Chapter 5 - The Confession in the Dark
Elias writhed on the wet concrete, groaning in pain. I scrambled to Vance's side, pulling the heavy zip-ties from his tactical vest, and ruthlessly bound the hitman's wrists and ankles.
By the time the emergency backup lights flickered on, painting the corridor in a dim red glow, Vance was beginning to stir. I stood over Elias, my chest heaving, the combat knife now in my hand.
"You have a choice, Elias," I breathed, pressing the flat of the blade against his cheek. "You are looking at life in a federal supermax for the murder of my father and the attempted murder of myself. Or, you can become my star witness."
Elias sneered, though his face was violently red from the steam burn. "You think Arthur is the only one pulling the strings? You’re playing a game you don't understand, little girl."
"Enlighten me," I demanded.
"Your uncle didn't act alone five years ago," Elias spat out, realizing his leverage was his only currency left. "He didn't have the stomach to order his own brother's execution. It was the Syndicate. A shadow board of investors who wanted to use Kaelen Holdings to launder cartel money. Your father found out. He was going to expose them to the feds."
My heart hammered against my bruised ribs. The conspiracy was deeper than Arthur's greed. My father died protecting the soul of our family’s legacy.
"Arthur facilitated the hit," Elias continued, coughing. "He disabled the GPS on your father's boat and gave me the coordinates. In exchange, the shadow board made Arthur the CEO, and they’ve been bleeding your resorts dry ever since."
"Where are they?" I asked, my voice deadly quiet.
Elias laughed a hollow, wet sound. "They're upstairs. They booked the presidential suite under a shell corporation for an emergency meeting tonight. They came to celebrate your death, Victoria. They came to finalize the total acquisition of Kaelen Holdings."
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I looked at Vance, who was now sitting up, holding his bleeding head.
"Vance," I said, my voice hardening into absolute steel. "We aren't just holding Arthur for the police anymore. We are taking down the entire board."
