Chapter 5 - The Betrayal at Vincent’s Table
The next morning, Vincent summoned the five directors of Kelletti Maritime.
Cassidy watched from behind the glass wall of his private office.
Dominic stood beside her.
“You really think one of them killed my father?”
“Maybe more than one.”
Vincent entered the boardroom carrying a folder.
“Gentlemen.”
Five men looked up.
Vincent placed the folder on the table.
“Container 417.”
Three men showed nothing.
One frowned.
The fifth man went pale.
Cassidy noticed immediately.
“Gray suit.”
Dominic nodded.
“Anthony Mercer.”
Inside the room, Vincent watched Mercer.
“You recognize the number?”
“No.”
“You sure?”
“Yes.”
Vincent smiled.
“Good.”
He sat.
“Because whoever recognizes it probably knows why Patrick Gallagher died.”
Mercer stood.
“This is ridiculous.”
Cassidy whispered,
“There.”
Dominic watched.
Mercer headed toward the door.
Vincent’s men blocked him.
Mercer turned.
“You can’t hold me here.”
Vincent leaned back.
“I haven’t decided what I’m doing with you.”
Mercer laughed nervously.
“You think you’re your father?”
Vincent’s face changed.
“No.”
He stood.
“That’s exactly what I’m trying not to become.”
Cassidy entered.
Mercer’s eyes widened.
“Gallagher.”
Cassidy stopped.
Vincent noticed.
“You know her?”
Mercer realized his mistake.
Cassidy walked toward him.
“We’ve never met.”
Mercer said nothing.
“You knew my father.”
Still nothing.
Cassidy placed the flash drive on the table.
Mercer stared at it.
That was enough.
Vincent said quietly,
“Dominic.”
Dominic locked the boardroom door.
Mercer’s confidence collapsed.
“Patrick was supposed to mind his business.”
Cassidy’s hands curled.
Vincent stepped beside her.
“Careful.”
Mercer laughed.
“Carlo gave the order. I arranged the truck.”
Cassidy stopped breathing for a second.
“The crash.”
Mercer looked at her.
“Your father had a choice.”
Cassidy moved.
Vincent caught her around the waist before she reached Mercer.
“Cassidy.”
“Let me go.”
“No.”
“He killed my father!”
“And you hitting him won’t bring Patrick back.”
She struggled once.
Then stopped.
Vincent released her slowly.
Mercer smiled.
“Smart.”
Cassidy looked at him.
Then smiled back.
Mercer’s smile faded.
“You’re right.”
She picked up the flash drive.
“My father spent his last weeks building evidence.”
She looked around the table.
“Why would I ruin that because you’re not worth controlling my temper?”
Vincent watched her.
Cassidy turned to him.
“What happens now?”
Vincent answered,
“The records go to people outside this family.”
Several directors erupted.
“You can’t!”
“You’ll destroy the company!”
Vincent slammed his palm against the table.
Everyone stopped.
“My father built part of this company with stolen money and dead men.”
He looked at Mercer.
“I’m not protecting that.”
One director whispered,
“You’ll lose everything.”
Vincent glanced at Cassidy.
“No.”
Then back at them.
“Just the things I should never have owned.”
Mercer suddenly shoved a chair aside and rushed for the door.
Dominic intercepted him.
Seconds later, Mercer was pinned against the table.
Cassidy folded her arms.
Dominic looked at her.
“Don’t.”
“I didn’t say anything.”
“You were thinking it.”
Cassidy smiled.
“You dropped your right shoulder.”
Dominic groaned.
Vincent laughed.
May you like
It was the first genuine laugh Cassidy had heard from him.
And somehow, in the middle of the worst day of her life, she laughed too.
