Chapter 9 - The Legacy
The name of the previous Ashford boss hung heavily in the sterile air of the veterinary clinic.
Marco stared at Dominic, utterly confused.
"Your father has been dead for five years, Dom."
"He's dead," Dominic agreed, his voice tight, "but his private vault beneath the old cathedral isn't."
Dominic explained that his father had built a secret, subterranean drop-site years ago for receiving encrypted blackmail on politicians.
Evangeline must have discovered its location while investigating the Mayor’s corruption and used it as the ultimate dead drop.
"We have to move," Dominic said, forcing himself to ignore the throbbing agony in his shoulder.
He instructed Marco to leave two men to guard the clinic with their lives.
They got back into the blood-stained SUV and drove toward the historic, gothic cathedral in the oldest part of the city.
The rain had finally stopped, leaving the streets slick and reflecting the harsh yellow streetlights.
They arrived at the cathedral just before dawn, the massive stone structure looming like a dark fortress.
They bypassed the main entrance, slipping through a rusted iron gate in the cemetery out back.
Dominic led Marco down a narrow flight of crumbling stone stairs into the catacombs beneath the church.
The air was damp and smelled of ancient dust and decay.
They walked in silence until they reached a heavy, iron-reinforced wooden door at the end of the tunnel.
Dominic pulled an antique brass key from the chain around his neck and unlocked the heavy deadbolt.
The door groaned open, revealing a small, windowless room filled with metal filing cabinets and a heavy steel safe.
Dominic walked directly to the safe, spinning the dial with practiced precision.
He pulled the heavy handle, and the door swung open.
Sitting right in the center of the empty shelf was a thick, brown manila envelope.
He pulled it out, tearing the seal.
Inside was a flash drive and a stack of printed bank statements, detailing exactly how the Mayor had laundered cartel money through Caldwell's construction firms.
It was enough evidence to bring down the entire corrupt administration and send Vincent Caldwell to federal prison for the rest of his life.
"We have it," Marco breathed, staring at the papers. "We actually have it."
"Call the federal prosecutor," Dominic ordered, slipping the drive into his pocket. "The one Caldwell hasn't bought. Tell him we want full immunity for Evangeline in exchange for the files."
Marco pulled out his encrypted phone and dialed the number.
He spoke rapidly for two minutes before hanging up, a rare smile breaking across his scarred face.
"It's done. The prosecutor is sending a tactical FBI team to secure the clinic and escort Evangeline to a federal safehouse."
Relief, potent and intoxicating, washed over Dominic.
For the first time since he walked into that warehouse, he felt like they had finally won.
He had saved her life, destroyed his greatest enemy, and secured her freedom all in one night.
They walked back up the stone stairs, emerging into the pale, gray light of early morning.
Dominic’s phone vibrated in his pocket.
May you like
He pulled it out, expecting a confirmation text from Rossi about Evangeline's condition.
Instead, he saw a single, clear photograph.
