Chapter 3 - My Nephew Wanted More Than My Empire
“You're telling me my brother betrayed me?”
Elena shook her head.
“I'm telling you he almost did.”
“That's not the same thing.”
“He discovered Tony was selling information using his name.”
“And?”
“He started gathering evidence.”
“The ledger.”
“Yes.”
“Then Tony killed him.”
“I believe so.”
A sound behind us made Elena spin.
I pulled her into an alcove.
Two armed men passed.
When they disappeared, I whispered, “Why does Marcus want the ledger?”
“Because he believes it proves his father was innocent.”
“That doesn't explain why he's trying to kill me.”
“He thinks you knew.”
I stared at her.
“Knew what?”
“That Tony killed his father.”
The pieces suddenly aligned.
Tony hadn't merely recruited Marcus.
He had poisoned him.
Convince the grieving son that his uncle allowed his father's murder.
Turn him against me.
Then use him to seize the organization.
“Tony manipulated him.”
“Yes.”
A voice suddenly echoed behind us.
“Uncle Vincent?”
Marcus.
We turned.
He stood at the far end of the corridor.
Weapon lowered but visible.
Elena stepped in front of me.
Marcus laughed.
“Seriously?”
“Put it down,” Elena said.
“You're the maid.”
“And you're the nephew who brought armed men into his uncle's bedroom.”
Marcus's smile vanished.
“Move.”
“No.”
“I'm not asking twice.”
I stepped around Elena.
“Neither am I.”
Marcus stared at me.
For a moment, he wasn't an enemy.
He was the sixteen-year-old boy who had stood beside his father's coffin.
Then his face hardened.
“You knew.”
“Knew what?”
“That Dad was murdered.”
“I learned that ten minutes ago.”
“Liar.”
“Elena has evidence.”
Marcus looked at her.
“She has whatever you paid her to create.”
Elena scoffed.
“You think I've been scrubbing his floors for three years because Vincent pays well?”
Marcus raised his gun.
“Careful.”
“No. You be careful.”
She removed the flash drive.
“Your father was investigating Tony.”
Marcus glanced at it.
“That's fake.”
“Then look at it.”
“Don't.”
Tony appeared behind Marcus.
Everything became clear.
Elena saw it too.
Tony slowly approached.
“She's manipulating you, Marcus.”
Elena held up the drive.
“Perfect. Let's watch it together.”
Tony's face tightened.
Marcus noticed.
“What's wrong?”
“Nothing.”
“Then why do you care?”
Tony's hand moved slightly toward his weapon.
I said, “Marcus.”
My nephew looked at me.
“Don't look at me. Look at him.”
Marcus turned.
Tony smiled.
“Kid—”
“Don't call me that.”
“Marcus.”
“What did my father discover?”
Tony remained silent.
Marcus raised his weapon.
“What did he discover?”
Tony sighed.
“That he wasn't as smart as he thought.”
Marcus went completely still.
I saw the realization hit him.
“Tony…”
Tony drew.
Elena reacted first.
She shoved Marcus sideways.
I slammed Tony's arm against the wall.
The weapon fell.
Marcus kicked it away.
Tony struck me and ran toward the kitchen.
“Stop!” Marcus shouted.
We followed.
Tony reached the kitchen island and grabbed another weapon hidden underneath it.
Elena pulled me behind the marble counter.
Marcus ducked behind the opposite side.
For one absurd second, uncle and nephew looked at each other across the floor.
“Nice reunion,” Elena muttered.
Marcus almost laughed.
Then Tony shouted.
“You both think this ends with me?”
I called back, “It usually ends badly for men hiding guns in my kitchen.”
“You have no idea how deep this goes.”
Elena whispered, “Keep him talking.”
I nodded.
“Tell me.”
Tony laughed.
“Your brother found the network.”
“What network?”
“The people who made your empire possible.”
“I built my empire.”
“No, Vincent. You were allowed to build it.”
That bothered me more than I wanted to admit.
“By whom?”
Tony didn't answer.
Elena crawled toward the pantry.
I grabbed her arm.
“What are you doing?”
“Ending this.”
“With what?”
“The sprinkler system.”
I blinked.
She smiled.
“I told you. I pay attention.”
Seconds later, alarms screamed.
Water exploded from the ceiling.
The kitchen lights shut down automatically.
Tony cursed.
Marcus rushed him.
I followed.
Within seconds, Tony was disarmed and on the floor.
Marcus stood over him.
His hands shook.
“You killed my father.”
Tony looked up.
“He was going to expose everyone.”
“You killed him.”
“Yes.”
Marcus raised the weapon.
I caught his wrist.
“Don't.”
“He murdered my father!”
“And if you kill him, you'll spend the rest of your life wondering what else he knew.”
Marcus breathed hard.
Finally, he lowered the gun.
Elena approached.
Tony smiled at her.
“You still don't understand.”
“Understand what?”
“You think your father hid that ledger?”
Elena froze.
Tony laughed.
“He didn't.”
“Who did?”
Tony looked at me.
“Vincent's brother.”
Marcus stared.
“My father?”
“Yes.”
“Where?”
Tony smiled wider.
“He gave it to the only person none of you would ever suspect.”
Then he looked directly at Elena.
May you like
“Your mother.”
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