Chapter 10 - THE MAN WHO CALLED HIMSELF MY BROTHER
Carmine had been my closest friend for eighteen years.
He knew where I kept my guns.
He knew which doors had reinforced locks.
He knew my childhood secrets.
He knew how much I hated hospitals.
And now financial records linked him to the attack that took away my ability to walk.
I stared at him across my study.
"Tell me the truth."
Carmine's face was pale.
"Dominic—"
"Did you help arrange the attack?"
He shook his head.
"No."
"Your account received money."
"I know."
"Then explain."
He took a shaky breath.
"Victor told me the payment was for additional security."
I stared.
"Additional security?"
"Yes."
"Then why did the contractor disappear after the attack?"
Carmine looked devastated.
"I didn't know."
I wanted to believe him.
For years, he had been the one person I trusted without question.
But trust without truth had become dangerous.
"Did you know the route would be compromised?"
"No."
"Did you know Victor wanted me as a research patient?"
"Not before the accident."
I studied him.
"Then why did you sign the medical authorization?"
Carmine's eyes filled.
"Because Victor convinced me the treatment might help you."
I looked away.
The worst part was that I believed some of it.
Carmine wasn't stupid.
But he was loyal.
Sometimes blindly.
And Victor had used that loyalty.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
Carmine's voice broke.
"Because I was afraid you'd hate me."
I stared.
For six months, he'd watched me suffer.
He'd watched me scream at caretakers.
He'd watched me abandon hope.
And he'd remained silent because he feared losing my friendship.
"You should have trusted me with the truth."
He nodded.
"I know."
I took a slow breath.
"You're going to cooperate fully with investigators."
He lowered his head.
"Yes."
"And you won't make another decision about my health or finances."
"Understood."
Then something unexpected happened.
Carmine reached into his jacket.
He removed a small black notebook.
"I kept records."
I frowned.
"What records?"
"Every meeting with Victor. Every payment. Every instruction."
My heart tightened.
"Why?"
Carmine looked at me.
"Because after the accident, I started suspecting he had lied."
I stared.
"Then why didn't you say anything?"
"Because I needed proof."
He placed the notebook on my desk.
"I have it now."
Richard examined the notes.
Several entries described meetings with Victor before and after the attack.
Then one page caught his attention.
A handwritten address.
A private medical facility outside Chicago.
Beside it were three words.
SECOND DAWN PATIENTS.
I looked toward Carmine.
"What is that?"
His expression darkened.
"Victor has been keeping certain trial participants there."
Faith went pale.
"Participants?"
Carmine nodded.
"People who suffered serious complications."
I stared.
"How many?"
He hesitated.
"At least eleven."
The room went silent.
Then Faith whispered something that made my blood run cold.
"Daniel told me the foundation had hidden patients."
I turned.
May you like
She looked toward the notebook.
"And he said one of them knew exactly what happened to him."
