Chapter 8 - The Father Who Knew Too Much|
Bennett was gone when Roman reached the security office.
His desk drawers stood open.
His computer had been wiped.
And the cabinet containing older security records was empty.
Roman stood in the doorway.
For several seconds, he said nothing.
Then he looked toward Marco.
“Find him.”
Marco nodded.
“We've alerted investigators.”
Roman's expression hardened.
“And my father?”
Marco hesitated.
“Mr. Vale is in his private suite.”
Roman looked toward the staircase.
Salvatore Vale had suffered a serious stroke two years earlier.
He required assistance walking.
His speech was slower.
But his mind remained sharp.
For decades, he'd controlled the Vale family's businesses with a ruthless certainty that made even powerful men cautious.
Roman had spent his entire life trying to earn his father's approval.
Now he was about to ask whether that same man had helped conceal Grace's murder.
He entered the private sitting room.
Salvatore sat beside the window wearing a dark cardigan.
A nurse was adjusting his medication schedule.
When Roman appeared, the older man looked up.
“Son.”
Roman nodded toward the nurse.
“Could you give us a few minutes?”
She agreed, leaving the door partly open.
Roman sat across from his father.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Roman placed Grace's letter on the table.
Salvatore's expression changed.
“Where did you find that?”
Roman stared.
“You recognize it.”
His father lowered his eyes.
Roman felt something cold settle in his chest.
“Did you know Grace was investigating Northline Freight?”
Salvatore sighed.
“Roman—”
“Did you?”
“Yes.”
The answer struck harder than a denial.
Roman leaned forward.
“Did you know Bennett threatened her?”
Salvatore looked away.
“I knew they argued.”
“That's not what I asked.”
The older man's face tightened.
“Bennett told me Grace was asking dangerous questions.”
Roman closed his eyes.
“And what did you do?”
“I told her to stop.”
Roman stared.
His father's voice grew rough.
“I was trying to protect her.”
“From whom?”
Salvatore didn't answer.
Roman leaned closer.
“Dad.”
The older man swallowed.
“From the men Bennett was working with.”
Roman went still.
“Who?”
Salvatore looked toward the window.
“Derek's father. Several warehouse managers. People who'd been stealing from the company for years.”
Roman stared.
“You knew?”
“I suspected.”
“And you said nothing?”
Salvatore's eyes filled.
“By the time I understood how much they'd taken, they had records connecting our family to their operation.”
Roman gave a bitter laugh.
“So you were afraid.”
“Yes.”
The honesty surprised him.
Salvatore continued.
“I built an empire, Roman. I thought I could control everything.”
His voice broke.
“But they threatened Grace. They threatened Lily.”
Roman stood.
“Then why didn't you tell me?”
“Because you would've gone after them.”
Roman stared.
“And?”
“And they would've used that to destroy you.”
The silence was painful.
Roman looked toward Grace's photograph on the wall.
His wife had been frightened.
She had asked questions.
She had trusted Evie.
And his father had chosen silence.
“You let me believe Evie killed Grace.”
Salvatore closed his eyes.
“Bennett told me she ran.”
“Did you believe him?”
The older man hesitated.
“At first.”
Roman's jaw tightened.
“And later?”
Salvatore looked down.
“I wasn't sure.”
Roman stared.
For six years, his father had allowed him to hate a woman who might have saved his daughter's life.
The room seemed to tilt.
“Dad, Grace died.”
“I know.”
“Lily grew up without her mother.”
Salvatore began crying.
“I know.”
“And you let us grieve inside a lie.”
The older man covered his face.
Roman turned toward the door.
“I'm giving everything to investigators.”
Salvatore looked up sharply.
“That could destroy the family.”
Roman stopped.
Then slowly turned.
“No.”
His voice was quiet.
“Keeping secrets already destroyed it.”
He left the room.
In the hallway, Evie was waiting.
She'd heard the final sentence.
Roman looked at her.
For a moment, he couldn't speak.
Then he whispered:
“My father knew Grace was in danger.”
Evie's eyes filled.
“I'm sorry.”
Roman shook his head.
“You tried to warn me.”
She looked down.
“And I didn't listen.”
His voice broke.
“I spent six years hating you.”
Evie swallowed.
“Roman…”
He stepped closer.
“And my daughter spent six years remembering that you saved her.”
For the first time, Roman reached for Evie's hand without anger.
She let him take it.
Then his phone rang.
Marco.
Roman answered.
His expression changed.
“What?”
A pause.
Then he looked directly at Evie.
“Bennett?”
Marco's voice was grim.
“We found him.”
Roman straightened.
“Where?”
“At a private warehouse outside Camden.”
“And?”
“He's not alone.”
Roman's jaw tightened.
“Who is with him?”
Marco hesitated.
Then answered:
“Derek Shaw.”
Roman went completely still.
And suddenly he understood.
May you like
The confrontation at Bellweather hadn't been random.
Someone had wanted Evie exposed.
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