Chapter 14
The third captain’s name was Vincent Hale.
He smiled at Rachel.
“You’re making a sentimental mistake.”
She looked at him.
“Which one?”
“Choosing a toddler over structure.”
Daniel relaxed slightly.
Finally.
An ally.
Vincent continued.
“Your father never canceled for children.”
Rachel’s eyes hardened.
“My father also died alone.”
Silence.
Vincent shrugged.
“Leadership costs.”
“Then pay with your own life.”
His smile faded.
“Not someone else’s childhood.”
One capo nodded.
Daniel saw it.
Power shifting.
Not because Rachel demanded loyalty.
Because Daniel’s side kept explaining itself.
Vincent pointed at Jason.
“He’s nearly a man.”
Jason looked up.
“He can be shaped.”
Rachel stared.
“Into what?”
“A successor.”
Jason’s face changed.
There.
Still vulnerable to that word.
Vincent smiled at him.
“You have the name. The age. The anger.”
Alyssa whispered:
“Anger?”
Vincent ignored her.
Jason asked:
“You mean it?”
Daniel looked uneasy.
Rachel noticed.
Vincent continued:
“You could lead eventually.”
Daniel snapped:
“Enough.”
Jason turned.
“Why?”
“Because you’re not ready.”
Vincent laughed.
“Neither were you.”
Daniel’s face hardened.
Then Alyssa said:
“He never planned for Jason to lead.”
Everyone turned.
She looked at Rachel.
“I heard Dad and Vincent last week.”
Daniel went pale.
“Alyssa.”
She continued.
“Jason was supposed to be the public face.”
Jason stared.
“What?”
Alyssa looked at her brother.
“Vincent would control the crews.”
Jason looked at Vincent.
He smiled faintly.
There.
Truth.
Jason whispered:
“You told me I’d run Carter.”
Daniel said:
“You needed motivation.”
Jason laughed.
Broken.
“Motivation?”
Daniel tried to recover.
“You’re eighteen.”
“And Ethan is three.”
Silence.
Jason finally saw the symmetry.
Daniel had called Ethan too young to matter.
Now Jason was too young to be trusted.
Both useful only when obedience suited Daniel.
Alyssa looked at her father.
“And me?”
Daniel said nothing.
She smiled bitterly.
“Let me guess.”
Rachel watched her.
Alyssa answered herself.
“Decoration.”
Vincent shrugged.
“Family image matters.”
Alyssa’s face hardened.
Another tool.
Another role.
May you like
Daniel had spent years teaching his children Rachel was the threat.
Then built a future where neither child actually held power.
