Chapter 5 - Their Father’s Old Friend
Arthur Vale arrived at noon.
Sixty-two years old.
Elegant.
Polite.
One of the last surviving friends of Dominic’s father.
Arthur had attended Dominic’s parents’ funeral.
He had helped Dominic get his first legitimate job.
And he wore a gold ring with a black stone.
Dominic met him in the sunroom.
Elena watched from an adjoining room with Marco.
Arthur smiled.
“Dominic. Strange invitation.”
“Sit down.”
Arthur studied him.
“You sound like your father when you do that.”
“Do I?”
“Yes.”
Arthur sat.
Dominic poured coffee.
“Bellhaven.”
Arthur’s hand stopped.
Only for half a second.
Dominic saw it.
“What about it?”
“You tell me.”
“Your mother’s property?”
“Yes.”
Arthur shrugged.
“Worth something now, apparently.”
“Hundreds of millions.”
Arthur smiled.
“Then congratulations.”
“Luca tried stealing it.”
Arthur’s smile disappeared.
“Luca?”
“He manipulated Elena.”
Arthur stared at him.
“I thought Elena was in Europe.”
“So did I.”
Dominic leaned forward.
“She wasn’t.”
Arthur said nothing.
“She was in Bellhaven.”
Still nothing.
Dominic continued.
“In a house you visited every month.”
Arthur’s eyes hardened.
The door opened.
Elena stepped inside.
Arthur’s face changed.
Not shock.
Recognition.
Elena saw it.
“That’s him.”
Arthur stood.
“Elena, whatever Luca told you—”
“You knew.”
“Elena—”
“You knew I wanted to leave.”
Arthur looked toward Dominic.
“This is complicated.”
Dominic remained seated.
“Then simplify it.”
Arthur’s calm finally cracked.
“Your father made promises.”
“My father has been dead twenty-three years.”
“That land belonged to our original partnership.”
“My mother inherited it.”
“Because your father put it in her name.”
Dominic frowned.
Arthur continued.
“We built everything together. Your father, me, three others. When things became dangerous, he moved assets into your mother’s name.”
“That doesn’t make them yours.”
“I spent thirty years rebuilding what your father destroyed.”
Elena stepped closer.
“So you used me?”
Arthur looked at her.
“I needed the transfer signed.”
“I said no.”
“Yes.”
“So you kept me there.”
“I kept you protected.”
“Stop calling imprisonment protection.”
Arthur looked away.
Dominic stood.
“You’re finished.”
Arthur laughed.
“You think you can remove me?”
“I already have.”
“You don’t understand how many people depend on me.”
“I’m not talking about business.”
Dominic opened a folder.
Inside were copies of records, financial transfers and communications uncovered that morning.
Arthur stared at them.
“You’re giving this to investigators?”
“Yes.”
“You’ll expose yourself.”
“If necessary.”
Arthur shook his head.
“You built your reputation on fear, Dominic.”
“Maybe that was the problem.”
Arthur looked at Elena.
Then back at Dominic.
“You’ve become weak.”
Dominic’s answer came without hesitation.
“No.”
He looked at his sister.
“I finally remembered what strength is for.”
Arthur walked toward the exit.
At the door, he stopped.
“Your father would be disappointed.”
Dominic stared at him.
“My father is gone.”
Then he glanced at Elena.
“My family isn’t.”
Arthur left.
Marco entered moments later.
“It’s done.”
Dominic nodded.
Elena looked between them.
“What happens now?”
“Now?”
Dominic turned toward her.
“You decide.”
“Decide what?”
May you like
“Everything.”
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