Chapter 7 - The Night Nicholas VanishedDominic had lied.
Not completely.
But enough.
Twelve years earlier, Dominic had been aboard Nicholas’s boat.
They had fought.
Their father’s company was tangled in criminal business Dominic wanted eliminated.
Nicholas had discovered Raymond stealing money.
He wanted to go to police.
Dominic wanted to confront the family privately first.
They fought.
Nicholas accused him of cowardice.
Dominic punched him.
Then left the boat at the marina.
Hours later, it was found drifting offshore with Nicholas’s blood on the deck.
“I thought I killed him.”
Dominic’s voice was hollow.
“For eleven months, I woke every morning thinking the last thing I did to my brother was hit him.”
“And Nicholas never contacted you?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“He said he couldn’t.”
Nicholas arrived the following morning.
He looked like Dominic after life had sanded away everything polished.
Longer hair.
Scar across one cheek.
Thin.
Tired.
The triplets stared at him.
“You look like Dad,” Benjamin said.
Nicholas smiled.
“Poor kid.”
Dominic almost smiled too.
Then the brothers stood opposite each other.
Twelve years between them.
Nicholas extended his hand.
Dominic ignored it.
He pulled him into a hug.
Neither man spoke.
The boys watched.
Adrian whispered, “Dad’s crying again.”
Caleb nodded.
“He does that now.”
I pretended not to hear.
Nicholas explained the disappearance.
Raymond had intercepted him after Dominic left the marina.
Two men attacked Nicholas.
He escaped but understood the warning.
Raymond threatened to kill Dominic next.
Nicholas staged the boat scene with help from an old friend and disappeared.
“Why not police?” I asked.
“Raymond owned people in the department.”
“Federal authorities?”
“I eventually contacted them.”
Everyone stared.
Nicholas continued.
“I've been cooperating with federal investigators for seven years.”
Dominic’s expression sharpened.
“You let me believe you were dead for twelve years.”
“I kept you alive.”
“You could have told me.”
“I couldn't trust you.”
That wounded Dominic.
Nicholas saw it.
“Not because I thought you were corrupt. Because you loved the family enough to confront them. You would have confronted Raymond. And he would have killed you.”
Dominic turned away.
“Elena found you.”
“Yes.”
“How?”
“She followed money better than anyone I’ve ever met.”
A small smile.
“She was relentless.”
Dominic’s eyes closed briefly.
“You should have told her to stop.”
“I did.”
“She never listened.”
“I noticed.”
The brothers shared the first genuine smile between them.
Then Nicholas looked at me.
“You’re Claire.”
Again.
Everyone knew my name.
“I’m getting tired of hearing that.”
His expression became serious.
“Elena told me about someone shortly before she died.”
“Who?”
“She didn’t know.”
“She thought there was another person helping Raymond.”
Dominic frowned.
“Who?”
“Someone inside this house.”
Every staff member was investigated.
Housekeepers.
Drivers.
Security.
Cooks.
Assistants.
Only one person had access to all the information used to threaten me.
My background report.
Lily’s school.
Security schedules.
The east property access.
And Elena’s private records.
Victoria.
Dominic refused to believe it.
“She’s my sister.”
Nicholas stared at him.
“So am I.”
“You’re my brother.”
“You know what I mean.”
Victoria was summoned to the office.
She entered angrily.
“What now?”
Dominic closed the door.
“Did you give anyone Claire’s background report?”
“No.”
“Did you access the east gate yesterday?”
“No.”
“Did you know Elena suspected Raymond?”
Victoria went still.
That was enough.
Dominic whispered, “Victoria.”
She sat down.
“I was trying to protect you.”
“From what?”
“Everything.”
Her voice cracked.
“After Elena died, Raymond came to me. He said he had proof Nicholas was alive. He said if I didn't cooperate, Nicholas would die. Then you. Then the boys.”
Nicholas stepped from the corner.
Victoria saw him.
Her face collapsed.
“Nicky?”
He didn’t smile.
She covered her mouth.
“Oh my God.”
Nicholas looked wounded.
“You knew?”
“I knew you might be alive.”
“For how long?”
“Eight months.”
“And you helped him?”
“I fed him information. Nothing that would hurt anyone.”
“My daughter was threatened,” I said.
Victoria looked at me.
“That wasn't me.”
“You accessed my report.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because Raymond asked who Dominic had hired.”
“You gave him my daughter’s school.”
Tears filled her eyes.
“I didn't think—”
“No. You didn’t.”
Dominic stood motionless.
“Did you help him kill Elena?”
Victoria’s head snapped up.
“No!”
“Did you know he was responsible?”
“I suspected.”
“And you said nothing.”
“He threatened the boys!”
“You let the man who murdered their mother walk into this house!”
“I was terrified!”
“So was Elena!”
The children heard the shouting.
Adrian appeared.
“Dad?”
Dominic stopped instantly.
Victoria cried harder.
The boy looked between them.
“Why is Aunt Victoria sad?”
No one answered.
Then the mansion alarms began screaming.
Marco’s voice exploded through the intercom.
“Security breach. Everybody down!”
The windows shattered.
I dropped.
Dominic threw himself over Adrian.
Nicholas pulled Victoria behind the desk.
Another shot hit the wall.
Sniper.
From outside.
Security shutters descended automatically.
Then silence.
Marco rushed in seconds later.
“No injuries?”
We shook our heads.
He looked at Nicholas.
“They knew you were here.”
Nicholas’s face tightened.
“Raymond?”
“No.”
Dominic stared.
“Raymond is in federal custody.”
Everyone looked toward Victoria.
She shook her head violently.
“I swear I didn't tell anyone.”
Marco held up a phone.
“We intercepted a message sent thirty seconds before the shot.”
“To whom?”
He looked at me.
“Claire.”
My phone vibrated in my pocket.
A message appeared.
YOU KEEP SURVIVING.
I stared at it.
May you like
Then a second message arrived.
THAT ENDS TONIGHT.
