Chapter 6
Anthony’s driver was not dead.
Rafe found him before dawn.
Louis Dane.
Sixty-three.
Living under his sister’s name two states away.
Not hiding from me.
Hiding from Cassian.
That distinction mattered.
He arrived at the estate the next evening looking like a man who had spent years expecting the wrong knock.
When he saw Cassian under guard, his knees nearly gave.
“Boss.”
I nodded.
“Tell me about Bellmore Road.”
Louis looked at Scarlett.
Then me.
“Mr. Vaughn wasn’t supposed to take Bellmore.”
Cassian’s face changed.
Scarlett whispered:
“What?”
Louis continued.
I had ordered Anthony sent north along the lakeshore.
Quiet road.
Minimal traffic.
Cassian met the car outside the east warehouse and changed the route.
Why?
He told Louis there had been movement near the lake.
False.
Bellmore Road led directly through territory controlled by men Anthony had cheated in a separate deal.
Men Cassian knew would recognize his car.
I stared at my friend.
“You redirected him.”
Cassian finally snapped:
“I did not order the ambush.”
Maybe true.
Worse in a particular way.
He did not need to.
He placed Anthony where consequences were already waiting.
Scarlett shook her head.
“No.”
Cassian looked at her.
“Your father was going to expose everything.”
“What everything?”
There.
The secret.
Anthony had discovered Cassian had been taking private payments from three Westbrook businesses.
Not stealing from me directly.
Selling exceptions.
A warehouse got easier routes.
A club avoided restrictions.
A captain received information early.
Small corruption.
Growing.
Anthony gathered enough proof to trade it for mercy.
He offered it to me.
But before he could deliver details, Cassian redirected his car.
Anthony died.
Cassian then told me enemies caught up with him naturally.
Told Scarlett I ordered it.
Two narratives.
One corpse.
Perfect protection.
Scarlett stared at Cassian.
“You used my father to recruit me.”
His voice softened.
“I loved you.”
The room went still.
There it was.
Another betrayal underneath the first.
Not an affair tonight.
May you like
But history.
Scarlett and Cassian had been more than conspirators long before she wore my engagement ring.
