Chapter 7 - THE PRICE OF AN HEIR
The reason was hidden inside Dominic's father's will.
Marco found it at midnight.
If Dominic died without a recognized biological heir, controlling voting rights in Vascari Maritime transferred to a trust administered by Gideon Rusk.
If an heir existed, Gideon received nothing.
Mara read the clause twice.
“So Grace wasn't collateral.”
“No,” Dominic said.
“She was the obstacle.”
The implications sickened him.
Gideon had known Mara was pregnant for months.
He had needed the child dead before Dominic recognized her legally.
The crash was supposed to accomplish both.
Mara touched Grace's incubator.
“Then why kidnap her after she survived?”
“Because he needed time to destroy the evidence.”
Lucia shook her head.
“No. There's more.”
Everyone looked at her.
“My mother told Gideon where the original Vascari partnership ledger was hidden.”
“The one proving your ownership?”
“Yes.”
“Where?”
Lucia looked at Grace.
“In the family chapel.”
Dominic understood.
The same property his father had placed into Grace's inheritance trust the moment a Vascari heir was born.
Gideon needed control of Grace's estate to access it without triggering litigation.
“He doesn't just need her dead,” Mara whispered.
“He needs her declared his ward first.”
The door opened.
Hannah entered.
“Where's Elena?”
Dominic frowned.
“With Grace.”
“No, she isn't.”
They ran.
The NICU incubator was empty.
Again.
Mara made a sound Dominic would hear in nightmares for years.
But this time there was no forged transfer.
No gunmen.
No alarms.
Only Elena's nurse badge on the floor.
And a note.
COME ALONE, MARA.
OR GRACE DOESN'T GET A THIRD CHANCE.
Mara picked it up.
“No.”
Dominic reached for her.
She pulled away.
“He wants me.”
“He wants me desperate.”
“He knows you'll follow me.”
“Exactly.”
She looked at him.
“Then we stop behaving the way he expects.”
Two hours later, Mara walked alone into the Vascari family chapel.
She wore a black coat over hospital clothes and moved slowly because every breath still hurt.
Gideon waited near the altar.
Grace was in Elena's arms.
Elena had a bruise across her face.
Alive.
Mara nearly collapsed with relief.
“You came,” Gideon said.
“Give me my daughter.”
“You're brave.”
“No. I'm angry.”
Gideon smiled.
“I always liked you.”
“You tried to kill me.”
“I tried to remove an heir.”
“She is a baby.”
“She is a controlling interest worth nine figures.”
Mara stared at him.
“You actually believe that's an explanation.”
“I believe families like the Vascaris understand only ownership.”
“Then you never understood Dominic.”
Gideon laughed.
“You did?”
“Yes.”
The certainty surprised even her.
“He was selfish. Arrogant. Suspicious. He hurt me.”
Somewhere outside, Dominic heard every word through the transmitter beneath Mara's coat.
She continued.
“But he came back.”
Gideon's smile faded.
“Men like Dominic don't change.”
“Maybe not for power.”
Mara looked at Grace.
“For her, he did.”
Gideon raised his gun.
“And for you?”
Mara's eyes met his.
“We'll see.”
That was Dominic's signal.
The chapel lights died.
Marco entered through the sacristy.
Lucia blocked the rear exit.
Dominic came through the main doors.
Gideon seized Grace from Elena.
“Stop!”
Everyone froze.
Grace began crying.
Dominic lowered his weapon immediately.
“Give her to Mara.”
“Put the gun down.”
Dominic did.
“Kick it away.”
He obeyed.
Mara stared at him.
The old Dominic would have negotiated.
Threatened.
Calculated.
This man surrendered before Gideon finished asking.
Because his daughter was worth more than winning.
Gideon noticed too.
“Pathetic.”
Dominic looked at him.
“No. This is the first thing I've done in years that isn't.”
Gideon moved toward the side door.
Then Lucia stepped forward.
“You loved my mother.”
His face changed.
“Don't.”
“She would hate what you became.”
“Don't speak for her.”
“She died believing you were protecting me.”
“I did protect you.”
“You used me.”
His hand trembled.
Only slightly.
But Mara saw it.
She moved.
She struck Gideon's wrist with the heavy brass candleholder beside the altar.
The gun fired into the ceiling.
Dominic crossed the distance instantly.
Grace slipped.
Mara caught her.
Dominic tackled Gideon.
Marco kicked the weapon away.
For several seconds, Dominic's hands were around Gideon's throat.
Gideon's face darkened.
“Dominic!” Mara shouted.
He did not stop.
“Dominic!”
He looked at her.
Mara held Grace against her chest.
“Come back.”
His hands opened.
Gideon gasped.
Dominic stood.
Police sirens approached.
Gideon laughed from the floor.
“You think this ends because you didn't kill me?”
Dominic looked down.
“No.”
He took Mara's hand.
“It ends because I don't have to.”
But Gideon smiled.
“You still haven't asked who gave me Mara's route yesterday.”
Dominic stopped.
May you like
Gideon's eyes shifted toward Marco.
And suddenly every gun in the chapel turned.
