Chapter 9 - THE SIX-HUNDRED-MILLION-DOLLAR SECRET
Nora had spent the previous morning deciding whether she could afford another payment toward her father's medical treatment.
Now an attorney was telling her she might control a fortune.
“This is impossible.”
Rebecca Sloan placed the surviving trust records on Victor's desk.
“The trust was established in 2005. It holds controlling voting rights in several Romano family properties and investments.”
Victor stood beside Nora.
“Why was her name added?”
Rebecca pointed to a clause.
“Because Evelyn Hastings possessed documents that could expose Anthony Romano's criminal operations. The trust appears to have been negotiated as part of an agreement intended to protect her family.”
Nora felt disgust rise in her throat.
“My mother wasn't for sale.”
“No,” Victor said firmly. “And this wasn't enough to buy her silence. She died trying to tell the truth.”
Rebecca continued.
“The agreement only becomes enforceable after verification of the original key and authorization documents.”
Nora touched the necklace beneath her blouse.
“The silver key.”
Victor nodded.
“That's why Adrian wants it.”
Nora shook her head.
“But why would he kidnap my father? He's your brother.”
“Blood doesn't guarantee loyalty.”
A message arrived on Nora's phone.
A video call.
Unknown number.
Victor motioned to Leo, who activated a secure recording device.
Nora answered.
Her father's face appeared.
He looked exhausted.
“Nora.”
“Dad!”
“Sweetheart, listen carefully.”
A hand pulled him backward.
Adrian Romano stepped into view.
He resembled Victor so closely that Nora felt a strange rush of fear.
But where Victor's expression was controlled, Adrian's eyes were restless and bitter.
“Hello, Miss Hastings.”
“Let my father go.”
“Bring me the key and the original trust authorization. Then we'll talk.”
Victor leaned toward the camera.
“Adrian.”
His brother smiled.
“Still giving orders?”
“I've been looking for you.”
“No. You've been protecting the empire Father built.”
“Father tried to kill you.”
Adrian's smile vanished.
“Mother told me.”
Victor went still.
“What?”
Adrian leaned closer.
“You thought she died without seeing me again?”
Victor looked shaken.
Adrian continued.
“She found me five years before her death. She begged me to come home.”
“Why didn't you?”
“Because she told me something about you.”
Victor's face hardened.
“What?”
Adrian's voice dropped.
“She said you were becoming our father.”
The call ended.
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Nora looked at Victor.
He was staring at the blank screen.
Then Rebecca's phone rang.
She answered, listened, and slowly went pale.
“The bank's compliance office just called.”
“What happened?” Victor asked.
“The trust accounts have been frozen pending an emergency audit.”
Nora frowned.
“Who requested it?”
Rebecca looked directly at her.
“Senator Davenport.”
Victor's phone buzzed with a new message.
A photograph of Thomas Hastings.
Beside him stood someone neither Victor nor Nora expected.
May you like
Camilla.
And her hands were untied.
