CHAPTER 4 — THE FRAME, THE BLOOD, AND THE MAN WHO REMEMBERED HOW TO HUNT
CHAPTER 4 — THE FRAME, THE BLOOD, AND THE MAN WHO REMEMBERED HOW TO HUNT
The next morning began with screaming.
One of the security guards burst into the dining room.
"Boss!"
"The vault!"
Dominic slowly stood.
"What about it?"
"It's been robbed."
Inside the private vault beneath Ravenhill Estate, several safes had been forced open.
Cash was untouched.
Jewelry remained.
Only one thing was missing.
The original syndicate ledger.
Every payment.
Every corrupt politician.
Every secret account.
Gone.
Mrs. Gable gasped dramatically.
"Oh my God..."
Then she looked directly at Meline.
"Search everyone."
The guards obeyed.
They checked every servant.
Every room.
Finally...
One guard reached into the pocket of Meline's cleaning apron.
His expression changed.
"Boss..."
He pulled out a brass vault key.
Dominic's face remained unreadable.
Mrs. Gable whispered,
"I knew it..."
"The quiet ones are always dangerous."
The guards immediately surrounded Meline.
One grabbed her wrists.
Another demanded,
"Where's the ledger?"
Meline desperately shook her head.
Tears filled her eyes.
She tried writing.
The notebook was knocked from her hands.
Dominic spoke only one word.
"Enough."
The room fell silent.
He walked toward her.
Step.
Step.
Step.
He reached out.
Instead of taking the key...
He took her hands.
His fingers slowly traced her palms.
Cuts.
Fresh burns.
Soap residue.
Then he smiled.
"A thief?"
He shook his head.
"No."
Everyone stared.
Dominic turned toward the guards.
"Tell me."
"When was the vault opened?"
"Around three this morning."
He nodded.
"Meline."
He held up her hands.
"These blisters formed yesterday."
"She scrubbed fireplaces until nearly midnight."
"If she'd forced open steel locks..."
"...these injuries would be different."
Silence.
He continued.
"Second."
He held the brass key near his face.
"I recognize its smell."
The guards exchanged confused glances.
"Machine oil."
He smiled coldly.
"I haven't used oil on that key in six months."
"This was cleaned yesterday."
"Someone wanted it to smell recently handled."
Mrs. Gable's face slowly lost color.
Dominic turned toward her.
"You underestimated blindness."
His voice became ice.
"When I lost my eyes..."
"...the rest of my senses learned to see."
Mrs. Gable took one step backward.
Dominic heard it.
"You framed her."
"I..."
She stammered.
"I would never—"
Before she could finish—
One of the estate's oldest guards entered at a run.
"Boss!"
Everyone turned.
"A visitor."
Dominic frowned.
"I wasn't expecting anyone."
The guard swallowed.
"He says..."
"...he has proof who betrayed you."
"And he has a video from Pier 19."
The entire mansion became deathly silent.
Dominic slowly removed his dark glasses.
His scarred, sightless eyes faced the doorway.
"Bring him in."
Outside...
Hidden among the pine trees beyond Ravenhill's gates...
A black SUV watched the mansion through binoculars.
Inside sat Damian Cross.
Beside him was Victoria Langley.
Victoria lowered the binoculars.
"He survived longer than expected."
Damian smiled.
"That's why we're here."
He chambered a round into a suppressed pistol.
May you like
"Tonight..."
"...Ravenhill burns."
