Chapter 7 - The Ledger in the Vanity
The Rittenhouse Square townhouse was an impregnable fortress.
Double-paned bulletproof glass.
Armed guards at every corner of the block.
In the upstairs nursery, Owen and Lucy were asleep in the same king-sized bed.
Owen held his stuffed dog tight against his chest.
Lucy’s hand was resting over her brother’s arm, even in sleep.
They were finally peaceful.
I walked down the sweeping spiral staircase into the dim study.
A fire crackled in the hearth.
Adrian sat behind a mahogany desk.
A medical technician had bandaged his ribs and cleaned the cut on his cheek.
Spread across the desk were documents recovered from Brielle’s vanity case.
“Look at this,” Adrian said quietly, gesturing to a leather folder.
I stepped closer.
Inside were signed power-of-attorney forms.
Forged signatures of Donna Marzano—Adrian’s late wife.
And a legal declaration stating Lucy was mentally incompetent and required
permanent state institutionalization.
“She was going to strip Lucy of her mother’s inheritance,” I whispered, nausea
twisting my stomach.
“Ten million dollars left in trust for Lucy’s special education and medical
care,” Adrian said.
His hands clenched into white fists.
“Brielle and her father wanted that capital to fund the Senator’s gubernatorial
campaign.”
He looked up at me.
The firelight danced across his sharp jawline.
“Brielle told me Lucy was acting out because she missed her mother. She said
Lucy threw plates at the staff.”
“Lucy never threw a plate in her life,” I said firmly.
“She was terrified. Brielle pinched her under the table every time she tried to
sign. She told Lucy that signing made her look like a circus freak.”
Adrian’s breath left him in a shuddering gasp.
He rubbed his face with both hands.
“I was so focused on expanding the shipping lanes... protecting them from
outside enemies... I let a viper sleep in my bed.”
“You came back for them, Adrian,” I said softly, stepping closer to the desk.
“You broke an entire bridge to save your son. That’s what matters.”
He looked at my hands.
My knuckles were bruised from holding the candelabra and gripping his boots.
He reached out, gently closing his fingers over mine.
“Why didn't you run, Rachel? You could have slipped out the kitchen door during
the first volley.”
“My brother is deaf, Adrian,” I answered honestly.
“When we were kids, people talked over him. They treated him like he didn't
exist. I promised myself I would never let another child be silenced in front of
me.”
Adrian stood up slowly.
He stood inches from me, his presence warm and overwhelming.
“Tomorrow morning, the Five Families convene at the Union League,” he murmured.
“Senator Ashton is demanding my removal. He claims I attacked his daughter
without cause.”
“What will you do?”
May you like
He looked toward the ceiling where his children slept.
“I’m bringing the truth.”
