Chapter 7: The Man in the Photograph
I stared at the picture until the letters on my phone blurred.
The man standing outside Dominic’s mansion was older now.
His hair had turned white.
His face had changed.
But the eyes were the same.
Cold.
Calculating.
Familiar.
Because I had seen him before.
Not in person.
In the photograph Dominic had shown me minutes earlier.
Standing beside my father.
Standing beside Dominic.
Standing beside a younger version of the family that had destroyed my life.
“Who is he?”” Dominic asked.
I handed him the phone.
The moment he saw the image, his expression collapsed.
“No.””
Daniel stepped forward.
“Who?””
Dominic didn’t answer.
“Dominic.””
His hand tightened around the phone.
“Thomas Vale.””
Daniel went silent.
The name meant something.
I saw it.
“You know him.””
Daniel looked at me.
“I thought he was dead.””
The same sentence again.
Everyone connected to this family seemed to have a talent for disappearing.
“Who is Thomas Vale?”” I demanded.
Dominic placed the phone on the desk.
“He was Vincent’s attorney.””
“Attorney?””
“He handled contracts. Offshore accounts. Corporate disputes.””
Daniel’s voice was quiet.
“He was also the person who taught Vincent how to hide money.””
Ethan laughed softly.
“So now you blame him?””
Dominic looked at him.
“Do you know where he is?””
Ethan’s smile disappeared.
That was the answer.
Dominic noticed.
“You do.””
“No.””
“You just reacted.””
“I recognized him.””
“From where?””
Ethan looked away.
Daniel stepped closer.
“You met him recently.””
Ethan said nothing.
“Didn't you?””
The silence became unbearable.
Then Ethan sighed.
“Three months ago.””
My stomach tightened.
“Why?””
“He contacted me.””
Dominic’s face darkened.
“What did he want?””
Ethan looked around the room.
“For Vincent’s files.””
Daniel shook his head.
“No.””
“Yes.””
“Thomas didn't want files.””
Ethan looked at him.
“He wanted leverage.””
Daniel’s expression changed.
“He knew about the ledger.””
Everyone froze.
Dominic looked at Daniel.
“How?””
Daniel swallowed.
“Because he was there the night I hid it.””
A cold wave moved through me.
“What night?””
Daniel looked at me.
“The night I disappeared.””
I wanted to hear the answer.
I also wanted to run.
Both feelings existed at the same time.
Daniel sat down slowly.
“Your father’s death was never an accident.””
The room blurred around the edges.
“I know that part.””
“No.””
He looked at me.
“You don't.””
His voice cracked.
“Because I didn't just lose my life that night.””
He glanced at Evelyn.
“We all did.””
Evelyn covered her mouth.
Daniel continued.
“I found the accounts. I found Vincent’s companies. I found Thomas Vale moving money through legal channels.””
Dominic nodded slowly.
“That’s why you came to me.””
“Yes.””
“And then?””
Daniel looked down.
“I trusted the wrong person.””
Nobody moved.
“Who?””
Daniel looked directly at Dominic.
“I thought it was you.””
Dominic flinched.
“What?””
“I thought you warned Vincent.””
“I didn’t.””
“I know that now.””
Daniel rubbed his face.
“The night of the crash, Thomas called me. He said he wanted to meet. He claimed he had proof Vincent was planning to kill me.””
“And you went.””
“Yes.””
“Alone?””
“Yes.””
Daniel’s voice lowered.
“I never made it to the meeting.””
“Why?””
“Because someone attacked me before I arrived.””
The room went silent.
I looked at Dominic.
“Then who staged the crash?””
Daniel answered.
“Thomas.””
The door suddenly opened.
A security guard rushed in.
“Mr. Moretti.””
Dominic turned.
“What?””
“We checked the cameras.””
“And?””
The guard looked uncomfortable.
“Thomas Vale was never outside the gate.””
My heart sank.
“What?””
The guard swallowed.
“The photograph was taken from inside the property.””
Everyone froze.
Dominic slowly looked around the room.
Inside.
Someone had taken the picture inside.
Someone close enough to watch.
Ethan whispered:
“He’s here.””
Marco immediately reached for his radio.
Dominic raised his hand.
“No.””
“Sir?””
“If Thomas is inside, panicking will help him.””
Daniel stood.
“He’s not alone.””
Dominic looked at him.
“What?””
Daniel pointed toward the phone.
“The message wasn't a warning.””
I stared.
“What was it?””
“A countdown.””
My phone vibrated again.
Everyone looked at me.
Another message.
This time there was no photograph.
Only a sentence.
*Ask Dominic why he never told you about your brother.*
I looked up.
“My brother?””
Dominic’s face changed.
And that terrified me.
Because I had never seen fear on his face before.
“Dominic?””
He didn’t answer.
Evelyn whispered:
“Rachel…”
I turned toward her.
“Mom?””
Her eyes filled with tears.
“There’s something else you need to know.””
“What?””
She looked at Dominic.
Then Daniel.
May you like
Then me.
“You were never an only child.””
