Chapter 14 - THE MAN AT THE TOP
Orson survived.
Barely.
Peter had waited in the underground parking garage.
He struck Orson with a metal bar, took his access badge, and entered Mercer Capital.
By the time security understood what happened, Peter had reached the executive floor.
He wanted the trust records.
He never found them.
Elaine kept originals in an off-site vault.
Raina flew home with Claire the next morning.
When Claire walked into Orson's hospital room, he stared at her as if he had forgotten anyone else existed.
“You came.”
Claire crossed her arms.
“You got hit in the head.”
“I've had worse.”
“No, you haven't.”
Orson smiled.
Raina watched them.
Twelve years.
And somehow the rhythm was still there.
Claire sat beside him.
“You should've told her sooner.”
“I know.”
“You should've cleared Vanessa.”
“I know.”
“You should've stopped trying to manage people like corporations.”
“I know.”
Claire frowned.
“Don't agree with everything. It's annoying.”
Orson laughed and immediately winced.
Raina almost smiled.
Then Elaine entered.
“We have a problem.”
“Peter?” Raina asked.
“Missing.”
“Of course.”
“Lacey has agreed to cooperate.”
Orson looked disgusted.
“For immunity?”
“Reduced charges. Not immunity.”
“And Damon?”
Elaine's expression sharpened.
“Damon is trying to make his own deal.”
Raina felt nothing.
That surprised her.
No heartbreak.
No rage.
Just exhaustion.
“What does he have?”
“Peter's location.”
Everyone looked at Elaine.
“He claims he knows where Peter will go.”
“Where?”
“To the old Claire Mercer warehouse.”
Claire went pale.
“That building still exists?”
Orson nodded.
“Empty for ten years.”
Claire stood.
“Peter knows about the archive.”
“What archive?”
“My original design ledgers.”
Elaine frowned.
“Why would he care?”
Claire looked at Raina.
“Because the ledgers document ownership.”
Raina understood.
“If Peter destroys them…”
“He can create years of litigation around the trust.”
Orson swung his legs off the bed.
Claire shoved him back.
“You're not going anywhere.”
“Claire—”
“You have twelve stitches in your head.”
“Fourteen.”
“Congratulations. Stay in bed.”
Police were notified.
The warehouse was surrounded within an hour.
Peter's car sat outside.
Damon arrived in custody to identify entrances.
Raina watched from inside a command vehicle.
Damon noticed her.
Their eyes met through glass.
For a moment, neither moved.
Then he asked the officer for permission to speak.
Raina almost refused.
Instead she stepped outside.
Damon looked terrible.
Handcuffs.
Unshaven.
Dark circles under his eyes.
“Is the baby okay?”
“Yes.”
He nodded.
“Good.”
Raina said nothing.
Damon swallowed.
“I didn't know everything Peter was planning.”
“You knew enough.”
“Yes.”
“You knew about the guardianship.”
He looked away.
“Yes.”
“You were going to tell a judge I was unstable.”
“Yes.”
“And take control after our son was born.”
Damon's eyes filled.
“I thought it was temporary.”
Raina stared at him.
“Do you hear yourself?”
“I know.”
“No. You don't.”
Her voice stayed calm.
“You thought you could steal my money, cheat on me, isolate me, build a legal case against me, lock me in a dog kennel, and then tell yourself you still loved me.”
Damon started crying.
Raina felt nothing.
That was when she knew the marriage was truly over.
He whispered, “I did love you.”
“No.”
She stepped closer.
“You loved the version of me that trusted you.”
Damon shut his eyes.
Raina continued.
“You hated me the second I started asking questions.”
An officer called out.
“Movement!”
Everyone turned.
Smoke began pouring from the warehouse windows.
Claire shouted from the vehicle.
“The archive!”
Fire alarms started screaming.
Police moved in.
Then Damon's head snapped toward the loading dock.
“Peter has a tunnel exit.”
The detective turned.
“What?”
“Old freight passage. North side!”
Officers ran.
Raina watched smoke climb into the sky.
Then a man emerged from behind the warehouse.
Peter.
He carried a metal case.
He ran toward a waiting SUV.
A police officer shouted.
Peter ignored him.
He opened the driver's door.
Then stopped.
Someone was already sitting inside.
Lacey.
Peter froze.
She smiled through the windshield.
Then locked the doors.
Police surrounded him.
Peter looked trapped.
Raina expected him to surrender.
Instead, he reached inside his jacket.
Officers raised their weapons.
“Hands!”
Peter pulled out—
a remote control.
Claire went white.
“No.”
Raina looked at her.
“What?”
Claire screamed:
“THE BUILDING!”
Peter smiled.
And pressed the button.
May you like
The warehouse exploded.
---
