Chapter 8 - THE DEAD MAN'S HOUSERobert Vale had supposedly died from pancreatic cancer three years earlier.
His burial record was legitimate.
His grave existed.
His death certificate had been signed by two physicians.
Damian trusted none of it anymore.
Federal authorities exhumed Robert Vale's grave.
The body inside belonged to someone else.
A homeless man who had vanished from Newark around the same time.
Elena stared at the report.
“My father is alive.”
Damian nodded.
“And apparently still directing this.”
“Why?”
“Money.”
“No.”
Elena shook her head.
“He already had billions.”
“Then control.”
That made more sense.
Men who had enough money often became addicted to something harder to buy.
Control over people.
The captured intruders gave investigators an address after twelve hours of questioning.
A mansion outside Greenwich, Connecticut.
Officially owned by a charitable foundation.
Damian wanted to go.
Federal agents refused.
“You're a civilian,” Special Agent Rebecca Hayes told him.
Damian smiled faintly.
“Nobody has called me that in twenty years.”
“You're staying here.”
“My daughter is involved.”
“Which is exactly why you're staying.”
Elena touched his arm.
“Let them do their job.”
Damian looked at her.
“People keep telling me that lately.”
“Try it.”
He hated it.
But he listened.
The raid happened at 4:00 a.m.
Robert Vale wasn't there.
But Adrian was.
He surrendered without firing.
Peter Lang escaped through a hidden tunnel.
Inside the mansion, agents found medical records spanning thirty years.
Hundreds of children.
Some illegal adoptions.
Some custody manipulations.
Some mothers had been told their babies died.
Elena couldn't stop thinking about them.
Women who had visited graves that contained nothing.
Parents who still didn't know their children were alive.
Teresa was released that afternoon.
All charges dropped.
When she entered the safe house, Elena didn't run to hug her.
There was too much between them.
But Sofia did.
“Grandma!”
Teresa broke down.
Elena watched.
Then slowly stepped forward.
Her mother looked at her.
“I'm sorry.”
“I know.”
“I should've told you.”
“Yes.”
“I thought silence kept you safe.”
Elena shook her head.
“Silence almost destroyed us.”
Teresa nodded.
“I know.”
Elena hugged her.
Not because everything was fixed.
Because they finally had time to fix it.
Adrian requested to speak with Elena.
She refused.
Then he told prosecutors he knew where Robert Vale would appear on Sofia's birthday.
Elena agreed.
The meeting took place through prison glass.
Adrian looked older.
Smaller.
“You look good,” he said.
Elena stared at him.
“You dated your sister.”
His face twitched.
“I didn't know.”
“You knew before you started stalking me.”
“Yes.”
“You threatened my child.”
“I never wanted Sofia hurt.”
“You burned a church.”
“To destroy evidence.”
“You kidnapped my mother.”
“To force cooperation.”
Elena leaned forward.
“You always have an explanation.”
Adrian looked away.
“Robert destroyed everyone around him.”
“He's your father.”
“Exactly.”
“Where will he be?”
Adrian hesitated.
“Vale Medical headquarters.”
“Why?”
“Board transfer ceremony.”
“On Sofia's birthday?”
“The trust activates at noon.”
“And Robert?”
“He'll try to obtain emergency guardianship before then.”
“How?”
Adrian looked directly at her.
“By proving Damian Caruso is dangerous.”
Elena almost laughed.
“That won't be difficult.”
“And proving you're mentally unstable.”
Her smile vanished.
“What?”
“Your medical records have been altered.”
Adrian looked ashamed.
“Postpartum psychosis. Suicide attempts. Drug treatment.”
“None of that happened.”
“I know.”
“Who created them?”
“Lang.”
Elena sat back.
“They're going to take Sofia.”
“They'll try.”
“Why tell me?”
Adrian stared through the glass.
“Because Robert told me something yesterday.”
“What?”
“After Sofia turns three…”
He swallowed.
“He doesn't need me anymore.”
Elena saw fear.
“You're afraid he'll kill you.”
“Yes.”
“Good.”
She stood.
Adrian flinched.
For the first time, Elena felt nothing for him.
Not fear.
Not pity.
Nothing.
As she turned away, Adrian called after her.
“Elena.”
She stopped.
“Robert has someone inside Damian's organization.”
Her blood chilled.
“Who?”
“I don't know.”
“You expect me to believe that?”
“I know the code name.”
Elena turned.
Adrian whispered it.
“Saint.”
That evening, Damian gathered every senior member of his organization.
Marco.
Julian.
Security chief Anthony Russo.
Accountant Louis Ferraro.
Longtime adviser Vincent Caruso—Damian's uncle.
Damian explained only enough to identify the leak.
Nobody reacted.
Then Sofia ran into the room.
She held a crayon drawing.
“Daddy!”
Damian picked her up.
She pointed around the table.
“Marco.”
Marco smiled.
“Uncle Vinny.”
Vincent waved.
Sofia pointed toward Anthony.
“Tony.”
Then she looked at Louis.
Nothing.
Damian watched.
Sofia suddenly buried her face in his shoulder.
“What's wrong?”
She whispered:
“Bad man.”
Louis laughed nervously.
“Kids.”
Damian's eyes narrowed.
Sofia pointed at Louis.
“Window.”
Elena went cold.
The man who had climbed through the farmhouse window had been masked.
But Sofia recognized his voice.
Marco grabbed Louis before he could reach his jacket.
A pistol fell to the floor.
Damian stared down at the accountant who had worked for him twelve years.
“Saint?”
Louis smiled.
“You were always slow when family was involved.”
Then he bit something hidden between his teeth.
Damian lunged.
Too late.
Louis collapsed.
Poison.
Before dying, he whispered two words.
“Birthday gift.”
Damian searched Louis's phone.
One scheduled message.
A photograph of Sofia.
May you like
And beneath it:
SEE YOU AT NOON.
