Chapter 4
Vincent questioned Dominic first.
No threats.
No weapons on the table.
No audience.
Just the two cousins in the library where they had learned to play chess as boys.
Vincent placed the ninety-day succession resolution between them.
“Why temporary?”
Dominic said nothing.
“If you wanted my position, you would not volunteer to give it back in three months.”
Dominic looked toward the windows.
Vincent continued.
“So what needed ninety days?”
Silence.
“The audit?”
Dominic’s jaw flexed.
There it was.
Vincent leaned back.
“Did you arrange the attack on my car?”
Dominic looked at him.
For the first time since the funeral hall, the anger disappeared.
Something worse replaced it.
Shame.
“I knew something was going to happen.”
Vincent’s voice became very quiet.
“That wasn’t my question.”
“I didn’t know exactly what.”
“Who did?”
Dominic closed his eyes.
“I can’t tell you.”
Vincent almost laughed.
“You were decorating my funeral.”
“I know.”
“You lunged at me when I walked in.”
“I know.”
“You knew enough to believe I wouldn’t survive Monday.”
Dominic looked down.
“Yes.”
Vincent stood.
Dominic did not move.
“You have one opportunity to understand this correctly. You are not protecting family anymore.”
Dominic’s eyes lifted.
“You think I don’t know that?”
“Then talk.”
“I can’t.”
“Why?”
Dominic looked toward the door, even though Helena was two floors away.
Vincent saw it.
Not loyalty to a conspiracy.
Loyalty to a person.
“Helena.”
Dominic said nothing.
Vincent stepped closer.
“What are you protecting her from?”
Dominic’s face hardened again.
“Ask her what happened to the Relief Trust.”
Vincent stopped.
Dominic immediately seemed to regret saying it.
That was enough.
Vincent left the library and went directly upstairs.
Helena was sitting beside the window in the guest suite.
She did not stand.
“You always favored direct confrontation,” she said.
Vincent placed the audit summary on the table.
“Where did the money go?”
Her expression barely changed.
“What money?”
“Don’t insult me.”
“You’ve spent your entire life moving money through companies no outsider understands.”
“This is a charity fund.”
“It is a family fund.”
“For widows.”
“For families.”
“For children whose fathers are dead.”
Helena finally looked at him.
“Everything this family has ever built required money to move where it was needed.”
Vincent stared at her.
That was not a denial.
He felt something cold settle in his chest.
“You took it.”
Helena said nothing.
May you like
Vincent had his first answer.
But not yet the reason.
