Chapter 7 - The Night Khloe Disappeared
Victor didn't look at Javier.
That frightened Khloe more than anger would have.
Adrian smiled.
"Interesting, isn't it?"
Javier remained perfectly still.
"Victor."
"Don't."
The word was quiet.
Adrian pushed the photograph closer.
Javier stood beside a car twelve years earlier.
Vittorio's car.
Timestamped forty minutes before the explosion.
Victor finally looked at him.
"You told me you weren't there."
"I wasn't there when it happened."
"That's not what I asked."
Javier's jaw tightened.
"No."
Victor waited.
"I was there."
Khloe felt the room shrink.
"Why?"
"Your father called me."
Victor's eyes sharpened.
Javier had been young then, barely beginning to work for the Rossi family.
"He asked me to switch the vehicle."
Elena whispered, "What?"
Javier looked at her.
"Vittorio believed the first car had been compromised."
Victor understood.
"You switched it."
"Yes."
"And the replacement exploded."
Javier nodded.
Victor's face changed.
"You've known for twelve years."
"I knew I switched the car. I didn't know who planted anything."
"Why lie?"
"Because I thought you would kill me before you listened."
Adrian laughed softly.
"Touching."
Victor ignored him.
Javier continued.
"I've spent twelve years finding out who knew about that switch."
"And?"
"Three people."
"Names."
"Your father. Me."
Javier looked at Elena.
"And her."
Elena stepped back.
"No."
Victor turned.
Elena shook her head.
"I didn't know which car."
"You knew he was changing vehicles."
"Yes, but—"
Adrian applauded once.
"Family loyalty. Such a fragile thing."
Khloe watched him.
He enjoyed confusion.
That was the weapon.
Not violence.
Division.
"Stop."
Everyone looked at her.
Khloe walked toward Adrian.
"You didn't bring us here to reveal anything."
Adrian smiled.
"No?"
"You want them accusing each other."
His smile faded slightly.
Khloe continued.
"Because while we're doing that, nobody is asking the obvious question."
Victor looked at her.
"What question?"
Khloe pointed at the photograph.
"Who took it?"
Silence.
Javier understood first.
The photograph proved someone had been watching the vehicle before the explosion.
Whoever photographed Javier knew about the switch.
Adrian's face changed.
Tiny.
But Khloe saw it.
"So you knew," she said.
Adrian said nothing.
Victor moved.
He didn't strike him.
He simply crossed the distance until they were face-to-face.
"You knew which car."
Adrian smiled again.
"Prove it."
Khloe held up her phone.
"I think we just did."
Adrian's expression vanished.
She had been recording.
Sirens sounded outside.
Adrian stepped backward.
"You think that matters?"
"Along with the ledger?" Khloe asked. "Yes."
Police entered moments later.
Adrian didn't resist.
He looked only at Khloe.
"This isn't over."
Khloe calmly met his eyes.
"For you, I think it is."
But she was wrong.
Because Adrian wasn't the last problem.
The investigation detonated across Chicago.
Financial records led to resignations, indictments, frozen accounts and lawsuits.
The Beaumont sale collapsed.
Richard Vale publicly stepped down while cooperating with investigators.
Elliot entered protective custody.
Elena provided decades of records.
And Victor?
Victor disappeared from public view.
For three weeks.
Khloe returned to her apartment.
Returned to work briefly, until Harlow & Pierce closed.
She found another job.
Tried to sleep.
Tried not to think about Victor.
That part went badly.
Then one evening, someone knocked.
Khloe opened the door.
Victor stood there.
No tuxedo.
No security team visible.
Dark coat.
Hands in his pockets.
"Hi."
Khloe stared.
"Hi?"
He frowned.
"Was that wrong?"
"You vanished for three weeks."
"I was dealing with things."
"Normal people text."
"I'm not particularly good at normal."
"Clearly."
He looked almost uncomfortable.
That fascinated her.
"What do you want?"
"Coffee."
Khloe blinked.
"You came here for coffee?"
"With you."
"Oh."
Victor Rossi looked nervous.
Khloe enjoyed that far too much.
"Are you asking me on a date?"
"I'm attempting to."
"You're terrible at it."
"So I've gathered."
She smiled.
"Okay."
Victor exhaled.
Then Khloe's phone rang.
Unknown number.
Both of them froze.
She answered.
"Hello?"
Nothing.
Then a woman's voice.
"Khloe Bennett?"
"Yes."
"My name is Rebecca Shaw. I'm an attorney representing the Sarah Bennett Trust."
Khloe's smile disappeared.
"What trust?"
Victor watched her.
The attorney continued.
"Your mother left instructions that I contact you only if Adrian Vale was formally charged."
Khloe gripped the phone.
"Why?"
"Because there's something you haven't been told."
Khloe looked at Victor.
May you like
Rebecca's next words turned her cold.
"Adrian Vale isn't your biological father."
