Chapter 8 - Arthur’s Warning
Arthur did not resist when security brought him inside.
That frightened Luca.
Men who expected to survive did not walk calmly into the homes of people they had poisoned.
Arthur sat opposite Luca in the study.
His eyes moved briefly toward the wheelchair.
“Still using it.”
“For now.”
Arthur smiled.
“So you know.”
“I know enough.”
“No.”
Arthur leaned back.
“You know the first layer.”
Luca kept his voice quiet.
“Did you poison me?”
“Yes.”
Marcus shifted near the wall.
Arthur did not look at him.
“Why?”
“Because your father refused to listen.”
“My father?”
Arthur’s expression changed.
“Antonio Costello believed blood made him untouchable.”
Luca’s hands tightened.
“Did you kill him?”
Arthur smiled faintly.
“I helped him reach the consequences of his choices.”
Luca wanted to lunge across the desk.
Twelve years of immobility prevented the instinct from becoming action.
Perhaps that saved Arthur’s life.
“What did Dominic have to do with it?”
Arthur’s smile faded.
“Dominic was weak.”
“Answer me.”
“He agreed to control you.”
“By poisoning me.”
“He agreed to sedation.”
Arthur shrugged.
“A temporary neurological suppression.”
“You destroyed twelve years of my life.”
“No.”
Arthur leaned forward.
“I preserved your life.”
Luca stared at him.
“You were going to expose the trust.”
“What trust?”
“The original Costello trust.”
Arthur’s eyes hardened.
“The one your father created before you were born.”
Luca had never heard of it.
Arthur saw that.
For the first time, he looked genuinely surprised.
“Dominic never told you.”
“No.”
Arthur laughed quietly.
“That coward.”
Luca rolled closer.
“What is in it?”
Arthur looked toward the door.
“Something worth poisoning two generations of Costellos.”
“Tell me.”
Arthur’s gaze shifted back.
“Your empire does not belong to you.”
Luca felt a chill.
“Then who?”
Arthur smiled.
“That is the wrong question.”
He stood.
Security moved immediately.
Arthur did not care.
“You should ask what happens when Maya turns twelve.”
Luca froze.
Maya’s birthday was seven weeks away.
Arthur glanced at the photograph on Luca’s desk.
Maya standing on the baseball diamond.
“You think finding your daughter changed your life.”
May you like
His voice became almost gentle.
“It may have activated the clause we spent twelve years trying to prevent.”
