Chapter 3 - I Learned My Missing Brother Was Alive and Working Inside the Conspiracy—Then the Mafia Boss Discovered the Man Who Raised Him Had Ordered Both Our Fathers to DieLarkin did not speak for eleven minutes.
I know because I watched the clock.
Samuel Steves was not merely his uncle.
After Richard died, Samuel had become everything.
Mentor.
Adviser.
Family.
The man who taught Larkin which alliances mattered.
Which enemies deserved mercy.
Which deserved none.
The man who stood behind him when he became boss at twenty-nine.
I understood betrayal.
But this was different.
This was discovering that the hand that taught you to walk had also been guiding you toward a cliff.
Finally Larkin said:
“We need proof.”
Gabriel stared.
“We have a photograph.”
“A photograph proves he knew them.”
“Victor died trying to tell us.”
“Still not proof.”
I watched Larkin carefully.
He wasn't defending Samuel.
He was protecting himself from becoming impulsive.
That mattered.
I sat beside him.
“Daniel might have proof.”
“If he’s alive.”
“He is.”
“You don't know that.”
“Yes, I do.”
“How?”
“Because my brother is too irritating to die before apologizing properly.”
Larkin looked at me.
Then, unexpectedly, he laughed.
It was quiet.
Tired.
But real.
“You're strange.”
“You invited me to a mafia gala.”
“Point taken.”
We returned to Steves Tower the following morning as though nothing had happened.
That was the plan.
I became invisible again.
Gray blouse.
Black slacks.
Sensible shoes.
But the hair remained.
Thomas noticed.
“Keeping the new look?”
“Yes.”
“Shame about the dress.”
“Why?”
“It gave everyone something to discuss.”
I smiled.
“I thought you enjoyed being the center of attention.”
Thomas’s expression flickered.
“Careful, Woods.”
“Always.”
He walked away.
I watched him enter Samuel’s office.
Interesting.
For three years, Thomas rarely visited Samuel before noon.
Now he went directly there.
I sent Larkin one message.
Together. 9:07.
He replied:
Seen.
Nothing else.
At 10:15, Samuel summoned me.
I entered his office carrying a tablet.
He was sixty-one, silver-haired, elegant, warm in a way Larkin rarely was.
He had always treated me kindly.
Birthday bonuses.
Christmas cards.
Once, when my mother was supposedly ill—an invented excuse for missing work—Samuel sent flowers.
That somehow made him more frightening now.
“Penelope.”
“Mr. Steves.”
“I heard the gala was eventful.”
“Yes.”
“Victor Marchesi apparently mistook you for someone.”
“So I heard.”
Samuel smiled.
“Penelope Vale.”
My pulse remained steady.
“Do I look like her?”
“I never met her.”
Lie.
The photograph proved he had met my father.
Possibly Daniel.
“But you knew Arthur Vale?”
Samuel paused.
Only half a second.
“Name sounds familiar.”
Another lie.
I smiled.
“Anything else?”
“Yes.”
He slid a file toward me.
“I need you to authorize these transfers.”
I looked down.
Twenty million dollars.
Cayman Islands.
Same shell network.
My heart pounded.
“Mr. Steves, Mr. Larkin normally approves amounts above five million.”
“He's busy.”
“I'll need his authorization code.”
Samuel’s smile faded.
“You've processed exceptions before.”
“No.”
His eyes sharpened.
“Are you certain?”
“Yes.”
For the first time, I saw the real man beneath the warm uncle.
Cold.
Calculating.
Then the mask returned.
“Of course.”
I stood.
“Penelope?”
I turned.
Samuel smiled.
“That dress really did change you.”
“No.”
I smiled back.
“It just made people look.”
I left.
At 11:03, the building alarms activated.
Not fire.
Security breach.
Gabriel called.
“Penelope, where are you?”
“Forty-second floor.”
“Get to Larkin.”
“Why?”
“Thomas is gone.”
“What?”
“And Samuel just emptied three corporate accounts.”
I ran.
Larkin emerged from his office.
“We have a problem.”
“Several.”
His phone rang.
Unknown number.
He answered.
A familiar voice filled the speaker.
“Penny?”
I stopped breathing.
“Daniel?”
“Hi, kid.”
My knees weakened.
“Where are you?”
“Not safe.”
“You're alive.”
“Technically.”
“You bastard.”
“I know.”
“I buried you!”
“I know.”
“I spent three years—”
My voice broke.
Daniel became quiet.
“I'm sorry.”
I pressed a hand against my mouth.
Larkin watched me.
“Where are you?” I repeated.
“Brooklyn Navy Yard. Warehouse C-19.”
“Stay there.”
“Penny—”
“Stay there or I swear I will kill you myself.”
Daniel laughed softly.
“That's my sister.”
The call ended.
Larkin grabbed his jacket.
“You're not going.”
I stared.
He closed his eyes.
“Wrong phrasing.”
“Yes.”
He tried again.
“I think going personally is extremely dangerous.”
“Better.”
“I would strongly prefer you remain here.”
“No.”
“Expected.”
We went together.
Daniel was waiting.
When I saw him, three years of anger disappeared for exactly one second.
I ran.
He caught me.
I hit him.
Then hugged him.
Then hit him again.
“Fair,” he whispered.
“You let me think you were dead.”
“I had to.”
“No.”
I stepped back.
“You chose to.”
His face fell.
“Yes.”
“Don't call it something else.”
Daniel nodded.
“I chose to.”
Larkin watched silently.
My brother looked at him.
“You must be Steves.”
“You must be the man who helped my cousin steal from me.”
“Also fair.”
“Daniel,” I warned.
He raised his hands.
“Right.”
Inside the warehouse, Daniel showed us everything.
Samuel had been building a shadow empire for twenty-three years.
He used Richard’s criminal organization while secretly expanding businesses Richard prohibited.
When Richard tried to stop him, Samuel turned to Arthur Vale.
But Arthur discovered the scheme instead.
Then Richard and Arthur joined forces.
Samuel ordered both killed.
Daniel learned the truth after finding one of our father’s ledgers.
He infiltrated Thomas’s circle.
Thomas wanted Larkin’s position.
Samuel encouraged him.
But Samuel never intended Thomas to inherit.
“He thinks Thomas is disposable,” Daniel explained.
“What does he want?” I asked.
“Everything legitimate.”
Larkin frowned.
Daniel continued.
“Larkin cleaned up the Steves organization.”
Larkin’s jaw tightened.
“Not enough.”
“No. But enough to make it worth billions.”
Samuel wanted Larkin to build a clean empire.
Then Samuel would kill him and inherit control through family trusts.
I stared.
“He used you.”
Larkin said nothing.
Daniel looked at him.
“Yes.”
“Why now?”
“Because Penelope appeared at the gala.”
I frowned.
“What does that change?”
Daniel pulled out a legal document.
Arthur Vale had owned eighteen percent of Steves Holdings through an undisclosed partnership with Richard.
Upon Arthur’s death, it transferred equally to his children.
Daniel and me.
Nine percent each.
My jaw dropped.
“I own nine percent of Larkin’s company?”
Larkin looked at me.
“Apparently.”
“Why does this keep happening to me?”
Daniel almost smiled.
“Samuel needs your shares.”
“How?”
“Dead heirs are easier to manage.”
The humor disappeared.
Larkin stepped closer.
“He threatened her?”
Daniel nodded.
“He ordered the gala hit.”
Larkin became very still.
I recognized that stillness.
“Larkin.”
“I know.”
“No anger as proof.”
“I know.”
Daniel looked confused.
“Private thing?”
“Yes,” we said together.
That was when the warehouse doors exploded inward.
Gunfire.
Larkin shoved me behind a steel pillar.
Daniel drew a weapon.
Gabriel’s men returned fire.
Thomas entered from the opposite side.
“Family reunion!”
He smiled.
“Cute.”
Larkin stepped forward.
“Thomas.”
His cousin pointed a gun at him.
“You always thought you were better than me.”
“No.”
“Yes.”
“You thought everyone was better than you.”
Thomas’s smile disappeared.
Even I almost admired that one.
Thomas fired.
Larkin moved.
The bullet grazed his side.
I screamed.
Daniel tackled Thomas.
They crashed through a wooden crate.
Gunfire continued.
Then Samuel walked in.
Everyone stopped.
He held a gun against Daniel’s head.
My brother froze.
Samuel looked at Larkin.
“Drop it.”
Larkin did.
Then Samuel looked at me.
“Penelope Vale.”
I stepped out.
“There she is.”
His smile was almost affectionate.
“Arthur’s clever little girl.”
“You killed him.”
“Yes.”
No hesitation.
My chest tightened.
“Why?”
“He believed numbers could make men honest.”
Samuel shrugged.
“Your father was sentimental.”
“You murdered your own brother too.”
“Richard became weak.”
Larkin stared at him.
Samuel looked almost disappointed.
“And apparently so have you.”
“Because I won't kill everyone who inconveniences me?”
“Because you care.”
His gaze moved toward me.
“That woman will destroy you.”
Larkin looked at me.
Then back at Samuel.
“No.”
Samuel smiled.
“She already has.”
“No.”
Larkin’s voice was calm.
“She destroyed the version of me you built.”
Something in my chest broke open.
Samuel’s smile vanished.
He raised his weapon.
Then Thomas shouted:
“Uncle!”
Samuel turned.
Thomas had escaped Daniel.
“You said I would get the company.”
Samuel laughed.
“You?”
Thomas froze.
“You were useful.”
Thomas stared.
Realization arrived too late.
Samuel fired.
Thomas fell.
Larkin lunged.
Daniel struck Samuel’s arm.
The weapon skidded away.
Gabriel’s men stormed forward.
Samuel was surrounded.
He looked at Larkin.
“Kill me.”
Larkin stood over him.
“Why?”
“Because you're a Steves.”
Larkin stared down.
Then stepped back.
“No.”
Samuel laughed.
“You think prison makes you different?”
“No.”
Larkin looked at me.
“Choice does.”
Police arrived.
Samuel was arrested.
Thomas survived.
Barely.
Daniel surrendered voluntarily and agreed to cooperate.
It should have ended there.
It didn't.
Because three hours later, Gabriel discovered Samuel had activated something before entering the warehouse.
A contingency.
Every file in Steves Tower began deleting remotely.
Accounts emptied.
Evidence disappeared.
And then Gabriel found the worst part.
A document labeled:
WOODS PROTOCOL.
My fake name.
Inside was a list.
My apartment.
My bank accounts.
My work schedule.
The salon I used.
My grocery store.
Everything.
At the bottom was one final instruction.
If Samuel Steves is detained, eliminate Penelope Vale before she can testify.
And beside it:
ACTIVE TEAM: 4.
May you like
Four killers.
Already deployed.
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