Chapter 11 - Damian Russo’s Biggest Mistake
Nicolas stumbled down the stairs with his hands raised.
Blood marked his temple.
Two armed men followed.
“Put it down,” one ordered.
Damian lowered his weapon slowly.
Khloe held the ledgers behind the fireplace.
Patrick Walsh entered last.
He was seventy-one.
Silver-haired.
Perfectly dressed.
He looked less like a criminal than the chairman of a bank.
“Vincent always did love this place,” he said.
Damian stared at him.
“You touched the wrong woman.”
Walsh smiled.
“Yes. You’ve made that remarkably clear.”
Khloe stepped forward.
Damian turned.
“Stay back.”
Walsh’s eyes settled on her.
“Thomas’s granddaughter.”
“My grandfather hated you.”
“Your grandfather owed everything to men like me.”
“No. Men like you made sure people believed they owed you.”
Walsh’s smile faded.
“Give me the black ledger.”
“No.”
“Then Nicolas dies first.”
One of Walsh’s men pressed a weapon toward Nicolas.
Nicolas laughed bitterly.
“Mom’s plan was fantastic.”
Damian looked at him.
“You were working with Elena?”
“Trying to keep Walsh away from you.”
“By meeting him secretly?”
“Would you have approved?”
“No.”
“Exactly.”
Walsh sighed.
“Family arguments bore me.”
He looked at Khloe.
“The ledger.”
Khloe held it up.
“You want this?”
“Yes.”
She walked toward the fireplace.
Damian realized what she intended.
“Khloe.”
She opened the metal stove door.
Flames from the newly lit fire flickered inside.
Walsh’s composure vanished.
“Don’t.”
Khloe held the ledger above the flame.
“You spent twenty-three years searching for this.”
“Khloe.”
“What happens if it burns?”
Walsh stepped forward.
Damian smiled faintly.
“You’re afraid.”
Walsh stopped.
Khloe said:
“My grandfather gave me a choice.”
“Yes.”
“So here it is.”
She dropped the ledger.
Walsh shouted.
One of his men lunged.
Leo moved.
Chaos broke out.
Damian pulled Khloe down.
Nicolas tackled the man guarding him.
The black ledger hit the fire.
Pages caught.
Walsh rushed toward it.
But Khloe leaned toward Damian and whispered:
“Copy.”
“What?”
“I photographed every page at the bank.”
Damian stared.
She had anticipated everything.
Again.
They escaped through the rear after Leo created enough confusion.
Nicolas followed.
Walsh saved part of the burning ledger but not enough.
In the SUV, Damian finally turned to Khloe.
“You photographed it?”
“Yes.”
“When?”
“While you were arguing with the bank manager.”
“I was not arguing.”
“You threatened to purchase the bank.”
“It was inefficient.”
Nicolas laughed despite his bruises.
Damian glared at him.
“Not now.”
The victory lasted eleven minutes.
Then Leo’s phone rang.
Elena.
Nicolas answered.
“Mom?”
His face changed.
“What?”
Silence.
“Mom.”
He looked at Damian.
“Walsh has her.”
Damian closed his eyes.
Of course.
Walsh had prepared leverage.
Elena had been taken from her townhouse.
A message followed.
Black ledger files for Elena Russo.
Midnight.
No police.
Khloe stared at Damian.
“We give him the copies.”
“No.”
“Damian.”
“No.”
“He’ll kill her.”
“And then Walsh keeps the evidence and kills everyone else.”
Nicolas slammed his fist into the seat.
“That’s my mother.”
“I know.”
“Then act like it.”
Damian turned.
“You think I don’t understand?”
“You’ve spent your whole life pretending feelings are operational inconveniences.”
Damian became very still.
Nicolas continued.
“Maybe that worked before Khloe.”
Silence.
Khloe looked between them.
Damian looked away.
Nicolas had said aloud what nobody else would.
Damian’s greatest mistake had never been trusting people too much.
It was believing he could protect everyone by allowing nobody close enough to matter.
His father had done the same.
Secrets.
Distance.
Control.
And now history was repeating.
Khloe touched his arm.
“We can save Elena without giving Walsh everything.”
“How?”
“We stop reacting to him.”
Damian looked at her.
May you like
Khloe held up her phone.
“We make him react to us.”
