Chapter 5 - BLOOD AT THE RIVER HOUSE
Vincent Vale had not spoken to Dominic in nine years.
Not since their father’s funeral.
Vincent had accused Dominic of stealing the family empire.
Dominic had accused Vincent of becoming a reckless addict who would get everyone killed.
They had almost shot each other in the cemetery.
Now Claire was meeting him.
Dominic arrived at an abandoned river house outside Beacon forty minutes later.
Three vehicles blocked the road.
Daniel checked his weapon.
“Thermal shows two people inside.”
“Claire and Vincent?”
“Maybe.”
Dominic opened his door.
“No shooting unless they shoot first.”
Daniel raised an eyebrow.
“You planning a family reunion?”
“I’m planning to get answers.”
They entered through the rear.
The kitchen was empty.
Then a chair scraped upstairs.
Dominic climbed slowly.
He heard Claire’s voice.
“You said Nathan had Dominic under control.”
Another voice answered.
Vincent.
“Nathan got sentimental.”
Dominic pushed the door open.
Claire spun.
Vincent reached for a pistol.
Daniel aimed first.
“Don’t.”
Vincent stopped.
He looked older.
Thinner.
A scar crossed his chin.
But the hatred in his eyes had not changed.
“Hello, brother.”
Claire’s face went white.
“Dominic…”
Dominic ignored her.
“Why is my fiancée hiding with my brother?”
Vincent laughed.
“She’s not your fiancée.”
Claire whispered, “Vincent.”
“No.”
He smiled at Dominic.
“She was never going to marry you.”
Dominic looked at Claire.
“Explain.”
Claire slowly straightened.
The frightened expression disappeared.
“She’s good,” Vincent said.
“Very good.”
Claire looked at Dominic calmly.
“The marriage was a transaction.”
“For what?”
“Access.”
“To my money?”
“Your network.”
“Why?”
“To dismantle it.”
Dominic stared.
“You locked a woman in a basement to dismantle my network?”
Claire’s expression flickered.
“That wasn’t my plan.”
“Whose was it?”
“Nathan’s.”
Vincent laughed again.
Claire snapped, “Shut up.”
Dominic moved closer.
“You knew Nathan arranged the attempt that killed Elena?”
Claire’s eyes widened.
Vincent stopped smiling.
“No,” Claire said.
That answer sounded genuine.
Dominic looked at Vincent.
“You knew.”
Vincent’s silence answered.
Dominic’s hand closed into a fist.
“You knew for eight years?”
“I knew someone had tampered with the car.”
“And you never told me?”
“You wouldn’t have believed me.”
“Try me.”
Vincent’s voice rose.
“Because you worshipped Nathan!”
Dominic stepped closer.
“He saved you from that wreck. You made him untouchable.”
Vincent pointed at Dominic.
“I tried warning Dad. Two days later, Dad had a heart attack.”
Dominic frowned.
“He had heart disease.”
“No.”
Vincent reached into his jacket.
Daniel raised his gun.
Vincent slowly removed an envelope.
“I had his body exhumed three months ago.”
He threw the envelope at Dominic.
“Toxicology.”
Dominic opened it.
Digitalis.
A lethal concentration.
His father had been poisoned.
Dominic looked up.
Vincent’s voice became quiet.
“Nathan didn’t just try to kill you.”
“He’s been erasing the Vale family for years.”
A gunshot exploded downstairs.
Then another.
Daniel touched his earpiece.
“Multiple vehicles approaching.”
Claire moved toward the window.
“Oh God.”
Dominic grabbed her arm.
“Who are they?”
May you like
Claire stared at the convoy entering the property.
“Nathan’s cleanup team.”
