Chapter 8 - THE MEDALLION JULIAN LEFT BEHIND
Nicholas broke a glass when Audrey told him.
Not at her.
Not near her.
He simply set it down too hard.
The base cracked.
He stared at the broken glass.
Then said, “I'm improving.”
Audrey almost smiled.
“Your standards are concerning.”
Nicholas placed both hands on the kitchen counter.
“My father had a stroke. Graham handled his security. Victor controlled the old freight routes.”
“Yes.”
“And Julian was trying to dismantle those routes.”
“Yes.”
“My father knew they killed him.”
“Apparently.”
“And he didn't tell me.”
Audrey sat across from him.
“Maybe he couldn't.”
“He had three years before the stroke.”
“According to Elias, he didn't know who he could trust.”
Nicholas laughed bitterly.
“So he trusted nobody.”
Audrey looked at him.
“That seems hereditary.”
His eyes lifted.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then he sat.
“What did my brother leave me?”
She placed the medallion on the table.
Daniel Reyes recognized the number.
Not an account.
An old locker system at Grand Central Terminal used by a private luggage-storage company that closed years earlier.
The locker contents had been transferred to an archival warehouse when the business shut down.
Nicholas's attorneys found the corresponding inventory.
One sealed case.
Never claimed.
Three hours later, they opened it.
Inside was a ledger.
Actual paper.
Audrey almost laughed.
“Your family really likes handwritten evidence.”
Nicholas looked at her.
“Apparently criminals fear spreadsheets.”
“Correctly.”
The ledger belonged to Julian.
It documented Victor's freight routes, illegal payments, weapons shipments, and money laundering.
Enough to destroy the entire shadow operation.
But the most important item was an envelope.
NICK.
Nicholas opened it.
His brother's handwriting filled six pages.
Nick,
If you're reading this, then I failed.
You were never supposed to inherit this life.
Nicholas stopped.
Audrey quietly moved away.
He shook his head.
“Stay.”
She did.
Julian's letter explained that Alessandro wanted both sons to keep the legitimate businesses.
Hotels.
Construction.
Freight.
Restaurants.
The criminal side was supposed to end.
Victor refused.
He believed the Rainer name meant power, and power required fear.
Julian had collected enough evidence to remove him.
Thomas Fallon had helped because he discovered unauthorized shipping routes.
Then came the line Nicholas read twice.
Do not let Victor convince you that being feared is the same as being strong.
Audrey watched him swallow.
The next paragraph mentioned Graham.
Graham is Victor's man. He has always been Victor's man.
Then:
If Thomas has children, protect them if you can. He is risking his life because I promised him this would end before they grew up around it.
Audrey looked away.
Her father had gone back into Harbor Nine because he believed helping Julian could make the danger stop.
For her.
For Liam.
Nicholas continued reading.
There was one final instruction.
The ledger should go to federal investigators.
Not to family allies.
Not to friendly police.
Federal authorities.
Julian had already contacted an assistant U.S. attorney before his death.
Nicholas lowered the letter.
Audrey waited.
“What are you going to do?”
He looked at the ledger.
Twelve years earlier, an answer would probably have involved bodies.
Maybe even twelve months earlier.
Now he said:
“Finish what Julian started.”
Audrey exhaled.
Then Reyes entered.
“We have another issue.”
Nicholas looked up.
“Victor called an emergency family council.”
“When?”
“Tomorrow night.”
“Purpose?”
Reyes hesitated.
“To review your fitness to continue leading.”
Audrey frowned.
“Because of what?”
“According to Victor, Nicholas has become compromised by an employee.”
Everyone looked at Audrey.
She stared.
“Oh, that's flattering.”
Nicholas did not smile.
Reyes continued.
“Victor says Audrey Fallon manipulated Nicholas into turning against Graham and senior family leadership.”
Audrey laughed once.
“Eleven months cleaning bathrooms and apparently I've conquered organized crime.”
Nicholas finally smiled.
Then Reyes handed him the notice.
Attached was a photograph.
Nicholas and Audrey leaving the vault together.
Someone had been following them.
May you like
And beneath it was Victor's accusation:
AUDREY FALLON IS FINISHING THE JOB HER FATHER STARTED.
