Chapter 9 - The Enemy Inside His House
Vincent threw Madison behind the brick wall and shouted, “DOWN!”
The bullet struck the metal garage door where Sofia had been standing.
A fresh hole appeared inches from her head.
Then Vincent saw the red laser move toward Leo’s carrier.
He fired first.
The rooftop silhouette disappeared.
“Move!”
Daniel grabbed Sofia and pulled her behind the wall.
Madison dropped to her knees beside Leo.
The baby screamed.
“I’ve got you.”
Her hands shook as she checked him.
Face.
Chest.
Arms.
Legs.
Nothing.
He was safe.
Vincent crouched beside them.
“Madison?”
“I’m fine.”
“Leo?”
“Fine.”
Vincent touched the baby’s cheek.
Only once.
Then he stood.
The softness disappeared from his face.
“Find the shooter.”
Two guards ran toward the neighboring building.
Daniel pressed Sofia against the wall.
“Who knew you were coming here?”
“Nobody.”
“Wrong answer.”
“I said nobody.”
Daniel looked at the blood on her dress.
“You're already hurt.”
Madison noticed it too.
“Sofia.”
Sofia looked down.
“It’s not mine.”
Vincent turned toward her.
“Whose?”
Sofia hesitated.
Vincent raised his gun.
“Don't make me ask again.”
“Rachel’s.”
Madison stood.
“You were with her?”
“Yes.”
“Is she alive?”
“She was when I left.”
“Nico said she was at St. Matthew.”
Sofia's eyes sharpened.
“Nico told you that?”
Vincent noticed immediately.
“What?”
Sofia looked at him.
“Where is Nico?”
“With my people.”
“Call him.”
“I already spoke to him.”
“Call him again.”
Vincent stared.
Sofia stepped closer.
“Right now.”
He dialed.
No answer.
Again.
Nothing.
Daniel looked at Sofia.
“Why?”
She ignored him.
Vincent called a third time.
Voicemail.
His expression hardened.
“What do you know?”
Sofia looked toward the rooftops.
“We need to leave.”
“No.”
“Vincent—”
“You said you know Anthony's son.”
“I do.”
“Then say his name.”
Sofia glanced at Madison.
Then at Leo.
“Not here.”
Vincent stepped closer.
“A sniper just tried to kill you. You're bleeding with someone else's blood. My mother is alive. My uncle has been lying to me for twenty years. This stopped being the kind of night where people tell me to wait.”
Sofia gave him a tired look.
“You still think this is your night?”
The question silenced him.
Sofia pointed toward Madison.
“This started with her.”
Madison stiffened.
“What does that mean?”
“Anthony needed Vincent away from the hospital.”
“We know.”
“No.”
Sofia shook her head.
“You know he arranged the dock attack. You don't know why.”
“To get Vincent away from Leo.”
“That was part of it.”
“What was the other part?”
Sofia looked at Vincent.
“To see who Vincent chose.”
Madison felt sick.
Vincent’s face changed.
Sofia continued.
“Anthony has been testing you for years.”
“Testing me?”
“Every crisis. Every betrayal. Every time someone you loved needed you at the same time the organization did.”
Vincent stared at her.
“You're saying he engineered them?”
“Some.”
“Which?”
“Your anniversary two years ago.”
Madison remembered.
Dinner for two.
Vincent had disappeared before dessert.
A warehouse had supposedly been robbed.
Sofia continued.
“Madison's miscarriage scare last year.”
Madison went white.
Vincent stepped forward.
“What?”
“The accountant who disappeared that night didn't disappear.”
Sofia swallowed.
“Anthony paid him to vanish for forty-eight hours.”
Vincent’s expression became terrifying.
Madison touched her abdomen unconsciously.
She remembered lying in bed bleeding.
She remembered Vincent taking a phone call.
She remembered him saying he would be gone twenty minutes.
He had returned the next morning.
“Why?” she whispered.
Sofia looked at her.
“Because Anthony wanted proof.”
“Of what?”
“That Vincent would always choose the empire.”
Nobody spoke.
Madison looked at her husband.
Vincent couldn't meet her eyes.
That hurt more than she expected.
Sofia continued quietly.
“Anthony believed love made Vincent weak. So whenever Vincent became too attached to something, Anthony created a reason for him to abandon it.”
Daniel cursed.
“And Vincent kept passing the test.”
Sofia nodded.
Vincent looked at him.
“Say it.”
Daniel didn't.
“Go ahead.”
Vincent's voice was empty.
“I did exactly what Anthony wanted.”
Madison stared at him.
“Yes.”
Vincent looked at her.
No excuses.
Again.
That was becoming more painful than the old excuses.
Sofia looked toward the street.
“We need to go.”
Vincent nodded.
This time nobody argued.
They moved to the second SUV.
Madison sat beside Leo.
Vincent took the front passenger seat.
Daniel sat opposite Sofia.
The vehicle pulled away.
For several minutes, nobody spoke.
Then Madison looked at Sofia.
“Why were you in my hospital room?”
Sofia's face tightened.
“To warn you.”
“You told me to stop waiting for Vincent.”
“Yes.”
“You said he had responsibilities I didn't understand.”
“I needed you angry enough to leave.”
Madison stared.
“You could have told me someone wanted my baby.”
“And then what?”
“I would have protected him.”
“You were recovering from emergency surgery.”
“I was his mother.”
“I know.”
Sofia's voice softened.
“That's why I did it.”
Madison looked away.
“You touched me.”
“I shouldn't have.”
“You stopped my wrist.”
“I know.”
“And you walked into my room with Vincent's key.”
“He didn't give it to me.”
Vincent turned.
“What?”
Sofia reached into her dress pocket.
She removed the black keycard.
Vincent recognized it.
“I took it from Anthony.”
“When?”
“Three weeks ago.”
“Why does Anthony have my private access card?”
Sofia laughed bitterly.
“Because Anthony has had access to almost everything you've done for years.”
Vincent's expression darkened.
“My calls?”
“Yes.”
“Accounts?”
“Some.”
“Security?”
“Yes.”
“My house?”
Sofia looked at him.
“Yes.”
Madison felt the pieces connecting.
“The enemy wasn't inside Vincent's house.”
Sofia looked at her.
“He helped build it.”
Daniel leaned forward.
“Anthony's son.”
Sofia's face changed.
“Tell us.”
She glanced toward the driver.
“Not while we're moving.”
Daniel almost laughed.
“Are you expecting the road to gossip?”
“I’m expecting Anthony to have microphones.”
Vincent pulled out his phone.
He removed the battery.
Then looked at everyone.
“Phones.”
Daniel handed his over.
Madison did the same.
Sofia hesitated.
Vincent held out his hand.
She gave him hers.
He placed all four devices inside a metal lockbox beneath the seat.
“Now.”
Sofia stared at him.
“Anthony’s son is Nicholas.”
Silence.
Madison's stomach tightened.
“Nico.”
Sofia nodded.
Vincent didn't react.
Daniel did.
“I knew it.”
“No,” Sofia said.
“You suspected it.”
“Same difference.”
“Not tonight.”
Vincent stared through the windshield.
“Nico knows?”
Sofia took too long to answer.
“Sofia.”
“Yes.”
Vincent slowly turned.
“How long?”
“Since he was nineteen.”
Vincent laughed once.
Cold.
Nico had been nineteen when Vincent made him part of his inner circle.
Twenty-one when Vincent trusted him with accounts.
Twenty-five when Nico saved Vincent during an ambush.
Twenty-eight when Vincent made him head of security.
Thirty-seven now.
Anthony's son.
“Why hasn't he killed me?”
Sofia's eyes softened.
“Because he loves you.”
Vincent stared.
“That isn't an answer.”
“It is.”
“He's Anthony's son.”
“He hates Anthony.”
Daniel frowned.
“Then why hide it?”
“Because Anthony would have killed him if Vincent found out too soon.”
Vincent looked at her.
“That makes no sense.”
“Anthony didn't want Nico dead.”
“Then what?”
“He wanted him angry.”
“At me?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because Anthony believed the organization should have belonged to Nico.”
Vincent leaned back.
“So he placed him beside me.”
“To watch you inherit the life Anthony believed was his.”
“And Nico stayed.”
“Yes.”
“Eighteen years.”
“Yes.”
“Waiting for what?”
Sofia looked at Madison.
“For you to become exactly what Anthony said you were.”
Vincent's eyes narrowed.
“And what was that?”
“A man who would sacrifice anyone for power.”
The words hung between them.
Madison looked at Vincent.
He didn't defend himself.
Again.
Sofia continued.
“Anthony told Nico that eventually you'd prove him right.”
“And did I?”
Sofia didn't answer.
Vincent turned toward Madison.
He already knew.
Fifteen days.
An empty hospital bed.
A wedding ring.
Yes.
He had.
The SUV entered an underground parking structure.
Daniel looked around.
“Where are we?”
“One of my legitimate buildings,” Vincent said.
“You still have those?”
Vincent gave him a look.
“Try being less annoying.”
“Seven years pretending to be dead. I developed hobbies.”
Despite herself, Madison almost smiled.
Vincent noticed.
He said nothing.
They took a private elevator to the thirty-second floor.
An unused corporate apartment waited.
Vincent checked every room personally.
Daniel checked behind him.
Sofia stood near the window.
Madison placed Leo's carrier on the bed.
The baby had finally fallen asleep.
She sat beside him.
Exhaustion hit all at once.
Her body still wasn't healed.
She had spent the night running from bullets and explosions.
Vincent entered.
He stopped when he saw her.
“You need to sleep.”
Madison laughed quietly.
“That's ambitious.”
“I'll stay outside.”
She looked at him.
“You don't have to.”
“Yes.”
“Vincent.”
He turned.
Madison studied him.
“You held him.”
Vincent looked at Leo.
“Yes.”
“He stopped crying.”
“Probably coincidence.”
“He knows your voice.”
Vincent's expression shifted.
“How?”
“I talked to him about you.”
The admission escaped before she could stop it.
Vincent stared at her.
“In the hospital?”
“Yes.”
“Even when I wasn't there?”
Madison looked down.
“Especially then.”
He swallowed.
“What did you say?”
“That his father was complicated.”
A faint smile touched Vincent's mouth.
“That's generous.”
“I also called you an idiot.”
“Less generous.”
“He agreed.”
Vincent almost laughed.
The sound was so unfamiliar Madison looked up.
For one second, they were simply themselves.
Then reality returned.
Madison's expression became serious.
“Vincent.”
“Yes?”
“I don't know if I can forgive you.”
His face didn't change.
“I know.”
“I don't know if I want to come home.”
“I know.”
“I don't know if we're still married in any way that matters.”
That one hurt.
She saw it.
Vincent nodded.
“I know.”
Madison expected him to fight.
Instead he walked toward the door.
“You don't get to disappear this time.”
He stopped.
She continued.
“If you want any chance of knowing what happens next, you stay. You answer questions. You show up.”
Vincent looked back.
“Okay.”
“No promises you can't keep.”
“Okay.”
“No telling me you're protecting me while leaving me alone.”
He nodded.
“Okay.”
Madison looked at him.
“That's all?”
“What do you want me to say?”
“I don't know.”
Vincent glanced at Leo.
“Then I'll start with something I should've said fifteen days ago.”
He stepped toward the bed.
“I'm here.”
Madison's eyes burned.
She looked away.
A knock sounded.
Vincent immediately reached for his gun.
Three knocks.
Pause.
Two.
Daniel's signal.
Vincent opened the door.
Daniel entered carrying a laptop.
“I found Rachel.”
Madison stood.
“Where?”
“Not St. Matthew.”
Vincent's face hardened.
“Nico lied.”
“Looks that way.”
Sofia stepped closer.
“Where is she?”
“Security footage shows her entering an abandoned church near St. Catherine’s Cemetery.”
Vincent checked the time.
11:32 p.m.
Twenty-eight minutes before Anthony wanted him at the cemetery.
“Trap,” Sofia said.
“Obviously.”
Daniel opened the laptop.
“But Rachel uploaded something before she disappeared.”
“What?”
“An audio file.”
Madison approached.
Daniel pressed play.
Static.
Then a man's voice.
Anthony.
“Tomorrow Vincent will leave the hospital.”
Another voice answered.
Male.
“You're sure?”
“Sofia will make the call.”
“She won't do it willingly.”
“She doesn't need to know.”
Madison looked at Sofia.
Her face had gone pale.
The recording continued.
Anthony said:
“Once Vincent leaves, take the infant.”
The second man asked:
“And Madison?”
A pause.
Then Anthony answered.
“If she survives the hemorrhage, let her believe her husband abandoned her.”
Vincent's face went rigid.
Daniel stopped the recording.
“There's another minute.”
“Play it.”
He did.
The second man's voice returned.
“And if Vincent comes back?”
Anthony laughed.
“He won't.”
“How can you know?”
“Because I raised him.”
Vincent closed his eyes.
Then the second man said:
“What about Nicholas?”
Anthony's answer came immediately.
“He'll do what he was born to do.”
The recording ended.
Sofia stared at the laptop.
Madison looked at Vincent.
“What was Nico born to do?”
Nobody answered.
Then the apartment lights went out.
Leo woke and screamed.
Vincent drew his gun.
Daniel moved toward the door.
Sofia whispered, “Don't open it.”
A knock came from the hallway.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
Pause.
Two.
Daniel froze.
“That’s my signal.”
Vincent looked at him.
Daniel was already inside.
Another knock came.
Three.
Pause.
Two.
Madison lifted Leo.
Vincent moved silently toward the door.
A shadow blocked the light beneath it.
Then a man's voice came from the other side.
“Vincent.”
Everyone recognized it.
Nico.
Vincent reached for the handle.
Sofia grabbed his wrist.
“Wait.”
Something slid beneath the door.
A photograph.
Vincent picked it up.
Elena Carter sat tied to a chair.
Anthony stood behind her.
And beside Anthony stood the nurse who had disappeared from Madison's hospital.
Rachel.
But Rachel wasn't tied up.
She was smiling.
Then Nico spoke from the hallway.
“Vincent, don't open this door.”
A gun clicked behind him.
May you like
And Anthony's voice said, very softly:
“Open it for him.”
