Julian spent the next hour insisting the bank records were false.
Vincent wanted him removed.
Dominic refused.
Not because he trusted Julian.
Because Dominic had learned something from Ellie.
When something looked wrong, don’t assume.
Look closer.
The reversed brace had appeared legitimate until a four-year-old examined the mechanism.
Maybe the bank records deserved the same attention.
“Where is the money?” Dominic asked.
“I don’t know.”
“The account has your name.”
“I’ve never seen it.”
“Signature?”
“Looks like mine.”
Vincent scoffed.
“Convenient.”
Julian turned on him.
“I said I helped Arthur politically. If I wanted to lie, I would have denied everything.”
Dominic considered that.
Julian had admitted enough to destroy their relationship.
Why admit those things and deny the largest betrayal?
“Get a forensic accountant.”
Vincent frowned.
“Dominic—”
“Do it.”
By evening, they had an answer.
The account had been opened using Julian’s identity.
But the authorization signature was digital.
The originating device belonged to Arthur’s office.
Julian hadn’t received the money.
Arthur had created evidence designed to implicate him.
Dominic sat silently when Vincent delivered the result.
Julian looked at his brother.
“You believed I tried to kill you.”
“I considered the evidence.”
“You believed it.”
“Yes.”
Julian looked away.
Dominic didn’t apologize.
Not yet.
Because Julian was innocent of attempted murder.
He wasn’t innocent of betrayal.
“You still helped Arthur.”
Julian nodded.
“I did.”
“You helped create the opening he needed.”
“I know.”
“You lied to me.”
“Yes.”
“You knew Peter was compromised.”
“Yes.”
Julian’s voice cracked.
“And I’ll spend the rest of my life wishing I’d told you.”
Dominic studied him.
Their father had taught them that apologies were weakness.
Dominic was beginning to suspect their father had been wrong about many things.
“You don’t get your old position back.”
Julian nodded.
“I understand.”
“You cooperate completely.”
“I will.”
“And when this is over, we decide what kind of relationship is left.”
Julian looked at him.
“That’s more than I deserve.”
Dominic didn’t answer.
Across the mansion, Ellie was building towers from wooden blocks.
The strange thing was that Dominic kept finding reasons to pass the room.
At first he told himself it was security.
Then curiosity.
Eventually he stopped lying to himself.
The child made the mansion feel less like a fortress.
Clare noticed.
“You can sit down, you know.”
Dominic looked at her.
“I was walking.”
“You’ve walked past this doorway four times.”
Ellie giggled.
Dominic almost smiled.
“Doctor says I need exercise.”
“Doctor also said not to overdo it.”
Dominic raised an eyebrow.
“You’ve been talking to Mercer?”
“He cornered me in the kitchen and said somebody needs to stop you from pretending you’re indestructible.”
Dominic actually laughed.
It surprised all three of them.
Then Vincent entered.
The warmth disappeared.
“We found the driver.”
Dominic stood.
“Where?”
“Indiana.”
The man was named Raymond Pike.
Former private security contractor.
Arthur had paid him through three shell companies.
Police took him into custody.
Under questioning, Pike admitted being hired to frighten Dominic into crashing.
Arthur had told him Dominic needed to be hospitalized.
Not killed.
But at highway speed, the distinction meant little.
The conspiracy was becoming clear.
Arthur wanted control.
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