Chapter 11 - NATHAN’S REAL PLAN
Rourke sat in Gabriel’s conference room with two guards behind him.
His face was exhausted.
“I didn’t betray you.”
Gabriel dropped the plane ticket on the table.
“Convince me.”
Rourke looked at Claire.
“Nathan knew Vincent was moving against him.”
“So?”
“He created an emergency plan.”
“To steal Eli?”
“To protect him.”
Gabriel slammed both hands onto the table.
“From me?”
“Yes.”
The answer hit harder than Gabriel expected.
Rourke continued.
“Not because Nathan believed you were evil. Because he believed Vincent could manipulate you.”
Claire leaned forward.
“What was in Boston?”
“A retired federal prosecutor. Nathan’s godfather.”
Gabriel laughed bitterly.
“Uncle Vincent was trying to kill us while Nathan secretly prepared to have my nephew removed from me.”
Rourke shook his head.
“You’re missing the point.”
“Enlighten me.”
“Nathan trusted you.”
“Doesn’t sound like it.”
“He trusted your heart.”
Rourke looked him directly in the eye.
“He didn’t trust your anger.”
Gabriel stopped.
Rourke continued.
“Nathan believed Vincent would kill him and make it look like Cross did it. Then he’d use your grief to start a war.”
Claire remembered Nathan’s recording.
The goal wasn’t money.
It was control.
Rourke said, “Vincent needed you angry enough to stop asking questions.”
Gabriel looked away.
It had worked.
For eleven months, Gabriel had blamed Cross.
Men had died.
Territory had burned.
Vincent had quietly gained more power every month.
Claire asked, “Why didn’t you tell Gabriel?”
Rourke laughed.
“Nathan told me not to unless Vincent made his move.”
“He murdered Nathan.”
“I couldn’t prove it.”
“So you waited?”
“I watched Eli.”
Gabriel suddenly understood.
“You changed the convoy route.”
Rourke nodded.
“Because I spotted Peter following the original route.”
“And somehow Vincent still knew.”
“Yes.”
“How?”
Rourke looked toward Mason.
Everyone became still.
Mason’s face hardened.
“Careful.”
Rourke said, “I never told Peter the new route.”
“Neither did I.”
“No.”
Rourke swallowed.
“But someone using your security credentials accessed it.”
Mason stepped forward.
“That can be copied.”
“Maybe.”
Gabriel stared at his oldest friend.
Mason looked offended.
“You cannot seriously think—”
“I think nothing.”
“Gabriel.”
“I need facts.”
The same words Gabriel had used on Claire.
Now they cut someone else.
Mason removed his gun.
Placed it on the table.
“If you think I sold out your nephew, shoot me.”
Gabriel stared at him.
Claire noticed something.
Mason’s left hand was trembling.
Not fear.
Pain.
“Mason.”
He looked at her.
“Roll up your sleeve.”
“What?”
“Do it.”
Mason hesitated.
Then obeyed.
A fresh puncture mark sat inside his elbow.
Claire frowned.
“What happened?”
Mason looked genuinely confused.
“I don’t know.”
Rourke stood.
“Sedative.”
Mason’s face changed.
Memory returned slowly.
“The night before the convoy…”
“What?”
“I had a drink with Peter.”
Gabriel understood.
Peter had drugged Mason.
Used his security badge.
Copied his credentials.
Mason closed his eyes.
“I let him into the system.”
Gabriel put a hand on his shoulder.
“No.”
“You trusted someone.”
Mason gave a bitter laugh.
“Coming from you, that’s almost funny.”
Then Claire’s phone rang.
Damian Cross.
She answered.
His voice was urgent.
“Vincent just purchased enough weapons to start a war.”
Gabriel took the phone.
“Where?”
“Your father’s old printing plant.”
“Why there?”
Damian paused.
“Because tomorrow night every Kane family captain will be inside.”
Gabriel’s face hardened.
May you like
Vincent wasn’t running anymore.
He was taking the throne.
