Chapter 16 - SERA WALSH MAKES HER OWN DEAL|
Vincent had expected Sera to cry.
He had expected her to plead, to bargain for her father's life, or to cling to Adrian as though he were the only person capable of saving her.
Instead, she looked around the warehouse and asked, “Why are there security cameras in a building that's supposed to be abandoned?”
Vincent's smile faded slightly.
“Excuse me?”
“The cameras. They're new. Someone installed them recently.”
She looked toward the ceiling.
“And that microphone above the table is connected to an external recording system.”
Adrian understood immediately.
Sera wasn't trying to provoke Vincent.
She was buying time.
Vincent gestured to one of his men.
“Search her.”
The guard approached.
Sera stepped backward.
“Careful. If you damage that pendant, you'll destroy the only remaining evidence your daughter left behind.”
Vincent froze.
For the first time, genuine uncertainty crossed his face.
“My daughter?”
“Eleanor recorded a message explaining how the trusts were created. She also identified the person who helped you conceal the money.”
Vincent glanced at Adrian.
“She's bluffing.”
“Then why are you afraid?”
Silence.
Sera continued.
“Your daughter knew you would come after the ledger. She created a safeguard. If anything happened to her, the recording would be released to the people she trusted.”
Vincent laughed.
“She trusted nobody.”
“Apparently, she trusted someone more than you.”
His expression hardened.
“Give me the pendant.”
“No.”
Vincent raised his gun toward Adrian.
“Then perhaps your boyfriend can persuade you.”
Adrian moved instinctively, but Sera shook her head.
“Don't.”
She faced Vincent.
“You've spent years making people believe that fear is loyalty. But Marcus betrayed Adrian because he was afraid for his brother. My father disappeared because he was afraid for me. And Adrian has spent his life afraid that loving someone will make him weak.”
She looked directly at Vincent.
“You're the only person here who has never been afraid of losing anything. Because you never cared about anyone enough to lose them.”
Vincent's face darkened.
“You know nothing about me.”
“I know you brought your own granddaughter into a warehouse full of armed men because you couldn't bear the thought of losing control.”
For one moment, nobody moved.
Then Adrian slowly placed the recording on the table.
“Let them go, Vincent. You can have this.”
Sera turned toward him.
“Adrian—”
He met her eyes.
“Trust me.”
It was the first time he had asked without demanding.
She stepped back.
Vincent took the recording and opened the case.
Inside was a small device containing the original audio file.
He smiled triumphantly.
“Finally.”
Then he pressed play.
A woman's voice filled the warehouse.
It was Eleanor Vale.
“If you are hearing this, Vincent, then you've made the same mistake you always make. You believed the evidence was the most valuable thing in the room.”
A pause followed.
Then Eleanor continued.
“The real evidence is the person who has spent years protecting you.”
Vincent's smile vanished.
The recording continued.
“Ask Marcus who authorized the final transfer. Ask Adrian who signed the order that destroyed Daniel Walsh's life.”
Adrian went completely still.
Sera stared at him.
“What does that mean?”
Before he could answer, the warehouse doors burst open.
Police officers flooded the building.
May you like
And as Vincent was forced to his knees, he shouted a name that made everyone turn toward Adrian.
“Your father!”
