Chapter 6 - The Man Behind the Bullet
Marcus’s hand stopped moving.
For the first time, Vivian saw fear.
“You’re bluffing.”
“Maybe.”
Marcus looked at Adrian.
“She’s bluffing.”
Adrian shrugged.
“You’ve known her longer tonight than I have. What do you think?”
Marcus stepped forward.
“Give me the phone.”
Vivian didn’t move.
“Tell me why you killed Anthony Cole.”
Richard shouted, “Vivian, stop!”
Marcus turned toward him.
That was enough.
Adrian’s men moved into position outside.
Marcus didn’t know it.
He was still watching Vivian.
“You think a phone saves you?”
“No.”
“Then what does?”
“Your ego.”
Marcus smiled.
“You sound like your mother.”
“Good.”
“She was clever too.”
Adrian’s expression changed.
Vivian heard it.
Past tense.
Personal.
“You knew my mother.”
Marcus realized his mistake.
“Everyone knew Margaret.”
“No.”
Vivian stepped closer.
“You said she was clever. Not intelligent. Not beautiful. Clever.”
Marcus said nothing.
“You dealt with her personally.”
Richard closed his eyes.
Vivian looked at him.
“Dad?”
Richard whispered, “Your mother never stopped collecting evidence.”
Marcus’s face hardened.
Richard continued.
“She planned to testify.”
Vivian stared at him.
“She died before she could.”
“I know.”
Adrian looked at Marcus.
“Was that you too?”
Marcus smiled coldly.
“You don’t get to question me, boy.”
Adrian became very still.
“My father?”
Marcus said nothing.
“Margaret?”
Nothing.
Adrian took one step forward.
Vivian caught his hand.
He looked at her.
“Don’t.”
“He killed them.”
“And he wants you angry.”
Marcus smiled.
Vivian saw it.
“He wants you to do something that makes the evidence irrelevant.”
Adrian’s breathing slowed.
His hand relaxed.
Marcus’s smile disappeared.
Then sirens sounded in the distance.
Marcus turned sharply.
“You called police?”
Vivian shook her head.
“Federal investigators.”
That part had been Tommy’s idea.
Copies of the ledgers had been sent to three attorneys and a federal prosecutor before Adrian and Vivian ever left the house.
Marcus looked toward the exits.
Men appeared at every door.
Not Adrian’s.
Federal agents.
Marcus reached inside his coat.
Adrian immediately moved in front of Vivian.
Agents shouted commands.
Marcus stopped.
Slowly, he removed his hand.
Empty.
Vivian saw something almost pathetic in his face.
A man who had spent decades controlling everyone had finally discovered a room he didn’t own.
Richard was freed.
Marcus was taken into custody.
Before they led him away, he looked at Adrian.
“This doesn’t end with me.”
Adrian answered calmly.
“It does for you.”
Outside, dawn was beginning to lighten the Chicago skyline.
Vivian stood beside an ambulance while paramedics checked her father.
Richard looked at her.
“I’m sorry.”
She folded her arms.
“For which part?”
“All of it.”
“That’s convenient.”
“I know.”
Vivian’s anger remained.
But beneath it was exhaustion.
“You used me.”
“Yes.”
“You lied to me.”
“Yes.”
“You helped Marcus betray Anthony.”
Richard closed his eyes.
“Yes.”
She waited.
For once, he didn’t make an excuse.
That mattered.
Not enough.
But it mattered.
“What happens now?” he asked.
“You tell investigators everything.”
His face fell.
“Vivian—”
“Everything.”
“I could go to prison.”
“I know.”
“I’m your father.”
“That’s why I’m giving you the chance to tell the truth yourself.”
Richard looked at Adrian.
“Are you going to let her do this?”
Adrian’s answer came immediately.
“She doesn’t need my permission.”
Vivian looked at him.
Richard gave a tired laugh.
“Apparently marriage suits you.”
Adrian glanced at Vivian.
“Ask me again in twenty years.”
“Twenty years?” Vivian said.
“You planning ahead?”
“I generally do.”
She almost smiled.
Richard was taken away to give his statement.
Tommy approached.
“Marcus is in custody. We recovered records connecting him to the rooftop shooter.”
“Alive?” Adrian asked.
“Shooter?”
“Yes.”
“Alive.”
Adrian nodded.
“Good.”
Tommy studied him.
“You’ve changed.”
“It’s been twelve hours.”
“Long twelve hours.”
Tommy walked away.
Vivian and Adrian stood alone.
Her wedding gown was dirty.
One strap had torn.
Adrian’s tuxedo jacket was gone, and his tie hung loose.
They looked nothing like the couple who had entered the cathedral.
Adrian reached into his pocket.
He removed the marriage contract.
Vivian recognized it immediately.
He tore it in half.
Then again.
Pieces fell into a trash bin.
Vivian stared.
“What are you doing?”
“Ending the bargain.”
Her chest tightened.
“So we’re getting divorced?”
“If that’s what you want.”
“And the debt?”
“Gone.”
“My father still owes you.”
“Your father owes the truth to a great many people. Money is the least interesting part now.”
Vivian studied him.
“You’re giving me an exit.”
“I should have given you one before the wedding.”
“And if I take it?”
Adrian looked toward the sunrise.
“I’ll make sure you’re safe. Then I’ll leave you alone.”
Vivian watched him.
“And if I don’t?”
For the first time, Adrian Cole looked uncertain.
“Then we start over.”
“How?”
He turned toward her.
“Properly.”
Vivian raised an eyebrow.
“Are you capable of properly?”
“I can learn.”
She stepped closer.
“Then ask.”
Adrian stared at her.
“Ask what?”
She shook her head.
“For a terrifying crime boss, you can be remarkably slow.”
Understanding finally reached him.
He took her hand.
Not possessively.
Not because of a contract.
Just carefully.
“Vivian Hale.”
“Cole technically.”
“Don’t make this harder.”
She smiled.
He continued.
“Would you like to stay married to me?”
Vivian considered him dramatically.
“For how long?”
Adrian’s mouth twitched.
“Start with breakfast.”
“That seems manageable.”
“And after breakfast?”
“We negotiate.”
He nodded.
“I can work with that.”
Vivian squeezed his hand.
“Good.”
Then she looked at him.
“One condition.”
“What?”
“Next time someone shoots at you, duck.”
Adrian smiled.
May you like
“I was going to say the same thing to you.”
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