Chapter 9
Adrian Coleman stood in the chapel balcony.
Dominic had not seen him in forty-seven years.
And yet he knew.
Age could reshape a face.
Blood left architecture.
Adrian was fifty-eight now.
Gray hair.
Lean face.
One hand resting on the balcony rail.
He looked more like Richard than Dominic did.
Michael stared upward.
“Our brother.”
Adrian’s eyes moved to him.
“Half.”
Donna had not come.
Good.
Dominic did not know what seeing Adrian would do to her.
“Come down.”
Adrian smiled faintly.
“You sound like Richard.”
“Everyone keeps saying that.”
“Maybe listen.”
Dominic looked toward Hattie.
“You did this?”
Adrian looked at the collar.
“No.”
“Then remove it.”
“Can’t.”
“Why?”
“Silas has the key.”
Michael’s face hardened.
“Where is he?”
Adrian looked at him.
“So he finally finished what he started.”
Michael flinched.
“You know me?”
“I knew you when you were small.”
“I don’t remember.”
“That was intentional.”
Dominic looked between them.
“What is Silas planning?”
Adrian’s expression hardened.
“Succession.”
“I know.”
“No.”
Adrian came down the stairs.
“You think he wants Michael to replace you.”
“Yes.”
“He wants you to believe that.”
Dominic stared.
“What does he want?”
Adrian stopped several feet away.
“To prove none of us can escape him.”
“Us.”
“Richard’s sons.”
“Three.”
“Yes.”
Michael looked at him.
“Why Hattie?”
Adrian’s eyes moved toward her.
“She brought herself.”
Hattie cried quietly.
Adrian continued.
“Silas offered her power. She accepted. Then he showed her what serving him actually meant.”
Dominic looked at his wife.
Former wife in everything but ritual.
“What did he make you do?”
Hattie shook her head.
“Hattie.”
Her voice broke.
“Photograph Donna.”
Dominic’s face hardened.
“You were in her room.”
“Yes.”
“Anything else?”
“Leave doors open.”
“Which?”
“North corridor. Guest wing. Garage.”
Dominic felt the invasion.
Hattie continued.
“He wanted Donna frightened.”
“Why?”
“To make her move the key.”
Dominic understood.
Donna kept the key around her neck.
Fear might make her hide it elsewhere.
Easier to steal.
“Did she?”
“No.”
“So you escalated.”
Hattie closed her eyes.
“Yes.”
The leash.
The food.
The humiliation.
Not only cruelty.
Interrogation.
Dominic felt a desire to punish her so cleanly it almost calmed him.
He did nothing.
Not yet.
Adrian watched.
“You’re different than Father.”
Dominic glanced toward him.
“Disappointed?”
“No.”
“Silas is.”
“Why?”
“He built his life around proving Richard created monsters.”
Dominic looked at Hattie.
“He has evidence.”
Adrian’s expression hardened.
“Hattie’s choices are hers.”
Good.
Another person refusing easy absolution.
“What happened the night Father died?”
Adrian looked toward the old altar.
“I was there.”
Michael inhaled.
Dominic said nothing.
“Richard asked me to come home.”
“Did you?”
“I came to the lodge.”
“With Silas?”
“No.”
“Then?”
“I arrived late.”
“Father?”
“Already dying.”
“Silas?”
“Gone.”
“Moretti mark?”
“Fresh.”
Adrian’s mouth tightened.
“I knew it was false.”
“Why disappear?”
“Because Richard told me to.”
Dominic stared.
“What?”
“His last clear words to me were, ‘Get away from Silas.’”
Donna heard another part.
Don’t let Silas take the second boy.
Richard had been trying to save both sons.
Again.
Not enough to redeem the rest.
Enough to complicate the dead.
“Did you help him kill Father?”
“No.”
“Do you know who did?”
Adrian looked toward Hattie.
Then Michael.
Then Dominic.
“Yes.”
Every bodyguard in the chapel seemed to stop breathing.
Dominic’s voice became quiet.
“Name.”
Adrian answered:
May you like
“Samuel Brooks.”
Elena’s husband.
