Chapter 9 - The Man Arthur Trusted Most
Arthur hit Michael before the shot cleared the barrel.
The bullet tore into the ceiling.
Marco tackled his father.
Security surrounded them.
Michael laughed.
“Still protecting Romanos, son?”
Marco pressed him against the floor.
“You’re supposed to be dead.”
“I was.”
Arthur looked upstairs.
“Chloe!”
She appeared behind the railing.
“I’m okay.”
“Stay there.”
Michael smiled.
“She never listens.”
Arthur struck him.
“Talk about her again.”
Michael spat blood.
“Temper. Just like Salvatore.”
Arthur crouched.
“I’m nothing like him.”
“That’s what he feared.”
Michael had staged his death years earlier.
He had been Salvatore’s cleaner.
When Salvatore died, Michael took control of hidden accounts and loyal soldiers.
He arranged the forced Romano-Croft marriage.
He threatened Chloe.
He intercepted her letter through Marco’s compromised security.
He supplied the poison.
“Why?”
Arthur demanded.
“Because peace is bad for business.”
The answer was disgustingly simple.
War made frightened men pay.
Michael wanted both families weakened.
Arthur dead.
Harrison blamed.
Vivian controlled.
And Chloe?
“Insurance.”
Arthur’s eyes became lethal.
Michael smiled.
“You really love her.”
Arthur said nothing.
“That’s why she was useful.”
Marco hit his father.
“Enough.”
Michael looked at him.
“You think Arthur sees you as a brother?”
“He does.”
Arthur answered before Marco could.
Michael’s smile faded.
Arthur stood.
“Turn him over to the federal task force.”
Michael laughed again.
“You think prison scares me?”
“No.”
Arthur leaned closer.
“But irrelevance will.”
For the first time, Michael looked angry.
Agents took him away.
Marco stood silently.
Arthur placed a hand on his shoulder.
“You didn’t know.”
“My father killed Chloe’s father.”
“Your father did.”
Marco looked at him.
“That distinction matters?”
“It mattered when Chloe made it for me.”
Upstairs, Chloe had heard.
She hugged Marco.
He stiffened.
“I’m sorry.”
“You didn’t kill Dad.”
Marco’s eyes filled.
“Your ability to forgive people is becoming inconvenient.”
“I haven’t forgiven everybody.”
She looked at Arthur.
“Some people are on probation.”
Arthur nodded solemnly.
“Fair.”
For the first time since the cathedral, they laughed together.
It lasted until Chloe doubled over.
Arthur caught her.
“Chloe?”
She looked down.
Water spread across the floor.
Her eyes widened.
“That’s probably bad.”
Arthur turned white.
“Marco!”
The hospital drive became the longest twelve minutes of Arthur’s life.
Chloe was thirty-one weeks pregnant.
Doctors rushed her into labor and delivery.
Arthur stayed beside her.
“Look at me.”
She laughed through pain.
“You keep saying that.”
“It works.”
“Your ego is incredible.”
Another contraction hit.
She crushed his hand.
Arthur didn’t flinch.
Hours passed.
Doctors managed to slow labor again.
The baby remained inside.
Chloe slept.
Arthur sat beside her.
Elena entered.
“You love her.”
Arthur didn’t look up.
“Yes.”
“Thomas would have liked her.”
Arthur swallowed.
“I wish I’d known him.”
Elena touched his shoulder.
“So did he.”
She handed him a letter.
Thomas had written it days before his death.
Arthur,
You don’t know me, but I have watched from a distance and seen enough to know you are better than the man raising you.
Arthur stopped reading.
His vision blurred.
He continued.
Blood does not make a father. Choice does.
If I never get the chance to tell you who I am, remember this: you are not condemned to inherit another man’s cruelty.
Arthur folded the letter carefully.
Chloe woke.
She saw his face.
“What happened?”
He handed her the letter.
She read it.
Then cried too.
“That sounds like Dad.”
Arthur smiled sadly.
“Yeah?”
“Always giving advice nobody asked for.”
Arthur laughed.
Chloe reached for him.
He sat beside her.
Their foreheads touched.
“I’m scared,” she whispered.
“So am I.”
“You?”
“Constantly.”
“I don’t believe you.”
Arthur placed her hand over his heart.
It was pounding.
She smiled.
Then the door opened.
A doctor entered carrying test results.
Her expression was serious.
“Ms. Henderson, we found something on your latest scan.”
Arthur stood.
“What?”
The doctor looked at Chloe.
May you like
“There’s a complication with the baby.”
And then she turned the monitor toward them.
