Richard arrived at Grant's office before sunrise. He had barely slept. The city outside the glass windows was still gray, with only a few headlights moving along the road below. On the desk in front of him were three folders, two printed bank statements, a tablet displaying Black Group's falling share price, and the photograph Grant had taken from the Westbridge archive. Richard picked up the photograph. Jonathan Vale stood at the edge of the old boardroom picture. The silver-haired man looked calm. Too calm. Richard had studied the photograph so many times that he could recognize every face without looking at the notes. Alexander Black. David Steele. Kane's grandfather. Jonathan Vale. And the others whose names had been buried beneath years of corporate restructuring. He placed the photograph down. "Still looking at that?" Richard turned. Grant walked in carrying two cups of coffee. "You're early." "So are you." Grant placed one cup in front of him. Richard didn't touch it.

Marcus sat alone in his hospital room. The television was on, but he wasn't watching it. His phone lay on the table. Richard's last question kept replaying in his mind.Can't or won't?Marcus closed his eyes. For twenty-two years, he had convinced himself that silence was protection. Protecting his father. Protecting the Steele family. Protecting Richard.But now Richard was standing in the middle of the same war Alexander had disappeared into. And Marcus was beginning to understand something he had refused to admit.Silence had never protected Richard. It had only protected the people who knew the truth.The door opened. Cara entered. She carried a paper bag."You haven't eaten."Marcus didn't answer.She placed the food on the table. "Marcus.""I spoke to Richard."Cara stopped. "What happened?""He asked about Northstar."Her face changed. "You told him?""I told him Alexander used it."Cara sat down. "How much?""Not enough.""Why?"Marcus looked at her. "Because I don't know how

The old Steele Foundation building looked abandoned. The upper floors had been stripped years ago. Windows were broken. The sign had fallen from the front wall. Weeds had pushed through cracks in the pavement.But Marcus didn't stop at the entrance. He walked around the side. Richard followed. Sophia stayed close. Lucas and Grant came behind them."Where are we going?" Richard asked."Basement.""There is no basement."Marcus stopped. "There is."He moved a section of loose concrete beside the wall. A metal hatch appeared underneath.Richard stared. "How long has that been there?""Twenty-two years."Marcus opened it. Cold air rose from below.Sophia looked into the darkness. "This is comforting."Richard glanced at her. "You scared?""No.""You hesitated.""I was deciding whether you're worth saving."Richard smiled. "And?""Still undecided."They descended. The staircase was narrow. The deeper they went, the colder it became.At the bottom was a steel door. Marcus removed an old key

Sophia screamed. Richard heard her hit the floor."Sophia!"He dropped beside her, his hands searching through the darkness. Another gunshot cracked through the room. Richard ducked. Marcus fired toward the sound. The muzzle flash briefly illuminated the command center. Nothing. No shooter. Only monitors flickering in the darkness."Get down!" Marcus shouted.Lucas dropped behind the table.Richard found Sophia's arm. "Where are you hit?""My shoulder." Her voice was tight. "Richard, don't move me."He felt the fabric of her jacket. Wet. Blood. But not enough. He tore open the sleeve. The bullet had grazed the outside of her shoulder.Richard exhaled. "You're lucky."Sophia gave him a sharp look. "Don't say that.""Why?""Because I don't feel lucky."Another shot struck the wall. Concrete exploded above Richard's head."Down!"Marcus fired again. The room filled with smoke. Then silence.Richard looked toward the monitors. All four were black. "He's gone."Marcus shook his head. "No."

Richard didn't move. "What did you say?"Victor stood in the doorway, breathing heavily. "Your father."Richard walked toward him. "Don't play games with me.""I'm not.""Then explain."Victor placed the bloodied folder on the table. "I found this in the car."Richard looked down. The cover carried a name.*EVELYN BLACK.*His mother's name again. But this time, beneath it was another word.*CONFIDENTIAL.*Sophia stepped closer. "Where did you get it?"Victor looked at her. "From the man who tried to kill me.""Who?"Victor's expression darkened. "I don't know."Richard opened the folder. The first page was dated twenty-two years ago.*SUBJECT: ALEXANDER BLACK*Below it:*STATUS: COMPROMISED*Richard's eyes moved down. Another line.*FAMILY EXPOSURE: UNAVOIDABLE*Then:*RECOMMENDATION: REMOVE THE HEIR FROM ALL KNOWN NETWORKS.*Richard's hands tightened. "The heir."Victor nodded. "You."Richard turned the page. A handwritten note appeared.*Evelyn refuses to cooperate.*Richard stopped