Chapter 12 - THE WOMAN WHO OWNED THE CROSS EMPIRE
“That’s impossible.”
My voice barely worked.
Raymond smiled.
“Most family fortunes are built on paperwork before they are built on blood.”
Julian stared at him.
“Explain.”
Edward Cross had inherited the public-facing businesses from his father.
But a separate trust controlled the original holding company.
That trust belonged to Edward’s first wife.
My mother’s aunt.
When she died without children, the interest passed to her sister.
My grandmother.
Then to my mother.
Anna Vale.
Edward had spent decades hiding that fact.
Because legally, Anna controlled a significant portion of the assets underpinning the Cross organization.
“She could have dismantled everything,” Raymond said.
“She didn’t.”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because she wanted no part of it.”
That sounded like my mother.
She hated luxury.
Hated men who bragged about money.
I remembered her teaching me to return grocery carts even in the rain because “character is what you do when nobody important is watching.”
Of course she wouldn’t want a mafia empire.
“Then why kill my father?”
Raymond shrugged.
“David inherited Anna’s documents.”
“And after David?”
His smile turned toward me.
“You.”
Julian’s voice went cold.
“You targeted Elena because of ownership.”
“Partly.”
“What else?”
“Control.”
Raymond looked almost bored.
“If Elena married outside the Cross structure, the trust remained separate.”
My breath caught.
“If she married inside?”
“It could be consolidated.”
Julian stared.
“No.”
Raymond smiled wider.
“You understand.”
I felt sick.
Someone wanted me close to Julian not only as leverage.
But because legally joining us could resolve the ownership problem.
Margaret’s forged employment placement suddenly looked different.
“Did you know?” I asked her later.
She shook her head.
“No.”
I believed her.
Raymond continued.
“Gabriel ruined everything when he protected Sofia. David ruined everything when he saved Julian. Margaret ruined everything when she brought Elena into the estate before we controlled the circumstances.”
Then he looked at Julian.
“And you ruined everything when you fell in love with her.”
My heart stopped.
Julian did not deny it.
Raymond noticed.
“So predictable.”
Julian’s voice was quiet.
“You’re done.”
Raymond laughed.
“No.”
Police lights flashed outside.
His smile disappeared.
He turned toward Martin.
Martin raised his gun.
Not at Julian.
At me.
Julian moved.
Gabriel kicked the chair backward.
Chaos exploded.
The first shot went into the ceiling.
Police stormed the doors.
Martin fired again.
Julian shoved me behind a stone pillar.
Then a third shot cracked.
Julian jerked.
My scream tore through the cathedral.
He looked down.
Blood spread across his shirt.
“Julian!”
May you like
He collapsed against me.
And for the second time in my life, Julian Cross needed blood to survive.
