Chapter 10 - WHAT MONEY COULD NOT BUYAlexander survived the trial.
Smiling at people she disliked.
Pretending her father's company was thriving.
Pretending Alexander meant nothing.
Pretending money could keep fear outside the door.
For the first time, those skills became useful.
Federal agents fitted her with a wire.
She wore a plain coat.
No jewelry.
No security visible.
I hated every second of it.
“You don't have to do this.”
“Yes, I do.”
“Monroe can send someone else.”
“Alexander won't talk to someone else.”
“He could kill you.”
She looked at me.
“I know.”
“You're not proving anything by risking your life.”
“I'm not trying to prove anything.”
“Then why?”
“Because he still thinks I'm the stupid woman who signs whatever men put in front of her.”
She met my eyes.
“Let him.”
The abandoned restaurant overlooked the Hudson.
Half the windows were boarded.
Federal teams occupied nearby buildings.
I watched from a surveillance van with Monroe.
Victoria entered alone.
Alexander appeared seven minutes later.
He looked terrible.
Unshaven.
Nervous.
A pistol tucked beneath his jacket.
“Vicky.”
“Don't call me that.”
“You look beautiful.”
“You look hunted.”
He smiled bitterly.
“I am.”
“Good.”
He stepped closer.
“I never wanted things to happen this way.”
“You planned Nathan's death.”
“Thomas did.”
“You wrote the email.”
“I was angry.”
“You wrote ‘phase two.’”
Alexander stared at her.
“You're recording me.”
My entire body tightened.
Victoria didn't move.
“No.”
Alexander crossed the room and ripped open her coat.
The wire was hidden beneath her blouse.
He didn't find it.
“Take off your jacket.”
She did.
His eyes studied her.
Then softened.
“You always were terrible at lying.”
Victoria almost smiled.
“No. I was excellent at lying. Mostly to myself.”
He looked away.
“I can get us out.”
“Us?”
“I have money.”
“Stolen money.”
“Enough.”
“You think I'm leaving with you?”
“You have nothing here.”
Victoria stared at him.
That was the old temptation.
Status.
Security.
Money.
Alexander believed she was still that woman.
He stepped closer.
“Nathan will never trust you again.”
Pain flickered across her face.
Alexander saw it.
“You ruined him publicly. Slept with me. Helped move money.”
“I didn't know.”
“Doesn't matter.”
He whispered, “People like Nathan don't forgive humiliation.”
Inside the van, I said nothing.
Victoria asked, “Why did you choose me?”
Alexander smiled.
“At first?”
“Yes.”
“Access.”
The word visibly hurt her.
“Then?”
“I liked you.”
“You loved me?”
He paused too long.
Victoria nodded.
“That's what I thought.”
“Vicky—”
“What happened to Michael Mercer?”
Alexander's face changed.
“Charles knew Thomas planned something.”
“Did Dad order it?”
“No.”
My breath caught.
“Thomas did it?”
“Gregory ordered pressure. Thomas decided fear wasn't enough.”
“Your father?”
“My father wanted the land. Michael wouldn't sell.”
“Did your father order murder?”
“No.”
Alexander looked exhausted.
“He wanted Michael scared. Thomas wanted him gone.”
“Why?”
“Thomas discovered the freight projections before anyone else. He knew the shipyard would eventually be worth billions.”
“And Dad?”
“Charles knew enough to stop it.”
Victoria's eyes filled.
“But he stayed silent.”
“Yes.”
We had it.
Then Alexander heard something outside.
An agent's radio clicked.
Tiny.
Almost nothing.
Alexander drew his gun.
Victoria froze.
“You lied.”
“Alexander.”
He grabbed her arm.
Agents moved.
Monroe shouted commands.
Alexander dragged Victoria toward a rear door.
I was out of the van before anyone could stop me.
“Nathan!”
I ran.
The back door opened onto a dock.
Alexander held the gun against Victoria's side.
“Stay back!”
I stopped.
Wind cut across the water.
Victoria's face was pale.
“Nathan, don't.”
Alexander laughed.
“There he is.”
“Let her go.”
“You still want her?”
“This isn't about us.”
“It always is.”
Police surrounded the building.
Alexander's escape route disappeared.
His hand shook.
Victoria whispered, “Alexander.”
“Shut up.”
“You don't want to shoot me.”
“You don't know what I want.”
“Yes, I do.”
She turned slightly.
“You want someone else to blame.”
His eyes flickered.
“Your father.”
“Thomas.”
“Nathan.”
“Me.”
She swallowed.
“But every choice was yours.”
Alexander's jaw clenched.
She continued.
“You chose to steal. You chose to manipulate me. You chose to plan Nathan's death.”
“Stop.”
“And now you're choosing whether your life ends on this dock.”
His gun trembled.
I saw his finger tighten.
Then Victoria did something reckless.
She stepped away from the weapon.
Alexander grabbed at her.
She twisted.
The gun fired.
I heard her scream.
I ran.
Agents tackled Alexander.
Victoria fell.
For one horrific second, I saw blood.
Then I realized the bullet had struck her upper arm.
I dropped beside her.
“Nathan.”
“I'm here.”
Her hand found mine.
“Did they get him?”
“Yes.”
“Good.”
She closed her eyes.
“Victoria.”
“I am not dying from an arm wound.”
Despite everything, I laughed.
She opened one eye.
“You're crying.”
“No, I'm not.”
“You absolutely are.”
Paramedics rushed onto the dock.
They moved me back.
As they lifted her onto the stretcher, she grabbed my wrist.
“Nathan.”
“What?”
“I'm sorry.”
“You already said that.”
“No.”
Her voice shook.
“For making you feel small.”
I stared at her.
She had finally understood.
Not the money.
Not the affair.
The cruelty.
“You didn't make me small.”
“I tried.”
“Yes.”
Tears filled her eyes.
“I'm sorry.”
I squeezed her hand.
May you like
“I know.”
And for the first time, I meant it.
