lThe drive to the harbor was the longest twenty minutes of my life.
Adrian drove like a man who had personally offended every traffic law in existence. Lucian sat in the back, pressing a cloth against the cut above his eyebrow, while I occupied the passenger seat and tried not to think about the fact that my entire life had apparently been built on lies.
"So," I said eventually, "your family has a secret vault, my father hid evidence, your brother betrayed everyone, and your uncle is a murderous lunatic."
Lucian leaned forward. "When you put it like that, we sound dysfunctional."
I turned to look at him.
He sat back. "Right. Bad timing."
"Remarkably bad," Adrian muttered.
I folded my arms. "And you. Don't think I've forgotten about you."
"I wouldn't dare."
"You lied to me."
"Yes."
"You kissed me."
His grip tightened around the steering wheel. "I remember."
"And now I don't know whether I want to kiss you again or throw you into the harbor."
"Can we postpone that decision until after we survive tonight?"
"Consider yourself temporarily spared."
Lucian cleared his throat. "For what it's worth, I think you two make a lovely couple."
"Say another word," Adrian warned, "and I'll leave you on the roadside."
Lucian leaned back with a sigh. "Family. It's all about unconditional love."
Despite myself, I smiled.
Then we reached the harbor.
The smile disappeared.
Rows of shipping containers stood beneath towering cranes, their metal surfaces glistening in the rain. Beyond them, black water rolled against the docks. A warehouse stood at the far end, its windows dark and its entrance guarded by two men.
Adrian killed the headlights.
"The vault is beneath that warehouse," Lucian whispered. "Our father built it for emergencies. Only three people knew it existed."
"Your father, you, and Marcus?" I asked.
Lucian shook his head.
"My father, Adrian, and me."
I looked at Adrian. "You knew?"
"No." He studied the warehouse. "I was never told where it was. Father believed secrets were safer when shared with as few people as possible."
"Clearly, he underestimated his brother."
We slipped between the containers, keeping to the shadows. Adrian moved ahead while Lucian stayed beside me, his expression unusually serious.
"I need to tell you something," he whispered.
"If this is another family secret, I might actually scream."
"It concerns your father."
I stopped.
Lucian glanced toward Adrian before continuing.
"After your father died, I found a letter in my father's desk. It was addressed to you. Marcus discovered it before I could send it."
"What happened to it?"
"He took it."
My throat tightened. "What did it say?"
"I only read one line before he snatched it away."
Lucian hesitated.
"If Elena ever learns the truth, tell her Adrian wasn't the one who pulled the trigger."
I stared at him.
The words struck harder than I expected.
"Then why did Adrian say he couldn't save my father?"
"Because he was there when your father died. But he wasn't the only person in that room."
Before I could ask another question, Adrian signaled us to stop.
The warehouse entrance stood open.
Inside, a single light illuminated a metal staircase leading underground.
And beside it lay a dead guard.
Adrian crouched, checking for a pulse. "He's been dead less than an hour."
"Victor?" I whispered.
"Probably."
We descended the stairs.
At the bottom stood a massive steel door. A keypad had been installed beside its handle, but the lock itself had an old-fashioned keyhole.
Adrian examined it. "The pendant."
I pulled the empty chain from beneath my collar.
"Victor has it."
Lucian approached the door and studied a small engraving above the lock.
Three intertwined circles.
Beneath them were three names.
DANIEL REED.
ANTHONY MORETTI.
MARCUS MORETTI.
My stomach twisted.
"Why would Marcus's name be here?"
Adrian's expression hardened.
"Because this vault wasn't built to hide money."
A metallic clang echoed from somewhere behind us.
We turned.
The staircase door slammed shut.
Then the lights went out.
A second later, speakers crackled overhead.
Victor's voice filled the darkness.
"Welcome to the truth, my friends."
A red emergency light flickered on, revealing a digital countdown above the steel door.
00:09:59.
Victor laughed softly.
"You have ten minutes to open the vault. After that, the entire warehouse goes up in flames."
I grabbed Adrian's hand.
For once, neither of us had anything clever to say.
Then the steel door clicked.
A hidden speaker came to life, and a familiar voice whispered through the darkness.
Elena, if you're hearing this, it means I'm already dead.
My father's voice.
And the next words made my blood run cold.
"The man who ordered my murder was not Victor Hale."