Chapter 9 - Six Years of Silence
Adrian survived.
The bullet struck his shoulder.
By sunrise he was undergoing surgery in a private hospital controlled by one of Roman’s companies, surrounded by guards Marcus personally selected.
Roman and Serena waited in a private consultation room.
Neither spoke for several minutes.
Then Serena said, “You tackled me.”
Roman looked at her.
“There was a shooter.”
“I know.”
“You say that like I had options.”
“I’m saying you didn’t hesitate.”
His expression softened.
“No.”
She looked down at their hands.
Roman was still holding hers.
He seemed to realize it at the same moment.
Normally he would have released her automatically.
This time he did not.
Serena noticed.
So did Roman.
Neither mentioned it.
“Tell me about the restitution,” Serena said.
Roman sighed.
“You really choose moments.”
“I’ve waited six years.”
He nodded.
Fair.
“My father stole companies.”
“You returned them?”
“When possible.”
“And when not?”
“I paid families.”
“Why secretly?”
“Because public repayment would require explaining why.”
“Your father’s crimes.”
“Yes.”
“And your involvement?”
“Yes.”
Serena studied him.
“Were you ashamed?”
Roman thought about it.
“Yes.”
“Of him?”
“Of myself.”
“You were young.”
“I was old enough.”
She wanted to tell him guilt did not have to become a life sentence.
But she did not know everything yet.
“What did you do?”
Roman leaned back.
“At twenty, I worked collections.”
Serena understood enough.
“You threatened people.”
“Yes.”
“Did you ever—”
She stopped.
Roman answered anyway.
“I hurt men who owed my father money.”
The room suddenly felt colder.
He did not soften it.
Did not say they deserved it.
Did not hide behind euphemisms.
“I spent years telling myself they were criminals too,” Roman continued. “Then I realized that was how my father justified everything.”
Serena whispered, “Why didn’t you tell me before we married?”
“Because I thought you would leave.”
The irony hurt both of them.
Serena looked toward the hospital window.
“And now I’m considering leaving because you never told me.”
“Yes.”
Roman gave a humorless laugh.
“I see the flaw.”
She squeezed his hand before realizing she had done it.
Roman looked down.
Then at her.
“Don’t mistake compassion for forgiveness.”
“I won’t.”
“I’m still angry.”
“You should be.”
“I might still leave.”
Roman swallowed.
“I know.”
Serena stared at him.
“You really mean that.”
“Yes.”
“You’d let me?”
Roman’s eyes hardened slightly.
“I don’t let you do anything.”
She almost smiled.
“Better.”
“I learned it approximately five hours ago.”
“Fast learner.”
“Fear is motivating.”
They sat quietly.
Then a doctor entered.
“Mr. Vale is stable.”
Roman stood.
“When can he speak?”
“Not for several hours.”
“Anything else?”
The doctor hesitated.
“There is.”
Roman’s expression sharpened.
“What?”
“Mr. Vale had something sewn into the lining of his coat.”
Marcus entered behind the doctor carrying a clear evidence bag.
Inside was a small flash drive.
Roman looked at Adrian through the glass wall of the recovery unit.
“What’s on it?”
Marcus said, “We checked it on an isolated system.”
“And?”
Marcus looked toward Serena.
Roman noticed.
“Say it.”
“Financial records. Your father’s records.”
Roman went still.
“Original?”
“Looks like it.”
“How far back?”
“Twenty-three years.”
Roman took the drive.
Marcus continued.
“There are names.”
“What names?”
“One surprised me.”
Roman looked up.
“Who?”
Marcus hesitated.
“Judge Everett Shaw.”
Serena knew that name.
Everyone in the city did.
Judge Shaw had served on the state supreme court for nearly fifteen years.
He was also Roman’s godfather.
The man who had stood beside Roman at his wedding.
The man who still called Serena every Christmas.
Roman stared at Marcus.
“He was my father’s attorney.”
“Apparently more than that.”
Marcus handed him a printout.
A payment ledger.
Dozens of transfers.
Shell companies.
Judicial favors.
Police payments.
And one notation beside Vincent Vale’s name.
Transfer authorized: E. Shaw.
Roman sat down slowly.
Serena read over his shoulder.
The person who had framed Adrian’s father was not dead.
He had attended their wedding.
He had watched Roman inherit the Duca empire.
And for six years, he had remained close enough to know exactly how Roman protected Serena.
Roman whispered, “He knew.”
Serena looked at him.
“What?”
“Everything.”
Every security routine.
Every family detail.
Every weakness Roman had tried to hide.
Roman’s greatest mistake had not been loving Serena publicly.
May you like
It had been trusting the wrong man privately.
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