Chapter 9
Marcus stopped pretending.
Not completely.
But enough.
He sat in the study with his jacket off.
No smile.
No insults for several minutes.
Then Grant asked:
“Did Renata push Olivia?”
Marcus looked toward the window.
“Ask Renata.”
“I’m asking you.”
“She lost her balance.”
Grant stared.
Marcus corrected himself.
“They argued.”
“About the box?”
“Yes.”
“Where were you?”
“Downstairs.”
Victor laughed from the doorway.
Marcus looked at him.
“Still playing savior?”
Victor said:
“You were upstairs.”
Marcus’s jaw tightened.
Grant watched.
“Why was Victor’s ring hidden with Olivia’s things?”
Marcus smiled.
“Proof of the affair.”
Victor almost moved.
Grant stopped him.
Marcus enjoyed that.
“She kept his ring.”
Grant looked at Victor.
Victor said:
“It fell when I helped her move the steel box days earlier.”
Marcus shrugged.
“Convenient.”
Grant returned to the real question.
“Who brought men into my house?”
Marcus said nothing.
“Why were they mapping routines?”
Silence.
Grant leaned forward.
“Were you planning to kill me?”
Marcus laughed.
“No.”
Too quick.
“What then?”
“Scare you.”
“Into what?”
“Depending on the right people.”
There it was.
Grant waited.
Marcus continued.
“You wanted to play ordinary father.”
His contempt returned.
“Sweaters. Birthday pancakes. Quiet house.”
He shook his head.
“You forgot what keeps men loyal.”
“Fear?”
“Yes.”
“At home?”
“Everywhere.”
Grant looked toward the ceiling.
Lily slept above them.
Marcus noticed.
Smirked.
“That’s the weakness.”
Grant’s eyes returned.
“You think loving my daughter makes me weak.”
“I think making your whole life revolve around one frightened kid makes you predictable.”
Grant said nothing.
Marcus continued.
“Olivia made you soft first.”
Victor stepped forward.
Marcus smiled at him.
“She filled his head with family dinners and normal schools.”
Grant’s voice dropped.
“And you wanted what?”
Marcus leaned back.
“A boss who acted like one.”
“Meaning?”
“One who listened.”
“To you.”
Marcus smiled.
“Eventually.”
There.
Not murder.
Control.
Make Grant feel vulnerable.
Create threats.
Then solve them.
Become indispensable.
Olivia discovered it.
So she had to be silenced.
Grant asked:
“What happened on the stairs?”
Marcus looked away.
“Renata grabbed her.”
Victor went still.
Grant did too.
“Then?”
“She pulled away.”
“Then?”
Marcus’s mouth tightened.
“Renata shoved.”
Silence.
No more ambiguity.
Grant asked:
“And you?”
Marcus looked at him.
“I told Renata to get the phone.”
That answer was worse than fear.
Grant continued.
“Olivia was alive?”
Marcus did not answer.
Victor whispered:
“Marcus.”
Grant’s voice became colder.
“Was she alive?”
Marcus finally said:
“For a minute.”
Grant stopped breathing.
“Did you help her?”
Silence.
Marcus’s face hardened.
“She had already ruined everything.”
Grant stared.
Marcus shrugged.
“If she’d handed over the key, none of it happens.”
There it was.
Blame.
Even now.
Olivia’s death was Olivia’s fault because she resisted.
Marcus continued:
“She chose to fight.”
Grant stood.
Marcus smiled bitterly.
“Go ahead.”
He opened his arms.
“Hit me.”
Grant did not.
That frightened Marcus more.
Grant walked out.
Behind him, Marcus shouted:
“She would’ve destroyed your family anyway!”
Grant stopped at the door.
Marcus continued:
“She was going to expose all of us.”
Grant looked back.
“All of who?”
Marcus smiled.
Then realized.
Another slip.
Not only Renata.
May you like
Not only Marcus.
There were others.
