Chapter 7 - Michael’s Last Secret
Vincent looked from Khloe to Michael.
“What did you promise him?”
Michael didn’t answer.
Vincent stepped forward.
“Nine years, Michael. I’m done with secrets.”
Michael closed the balcony door.
“Chad didn’t originally want money.”
Khloe folded her arms.
“What did he want?”
“The Moretti development contracts.”
Vincent frowned.
Michael explained.
Nine years earlier, Chad had been nearly bankrupt.
He had discovered that several Moretti-owned companies were bidding on major downtown redevelopment projects.
Chad wanted access.
Michael had caught him falsifying invoices and threatening an accountant.
To keep Samuel Harrison alive, Michael made a deal.
He promised Chad information about upcoming Moretti bids in exchange for leaving Samuel alone.
“But he didn’t,” Khloe said.
“No.”
“You trusted him?”
“I was desperate.”
Vincent stared at his brother.
“You gave him company information?”
“Three times.”
“That could have destroyed us.”
“I know.”
“And you never told me.”
“I was trying to save a man.”
Khloe’s anger rose.
“My father.”
Michael looked at her.
“Yes.”
“And when Chad broke the deal?”
“I started collecting evidence.”
“Then my father died.”
“Yes.”
Khloe turned away.
The truth wasn’t clean.
Nobody in the story had perfect hands.
Except perhaps her father, and even he had hidden danger from his daughter.
Vincent walked toward Michael.
“You should have come to me.”
“I was twenty-eight and stupid.”
“You were my brother.”
“I still am.”
The words hung between them.
Khloe looked at Vincent.
He could choose anger.
Instead, he stepped backward.
“We finish Chad first.”
Michael nodded.
Then they addressed the camera.
Security discovered three additional surveillance devices.
All had been installed before Khloe entered the apartment.
The installation records pointed to Derek.
Vincent confronted him.
Derek denied it.
A search of maintenance logs confirmed someone had used Derek’s security credentials.
But Derek had been with federal agents at the time.
Someone was still impersonating members of Vincent’s organization.
Michael examined the access records.
Then he recognized a name.
Leon Voss.
Vincent went silent.
Khloe asked, “Who is that?”
“My father’s former security chief.”
“I thought your father died.”
“He did.”
“And Voss?”
“Disappeared afterward.”
Michael sat down.
“Voss helped Chad from the beginning.”
Everything suddenly connected.
Chad had never built the operation alone.
Cole protected him inside law enforcement.
Voss gave him access to Moretti information.
Chad provided the legitimate businesses through which stolen money moved.
The network was larger than anyone realized.
Federal agents located Voss that afternoon.
He had boarded a flight to Canada under another name.
He was arrested before departure.
Under questioning, Voss made a deal.
He gave them Chad.
An unused hotel property outside Chicago.
Police prepared the arrest.
Khloe was told to stay away.
She happily agreed.
She had spent enough time being used as bait.
At 4:20 p.m., Chad Wilkins was arrested without injury.
The news spread quickly.
By evening, former Wilkins employees began contacting investigators.
One woman had been accused of stealing jewelry seven years earlier.
Another had lost her career after Chad blamed her for missing cash.
A third had moved across the country because she could no longer find work.
Khloe read their statements.
Her anger became something else.
Purpose.
“I want to help them.”
Rebecca looked up.
“How?”
“Clear their names.”
“That could take years.”
“Then we start now.”
Vincent watched from across the room.
Khloe noticed.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“You’re doing that intimidating silent thing.”
“I’m impressed.”
“Careful. That almost sounded like a compliment.”
“It was.”
She smiled.
Weeks passed.
Chad remained in custody awaiting trial.
Cole and Voss cooperated.
The ledger gave prosecutors a roadmap.
Evan accepted a position with an independent forensic accounting firm.
Daniel reunited with family he had avoided for years.
Derek and Vincent began repairing their damaged trust.
Michael moved back to Chicago.
The brothers argued constantly.
Khloe considered that progress.
And Vincent?
Vincent kept showing up.
Not with expensive gifts.
Not with dramatic declarations.
Coffee.
Dinner.
A ride to court.
A quiet conversation after a difficult interview.
He never touched her without asking.
That mattered more than he knew.
One night, they returned to the Obsidian Lounge.
It had been closed during the investigation.
The marble floor had been polished.
The broken champagne glass was long gone.
Khloe stood where Chad had grabbed her.
Vincent stood where he had intervened.
“Strange,” she said.
“What?”
“This place used to feel enormous.”
“And now?”
“Smaller.”
Vincent looked at her.
“Maybe you got stronger.”
Khloe shook her head.
“I was already strong.”
He smiled.
“Fair correction.”
She stepped closer.
“Vincent.”
“Yes?”
“That night, you said something to Chad.”
“I said several things.”
“You know which one.”
His expression changed.
“Touch her again and you’re dead.”
“Yes.”
“I was angry.”
“I know.”
“I shouldn’t have threatened him.”
“No.”
Vincent raised an eyebrow.
Khloe smiled.
“But I’m glad you stood up.”
He looked at her for a long moment.
“So am I.”
She kissed him.
Softly.
No audience.
No fear.
No one claiming ownership of anyone.
When they separated, Vincent looked almost stunned.
Khloe laughed.
“Chicago’s most feared man has no response?”
“I’m considering my options.”
“Choose carefully.”
“I’ve learned that.”
His phone rang.
Michael.
Vincent answered.
The color left his face.
“What?”
Khloe’s smile disappeared.
Vincent listened.
Then he looked at her.
“Chad’s transport vehicle never reached the federal courthouse.”
Khloe froze.
“What happened?”
“They found the driver unconscious.”
Her phone vibrated.
One message.
No number.
No photograph.
Just six words.
COME BACK TO WHERE WE STARTED.
Khloe looked across the empty Obsidian Lounge.
Then the lights went out.
May you like
A lock clicked behind them.
And someone began walking toward them in the dark.
