Chapter 16 - THE BROTHER WHO RETURNED|
Dominic arrived at the mansion within twenty minutes.
Serena stood in the foyer with her hands raised, while Daniel waited beside her. Marcus's guards surrounded them, weapons lowered but ready.
Daniel looked almost exactly like the photograph from Mrs. Carter's house. He was tall, lean, and carried himself with the cautious posture of someone who had learned not to trust a room simply because it looked welcoming.
Rose stood behind Mrs. Alvarez.
When she saw Dominic, she ran to him.
“Uncle Dominic!”
He lifted her into his arms.
“Are you all right?”
She nodded, then looked at Daniel.
“Is he the brother?”
Dominic froze.
Daniel's expression softened.
“You've heard about me?”
Rose nodded.
“Mommy said I might have a brother someday.”
Daniel looked at Dominic.
“I'm not sure she meant me.”
Dominic studied the young man.
“You're Noah Carter.”
“That's the name my parents gave me.”
“Your birth name was Noah Vitale.”
Daniel's face tightened.
“I know.”
The admission surprised Dominic.
“How long?”
“Three years. I found some documents after my adoptive father died. I didn't know what they meant until Serena showed me the photograph of your father.”
Serena stepped forward.
“I found him while I was trying to escape Anthony's control.”
Dominic's expression hardened.
“You could have told me.”
“I know.”
“You could have helped me find Rose before she was taken.”
“I tried.”
“You ran.”
Serena's eyes filled with tears.
“Because Anthony threatened to kill Daniel if I stayed.”
Daniel moved beside her.
“She saved my life twice. The second time, she gave the Circle evidence that could have gotten her killed.”
Dominic looked at him.
“What evidence?”
Daniel reached into his coat and removed a small storage device.
“Financial records. Names. Payment schedules. The Circle used a chain of shell companies to move money through charities and legitimate businesses. Victor Sloane controlled the largest part of the network.”
“And Anthony?”
“Anthony controlled the people who enforced it.”
Dominic accepted the device.
“Why come here now?”
“Because Anthony has lost control of the situation. He knows Emily is alive, he knows the key exists, and he knows the trust can expose him. He's going to make one final move.”
“When?”
“Tonight.”
Dominic looked at Marcus.
“Double the perimeter. Nobody enters without clearance.”
Daniel shook his head.
“That won't be enough.”
“Explain.”
“Anthony has an insider. Someone who can bypass your security system and alter the access logs.”
Dominic glanced toward the staircase.
“Robert.”
“Maybe. But there is someone else.”
Serena looked down.
Dominic's voice sharpened.
“Who?”
She took a breath.
“Margaret Whitmore.”
The room went silent.
Dominic stared at her.
“Margaret is helping us.”
“Not the Margaret you've met.”
Serena reached into her bag and pulled out a photograph.
It showed two elderly women standing outside a courthouse. One was Margaret Whitmore. The other looked almost identical, except for a small scar beside her mouth.
“Margaret had a twin sister,” Serena explained. “Her name was Evelyn. She died years ago—or that's what everyone believed.”
Dominic felt a chill.
“Are you telling me the woman I met was Evelyn?”
Serena nodded.
“Anthony used her to feed you false information. The real Margaret has been missing for months.”
Dominic turned toward Marcus.
“Where is the woman we brought to the safe apartment?”
Marcus was already checking his phone.
He called the guard assigned to Margaret.
No answer.
He tried again.
Nothing.
Then a security officer rushed into the foyer.
“Boss, the safe apartment has been breached.”
Dominic's blood turned cold.
“Where's Margaret?”
The officer swallowed.
“Gone.”
Daniel looked at Serena.
“It's starting.”
Dominic tightened his grip around Rose.
“What's starting?”
Serena's voice dropped to a whisper.
“The final part of the plan.”
She looked directly at Dominic.
“Anthony never wanted the blue key by itself. He wanted you to gather every person connected to it in one place.”
Daniel's face went pale.
“Because the trust requires all the surviving heirs.”
Dominic understood.
May you like
The key was bait.
And now Anthony knew exactly where the heirs were.
