Chapter 6 - The Warehouse Without a Number
Arthur looked twenty years older.
Genevieve held up the certificate.
“Explain.”
“Not here.”
“You've had twenty-nine years.”
Gideon quietly ordered everyone else out.
Only Arthur remained.
The name on the certificate was Dominic Vale.
Gideon's father.
Genevieve had read it three times.
Impossible.
If true—
She looked at Gideon.
He had gone completely still.
“No,” Arthur said.
Genevieve turned.
“What?”
“The certificate is false.”
“How do you know?”
“Because I was there when you were born.”
Arthur's voice cracked.
“I am your father.”
He reached for the paper.
Genevieve pulled it away.
“Then why does this exist?”
“To destroy both families.”
He explained.
The Meridian Circle had survived by creating distrust.
A forged birth certificate implying Genevieve was Dominic Vale's daughter would make her marriage to Gideon appear monstrous and legally impossible.
It would shatter the alliance.
Destroy Gideon publicly.
Invalidate commercial agreements.
Genevieve studied the document.
It was excellent.
Old paper.
Authentic seals.
But one detail failed.
Her mother's middle name was Rose.
The certificate said Marie.
Malcolm had almost succeeded.
Genevieve tore it in half.
Gideon exhaled.
Arthur laughed weakly.
“Your mother would be proud.”
“My mother is alive. She can tell me herself.”
The ledger was real.
Names filled its pages.
But many entries were encoded.
At the back, Genevieve found another handwritten note from Eleanor.
THE EMPIRE IS NOT HIS.
IT NEVER WAS.
FOLLOW THE MONEY, NOT THE BLOOD.
Gideon leaned over her shoulder.
“Account numbers.”
Genevieve nodded.
The Circle had been siphoning money from Vale operations for decades.
Gideon's supposed criminal empire was partially a façade built around legitimate and illegitimate businesses inherited from his father.
But someone else had quietly controlled the most violent elements.
Someone using Gideon's reputation as cover.
“Malcolm?” Arthur asked.
“No,” Genevieve said.
“He's too visible now.”
Rosalind returned.
“Malcolm escaped through the river tunnel.”
Gideon swore.
“But we found this.”
She handed him a phone.
Malcolm's.
Genevieve searched it.
One contact appeared repeatedly.
V.
No full name.
Messages stretched back years.
KEEP GIDEON FOCUSED ON THE PORT.
THE GIRL MUST NOT SEE THE LEDGER.
ELEANOR REMAINS ALIVE UNTIL REGISTRATION.
Genevieve scrolled.
Then stopped.
One message had been sent during her wedding ceremony.
IF GENEVIÈVE INVOKES 17, ACTIVATE 43.
She looked around.
“Everyone out.”
Gideon understood immediately.
“Now!”
They ran.
The warehouse exploded behind them.
The force threw Genevieve forward.
Gideon caught her.
Glass rained over the pavement.
Fire climbed through the roof.
The ledger was still under Genevieve's arm.
Malcolm had failed to destroy it.
But Beatrice screamed.
“Arthur!”
Genevieve turned.
Her father was not with them.
He had gone back inside.
“Dad!”
She ran toward the flames.
Gideon caught her around the waist.
“Let me go!”
“You'll die.”
“My father—”
Then Arthur appeared through the smoke.
Rosalind supported him.
Genevieve broke free and ran to him.
Arthur collapsed outside.
Alive.
Barely.
In his hand was a burned photograph.
He gave it to Genevieve.
“I found this.”
The picture showed Dominic Vale.
Eleanor.
Arthur.
And a fourth person.
A woman.
Genevieve recognized her immediately.
Victoria Vale.
Gideon's mother.
Officially dead for twenty-two years.
Gideon stared.
“No.”
On the back was a handwritten message.
FOUR FOUNDERS. ONE TRAITOR.
Gideon's phone rang.
Rosalind looked at the screen.
Her expression changed.
“Who?” Gideon asked.
She turned it toward him.
The caller ID displayed one word.
May you like
MOTHER.
And Gideon answered.
