Chapter 16 - Damian Walks Into the Trap Alone
Vincent’s confession was six pages long.
He had learned of Walsh’s plan at 10:03 p.m.
The fire began at 10:40.
For thirty-seven minutes, Vincent hesitated.
He feared exposing the entire organization.
He feared prison.
He feared destroying his family.
Then Thomas Hayes forced him to choose.
Together they rushed to the warehouse and helped workers escape.
Four still died.
Vincent carried that guilt for the rest of his life.
“He wasn’t innocent,” Damian said.
Khloe sat across from him.
“No.”
“He let them stay in danger for thirty-seven minutes.”
“Yes.”
“He could have saved everyone.”
“Maybe.”
Damian looked angry.
“At him?”
“At myself.”
“Why?”
“Because part of me wanted the story where he was secretly good.”
Khloe reached across the table.
“People aren’t stories with one clean answer.”
Damian looked at her hand touching his.
“He did terrible things,” she continued. “Then he tried to do better.”
“That doesn’t erase them.”
“No.”
“It doesn’t absolve him.”
“No.”
“Then what does it do?”
“It means the next choice still matters.”
Damian stared at her.
That sentence followed him to Pier Nine.
He went alone.
At least Walsh believed he did.
Leo remained three blocks away.
Khloe was furious.
“You’re not going alone.”
“Yes.”
“No.”
“Your grandfather is there because of my family.”
“He’s there because Walsh took him.”
“I’m ending it.”
She grabbed his jacket.
“If you die trying to make some dramatic sacrifice, I will personally bring you back and kill you.”
Despite himself, Damian smiled.
“Very threatening.”
“I’m serious.”
“I know.”
He touched her face.
Neither moved.
For three years there had been an invisible line between employer and employee.
Then between protector and protected.
Then between two people pretending fear had nothing to do with affection.
Damian lowered his forehead to hers.
“If I don’t say this now—”
“Don’t.”
“What?”
“Don’t make it sound like goodbye.”
He looked at her.
Khloe whispered:
“Come back and say it.”
So he did not kiss her.
Not yet.
He went to Pier Nine carrying the red ledger.
Walsh waited inside an abandoned terminal.
Thomas sat nearby.
Bell guarded him.
Walsh smiled.
“Vincent’s son.”
“Release Thomas.”
“Ledger first.”
Damian held it up.
“You want my father’s confession?”
“I want the only document that makes the Russos look as dirty as me.”
“We are dirty.”
Walsh’s smile vanished slightly.
“You admit it?”
“I’m tired of protecting dead men from consequences.”
“You sound like the secretary.”
“Khloe.”
“What?”
“Her name is Khloe.”
Walsh laughed.
“Ah.”
Damian’s eyes hardened.
“Careful.”
“I wondered when you’d understand.”
“Understand what?”
“That she became your weakness.”
Damian looked at Thomas.
“No.”
Walsh waited.
Damian continued.
“She became the reason I stopped pretending weakness and caring are the same thing.”
Thomas smiled faintly.
Walsh did not.
Damian placed the ledger on the ground.
“Thomas.”
Walsh signaled.
Bell cut the restraints.
Thomas stood slowly.
Then another voice came from the darkness.
“Patrick.”
Margaret Hayes stepped forward.
Khloe’s grandmother.
Walsh looked genuinely shocked.
“What are you doing here?”
“Finishing what I started.”
She raised a small recording device.
“I’ve been listening.”
Bell turned toward her.
That gave Thomas the opening.
He moved.
Damian moved.
Chaos erupted.
Walsh ran for the pier exit.
Bell chased the ledger.
Margaret shouted.
Thomas fell.
Damian had one choice.
Follow Walsh.
Save the evidence.
Or save Thomas.
Thirty-seven minutes.
His father had once hesitated between people and power.
May you like
Damian did not hesitate for one second.
He went to Thomas.
