Chapter 8 - THE LAST MAN IN THE TUNNEL
The service tunnel ran beneath the old east wing.
It had been built decades earlier as an emergency passage between the mansion and the carriage house. Only a few people knew it still existed.
Victor knew.
He had used it once before to enter the estate without appearing on the security cameras.
Now he carried a pistol and a small case containing the remaining evidence of his plan.
He had intended to kill Lucas quietly.
The contaminated inhaler had been the easiest method. If Lily had not found him, Lucas might have died before anyone realized what had happened.
But now Isabella and Daniel were back.
The past was no longer buried.
Victor reached the iron door at the end of the tunnel.
It opened.
Lucas stood on the other side.
“You're late,” Lucas said.
Victor raised the pistol.
Lucas did not move.
“Put it down.”
“You should have died yesterday.”
“I've heard.”
“You should have died three years ago.”
Lucas's face changed.
“Tell me why.”
Victor laughed bitterly.
“Because you were going to throw everything away. The docks, the clubs, the family. You wanted to become a respectable businessman.”
“I wanted my son to have a future.”
“You wanted to make us weak.”
“We were already weak. We were ruled by fear.”
Victor stepped forward.
“Your father understood power.”
“My father destroyed people and called it strength.”
“He built this family.”
“And you helped destroy it.”
Victor's grip tightened.
“You gave me everything, Lucas. I stood beside you. I protected you. I buried your enemies. Then you chose a piano teacher and a child over the men who made you powerful.”
Lucas looked at him.
“Isabella never asked me to abandon the family. I made that choice.”
“You made it without me.”
“Because it was my life.”
Victor's eyes burned.
“You were supposed to die in that house.”
Lucas's jaw tightened.
“Did you set the fire?”
Victor did not answer.
“Did you take my son?”
“I saved him from a future under your control.”
“You stole three years from him.”
“I kept him alive.”
“You kept him hidden.”
Victor raised the gun.
Lucas's security chief moved behind him, but Lucas lifted a hand to stop him.
“Why the inhaler?” Lucas asked.
“Because it was simple. You had the condition. The doctor would have called it a medical emergency. No one would have suspected anything.”
“And Lily?”
Victor's expression twisted.
“She should never have been there.”
Lucas went still.
“You threatened a child?”
“I left a note. Nothing more.”
Lucas took one step forward.
“That girl saved my life. She did not know who I was. She did not know what we had done. She saw a man who couldn't breathe, and she helped him.”
Victor's arm trembled.
“You think that makes you different from me?”
“No,” Lucas said. “I think what I do next will.”
Victor fired.
The shot struck the metal doorframe.
Lucas's security chief tackled him from the side. The gun skidded across the floor. Two guards rushed in and restrained Victor.
Lucas stood over the man who had once been his brother.
“It's over.”
Victor laughed through clenched teeth.
“You can't put me in prison without exposing the family.”
Lucas looked at the guards.
“Call the authorities. Give them every record Daniel has collected. Every account, every company, every document.”
The security chief stared at him.
“Boss, that will expose the entire organization.”
“I know.”
“Your father's legacy—”
“Is not worth another child's life.”
Victor was dragged away.
May you like
Lucas watched him disappear down the tunnel.
Then he turned and ran toward the secure room.
