Chapter 10 - A Betrayal Fifteen Years in the Making
Beatrice woke in darkness.
Her wrists were tied.
Richard sat across from her.
“You really are troublesome.”
She looked around.
Warehouse.
Concrete floor.
One door.
No windows.
“Damian will find me.”
Richard smiled.
“That's the point.”
“You want him here.”
“I want the ledger.”
“You could have stolen it years ago.”
“Margaret moved it.”
“Because she knew you were a traitor.”
Richard's expression tightened.
Bea had discovered something useful.
His pride was fragile.
“You served the Costellos for fifteen years,” she said. “And after all that, you're still angry they never treated you like family.”
Richard stood.
“Careful.”
“That's what this is about.”
“You understand nothing.”
“I understand enough.”
Richard moved closer.
“I built their empire.”
“And it still wasn't yours.”
He slapped the chair beside her, deliberately missing her face.
Bea flinched but held his gaze.
Richard smiled.
“Clever.”
He walked away.
“Damian likes that about you.”
Beatrice said nothing.
“Do you love him?”
The question caught her off guard.
“No.”
Richard laughed.
“You hesitated.”
“Because it's a ridiculous question.”
“Is it?”
He leaned against the wall.
“He'll come for you.”
“I know.”
“And he'll bring the ledger.”
“No.”
Richard's smile faded.
“You really believe that?”
“I believe he'll come.”
“Without what I want?”
“Yes.”
“Then he'll die.”
Bea looked directly at him.
“Maybe.”
Richard frowned.
“But so will you.”
For the first time, he looked uncertain.
Outside, engines approached.
Not one.
Dozens.
Richard moved toward the security monitor.
Black vehicles surrounded the warehouse.
Then more arrived.
Pendleton vehicles.
Police.
Federal agents.
Reporters.
Richard stared.
“What did he do?”
Beatrice smiled.
“He changed the rules.”
Damian had released copies of the ledger simultaneously to law enforcement, journalists, attorneys, and rival families.
Richard could no longer destroy the truth.
The information was everywhere.
His leverage was gone.
Richard grabbed Bea and pulled her upright.
A gun pressed against her side.
The warehouse door opened.
Damian entered alone.
“Let her go.”
Richard laughed.
“You destroyed everything.”
“No.”
Damian looked at Bea.
“I destroyed what you could use.”
“You gave away your own family's secrets.”
“Yes.”
“You'll lose everything.”
“Maybe.”
Richard stared.
“You'd destroy the Costello empire for a maid?”
Damian's eyes remained on Beatrice.
“Yes.”
The answer silenced everyone.
Even Bea.
Richard tightened his grip.
“You've become weak.”
Damian shook his head.
“No. I finally figured out what my father learned too late.”
“What?”
“An empire isn't worth protecting if everyone you love has to die for it.”
Beatrice's eyes filled with tears.
Richard's face twisted.
Then a shot rang out.
His gun fell.
Clara stood behind him.
Weapon trembling in her hands.
Richard collapsed, wounded but alive.
Damian rushed forward.
He cut Bea's restraints.
“Are you hurt?”
“No.”
He pulled her against him.
This time she didn't resist.
Richard lay on the floor laughing weakly.
“You think this ends with me?”
Damian turned.
Richard smiled through the pain.
“You still don't know who ordered Vittorio's death.”
Damian froze.
Richard whispered:
“I only carried it out.”
Then he lost consciousness.
May you like
And once again, just when they believed they had reached the truth, another door opened.
Behind it waited a secret powerful enough to destroy what remained of the Costello family.
