Chapter 9
Damian stopped speaking.
That worried Bernadette more than his anger.
Adriano reviewed Harrison’s records.
Elias Grant had quietly acquired stakes in three logistics companies competing with Carbone-controlled businesses.
If Damian became acting security chair and later challenged Adriano’s leadership, Grant would gain favorable access to contracts.
Damian would gain cash.
Influence.
A private power base.
The manuscript theft was collateral.
Theo’s disappearance was leverage.
Adriano looked at his cousin.
“You sold family routes?”
Damian’s jaw tightened.
“No.”
“Contracts?”
“Business opportunities.”
Bernadette whispered:
“Damian.”
He turned toward her.
Her eyes were wet now.
“You said this was about debt.”
“It started there.”
That sentence destroyed the last version of the story she still wanted to believe.
Damian did owe money.
But instead of simply covering a loss, he had discovered opportunity.
Grant offered more.
Not just money.
Independence from Adriano.
Damian’s resentment had been older than the auction.
Older than the Psalter.
He believed Adriano kept him close enough to use but never close enough to lead.
Adriano heard it in his voice.
“I’ve run half your Boston operation for nine years.”
His breathing deepened.
“You walk into a room and everyone forgets who built it before you arrived.”
Adriano said nothing.
Damian pointed toward him.
“You call that loyalty.”
His hand shook once.
“I call it living in another man’s shadow.”
There.
The real motive.
Not cartoon greed.
Humiliation.
Debt.
Ambition.
Years of believing service should eventually become authority.
Adriano watched him.
“And Theo?”
Damian’s eyes flickered.
For the first time, there was discomfort.
“A pressure point.”
Bernadette closed her eyes.
Adriano’s expression changed.
Nothing dramatic.
Just colder.
Damian saw it.
“You wanted honesty.”
“No.”
Adriano leaned forward.
“I wanted to know whether you still remembered he was a child.”
Damian looked away.
Then Harrison’s phone buzzed.
A message.
Unknown number.
One sentence.
The package is still expected by 10:30.
Adriano looked at the clock.
10:14.
Enzo immediately traced the message routing.
The sender was inside the library.
Everyone froze.
Elias Grant had supposedly left.
The real buyer—
May you like
or someone working with him—
was still in the building.
