fixes it?"
"No."
"You had everything."
"I had a father who was terrified every day because people like Alessandro threatened his children."
"His child."
"Children."
Adrian's jaw tightened.
Elena took another step.
"Did he love you?"
Adrian looked away.
"Don't."
"Did he?"
Silence.
Then:
"Yes."
Alessandro's expression changed.
Tiny.
But Dominic noticed.
So did Elena.
Adrian continued quietly.
"He met me every Thursday."
Elena's eyes filled.
"He taught me chess."
A faint laugh escaped him.
"He was terrible."
Elena smiled through tears.
"He cheated."
Adrian looked at her.
"You knew?"
"He cheated at cards too."
Something broke between them.
Not completely.
But enough.
Alessandro stood.
"This is sentimental nonsense."
Adrian turned.
The old man drew a pistol.
Dominic moved toward Elena.
But Alessandro didn't aim at her.
He aimed at Adrian.
"You've become useless."
A shot thundered.
Adrian fell.
Elena screamed.
Dominic pulled her down.
Marco fired.
Alessandro vanished behind the desk.
Gunfire erupted.
Luca moved left.
Victor covered the exit.
Dominic crawled toward Adrian.
Blood spread across his shoulder.
Not fatal.
"Stay awake," Elena said.
Adrian looked at her.
"Sister."
The word barely escaped.
Then the lights died.
Darkness swallowed the warehouse.
A door slammed.
Marco shouted.
"Alessandro's moving!"
Emergency lights flashed red.
Dominic stood.
At the far end of the warehouse, a steel door was closing.
Alessandro slipped through.
Dominic ran.
Elena followed to the threshold.
Beyond the door was a private dock.
An engine started.
Dominic reached the pier.
A speedboat pulled away.
Alessandro stood aboard.
He raised his phone.
Dominic's phone buzzed.
A message appeared.
YOU STILL DON'T KNOW WHY GABRIEL DIED.
Then another.
ASK SOFIA.
Dominic stopped.
Elena looked back.
Sofia stood behind them.
Her face had gone white.
Dominic slowly turned toward his mother.
May you like
And she whispered:
"I was there."
