Chapter 7 - THE LIE THAT BUILT MY EMPIRE
For nine years, I'd believed Michael died because our enemies wanted to hurt the Carter family.
Now I knew the lie had come from inside our own home.
My father had arranged the disappearance.
Victor Kane had helped him.
And I had inherited an empire built on secrets powerful enough to destroy every person I loved.
I stared at the recording.
"Why?"
Rafael leaned back.
"Because Michael was going to expose the financial crimes."
I looked toward Elena.
She sat beside Sofia, her face pale.
"Was the explosion real?"
Rafael nodded.
"The vehicle was destroyed. Michael escaped before it happened."
"Who was inside?"
"Nobody."
I closed my eyes.
An empty car.
An empty coffin.
Nine years of grief.
I felt anger rise.
Not the cold, controlled anger people feared.
Something raw.
Personal.
I wanted to tear the room apart.
Instead, I looked at Sofia.
She was humming quietly while drawing flowers.
I took a breath.
"Where did Michael go?"
Rafael shook his head.
"Into hiding. He wanted to gather enough evidence to bring down the operation."
"And my father?"
"He helped hide the money. Then faked his own death when investigators got too close."
I stared.
"Where is he now?"
Rafael looked away.
"Victor knows."
I swallowed.
"And Victor?"
"Still alive."
My stomach tightened.
"Where?"
Rafael hesitated.
Then looked directly at me.
"Closer than you think."
I frowned.
"What does that mean?"
He reached into his pocket.
A photograph.
Recent.
It showed a man in his fifties standing outside a commercial office building.
Dark suit.
Gray hair.
Scar along his jaw.
Victor Kane.
I knew the building.
It belonged to one of my companies.
My shipping headquarters.
I stood.
"He's working inside my organization?"
Rafael nodded.
"Under another name."
I stared at the photograph.
Then recognized him.
Arthur Lane.
My newest financial director.
The man I'd hired six months earlier after a recommendation from a trusted business partner.
I felt sick.
He'd been sitting across from me in meetings.
Reviewing accounts.
Approving transfers.
Smiling while I unknowingly signed documents tied to my father's old crimes.
I looked toward Elena.
She was watching me.
Waiting.
Not for promises.
For what I would actually do.
I took out my phone.
Called Marcus.
"Daniel?"
"Arthur Lane is Victor Kane."
Silence.
Then Marcus whispered, "I know."
My heart stopped.
"What?"
He exhaled shakily.
"Daniel, I was going to tell you."
"When?"
"Tonight."
I closed my eyes.
"How long have you known?"
Another silence.
Then he said:
May you like
"Since the day you hired him."
And suddenly I realized the man I'd trusted most had been protecting the same secrets that destroyed my brother.
