The Worthless Son-In-Law's Trillion Dollars Secret

Chapter 6: Running from Ghosts

Romeo's point of view

Vincent moved quick, tugging us toward a door I had not seen before then. The loud sirens got closer, like they were chasing only us now. My silly heart beat so hard, I felt it would jump from my ribs. We dashed through halls of the Chen house, which I had scrubbed a lot but never known well.

"A way out is in the basement," Vincent said, yanking open a door to shadows deep down. "The Chen clan made it safe during the war back then. Your grandpa knew all of this place. He kept the great secret well."

Emma held my hand so tight. I felt her fingers pierce my palm hard, but she did not turn away. She made no sound. She just ran with us to the shadows down. The sound of her breaths told me she was scared stiff, but her grasp told me she was strong.

We went down the steps so fast that I nearly tripped twice there. Vincent flowed like he had done this a hundred times now. At the pit, he touched the wall, and a secret door swung wide open. Past it was a tunnel long and dark. Backup lights flickered right on as we moved in, making a track for us to chase now.

"Where does this road go?" Emma asked, out of breath now.

"Underground deep," Vincent said to her. "Far from the city's reach. To a spot that the Syndicate won't find us. It's been set for years now, just here for this time."

We dashed down the dark passage for what seemed like ages. The siren noises died behind us, but I felt unsafe still. We would never find safety now. Marcus Black was only one guy, but the Shadow crew was a group. If they wanted me gone, then every crook, every poor soul, every lost person around would hunt me.

At last, the passage led into a huge underground place. A dark car waited on, with a person inside already. Vincent pulled us to it, and we got inside quickly. The driver went fast without a word to us. I thought about how long he had been there now. I thought about how many folks knew of this secret spot. I thought of how much of my past had been set up by the old man before my time.

"Where are your folks now?" I asked dear Emma then. "What about your mom and your father?"

Emma’s face turned really white all of a sudden. "I don't have a clue. They were both at work when Black showed up. The guards said they were okay, that they went to a new area. But I can't know for sure if—"

"They’re okay now," Vincent butted in. He had his phone right up to his ear. "I just now got the word. Richard and Margaret Chen have U.S. protection. They're kept away from you now, which keeps all safe."

Emma said okay, but she seemed unsure still. She seemed like she held a sadness no one could hold. I wished to say all was fine, but I knew that was false.

The car sailed through a deep, dark hole for twenty minutes straight. As we got out at last, we found a new part of town, unknown to me. Old buildings stood like ghosts all around. Roads, so bare and black, went every way you looked. This was the town's lost face, where no soul stepped, where no eye glanced. It was the best spot to go unseen.

We stopped by what seemed like an old work site. Glass was gone from its holes. Pictures were sprayed all over its skin. Folks would think no one lived there at all. But as Vincent punched keys in a secret place, a strong door made of steel moved aside.

Inside, all was changed in full.

The work site was now a safe place to hide. Eyes of cameras watched from every spot. Strong men with guns stood here and there. A room held screens and keys, with town maps and camera views. It was a true spot for plans, where strong minds played strong games.

"Welcome to House Seven," Vincent said. He took us more deep inside. "You'll wait here safely until we know our next step."

He took us to a room with soft chairs and a big bed. A bath was joined to it, plus a small food spot. For a safe place, it felt good and strange. But it still held the feel of a cell.

"How long must we stay in here?" Emma asked.

"Till the bad thing is gone for good," Vincent said. His face was all straight lines. "The dark group wants Romeo gone bad. Each bad group in town wants you now. We need time for cash, to stop their games, to keep you from all harm."

"Suppose we simply threw our hands up?" Emma blurted out of the blue. "Suppose we walked to the cops and spilled all the beans?"

"Cops offer zero shield," Vincent shared softly. "The Gloom Mob's a beast, so strong, so plugged in. Some cops likely take their cash. Snitching paints targets on our heads. We must outsmart them, think sharp."

I plopped on the bed's side, trying to make sense of stuff. Hours ago, I scrubbed tiles in the bathroom. Now, I'm holed up in a hidden lair, dodging a mob that wants me dead. The gap between these times feels too wide to jump.

"I need to peep at proof," I spoke, out of thin air. "Proof that grandpa left behind. The skinny on Gloom Mob. About my folks' killing. I want the real lowdown."

Vincent eyed me for what felt like ages. Then, he gave a nod. "You're set. Tag along."

He took me to a new room in the hideout. It held a vault, like one from a big bank. Vincent typed in digits, and the vault door swung wide. Inside were files, films, and photos. A full tale of all my life events, kept safe and on record.

"Your grandpa sought to help you get your past," Vincent shared. "But wished you knew your foe. Inside is stuff that tells why Marcus Black truly offed your folks. Why he chased you all these years? It's deeper than cash or clout."

Vincent took out one pic. He passed it with care, like thin glass might shatter.

I stared at that pic.

My form stood stock-still.

Marcus Black stood by a man in the picture. They seemed like two peas in a pod. Each had a face with marks, a cruel look, and frigid eyes. The two stared at one paper side by side, smiling like they knew a secret.

"That's Marcus's kin," Vincent voiced soft. "His given name was Alexander Black. Marcus was older by just a few ticks. The pair were partners in the dark ring at once."

"Was?" I spoke up. My sound was odd in my ears then.

"He died twenty-three years back," Vincent spoke. "The day your folks kicked the bucket. Your granddad Edward slayed him in the fight that saved you."

I eyed the shot. I sought to grasp what this might mean for me. To see how all this changed then and there.

"More is there," Vincent spoke up soon. He took out one more paper. "A note. Marcus Black wrote it way back, 'fore he was locked up that first time. It tells why he's tracked you for so long now. Not just for your folks, Romeo. For his kin. Marcus blames you for Alexander's death. By offering you, he thinks he rights that wrong."

I took the note with shaking grips. As I read Marcus's sick words, how he meant to hunt me down, make me hurt, waste all I love, I felt cold deep down.

For at the foot of the note, a name was there in black ink. And next to that name sat a date in time. And next to that date lay a text that shook my whole world dark:

I bet while you read this, a mole would be in your company. One you trust so dearly. A soul Romeo wouldn't suspect at all. This clash has reached its end. Though you still have no clue.

I squinted at Vincent. "Huh?" I breathed. "Tell me, who is the mole?"

Vincent's face froze all of a sudden. His hand trembled just a bit as it groped for his device. But before he could speak, alarms began echoing all through the safe house.

Crimson lights flickered all around.

And a slow, stiff tone boomed through the speakers: "Danger. Danger. Someone bypassed the house security."

The person Marcus Black put in Phoenix Empire wasn't away. They were already present. Among us. In our safe space.

The bright lights fizzled out.