Chapter 18 - THE ARCHITECT
Nobody moved.
Arthur Mercer stared at the ledger in Luca's hands.
"Give it to me."
Luca laughed quietly.
"You watched me grow up."
"Yes."
"You sat beside my mother while she was dying."
"Yes."
"You knew who ordered Fulton Street."
Arthur's expression remained calm.
"I ordered Fulton Street."
Della stopped breathing.
Luca stared at him.
"Why?"
"Because you were becoming exactly like your father."
"Meaning?"
"Independent."
Arthur looked almost disappointed.
"Antonio understood how power works."
"He helped create an arrangement that protected businesses, judges, unions, ports, and politicians."
"He benefited enormously."
"Then he developed a conscience."
Luca's eyes hardened.
"So you killed him?"
Arthur shook his head.
"Cancer killed your father."
"But fear made his final years unpleasant."
Conrad stepped closer.
"We don't have time for history."
Della looked toward Owen.
He was watching the security guard.
Waiting.
Planning.
She understood.
She turned toward Cordelia.
"Your father used you."
Cordelia stared at Conrad.
"Shut up."
Della continued.
"He sent you after me because he didn't want his own name connected."
Cordelia's breathing changed.
Conrad snapped.
"Cordelia, come here."
She did not move.
Della looked at her.
"That mirror could have killed my child."
Cordelia whispered.
"I know."
"Then decide who you are."
Conrad stepped forward.
"Enough."
That was when Owen moved.
He drove his shoulder into the security guard.
The man's grip broke.
Luca pushed Della behind the storage cage.
The ledger dropped.
Pages scattered across the floor.
Cordelia screamed.
Conrad lunged for them.
But Cordelia moved first.
She stepped on the ledger.
Her father froze.
"Move."
Cordelia looked at him.
"No."
His face transformed.
"You stupid girl."
Cordelia flinched.
But she remained where she was.
For the first time in her life, she had said no to Conrad Vance.
Sirens sounded above them.
Arthur looked toward Luca.
"You called police?"
Luca shook his head.
Della raised her phone.
The screen showed an active call.
Detective Ellis.
"I did."
Arthur's calm finally disappeared.
Della had called Mara before entering the basement.
Everything had been heard.
Arthur's confession.
Conrad's words.
All of it.
Conrad lunged toward Della.
Owen intercepted him.
Security doors burst open seconds later.
Police flooded the basement.
Arthur Mercer did not resist.
Neither did Conrad.
Patrick Sloan's corrupted security team surrendered one by one.
Cordelia remained beside the ledger.
Shaking.
Della moved toward Owen.
For months she had imagined this moment.
She had imagined hitting him.
Holding him.
Screaming.
Crying.
Instead she simply looked at him.
"You left me."
His face broke.
"I know."
"You let me believe you didn't want our baby."
"I know."
"Don't tell me you did it for me."
Owen swallowed.
"I did it because I was afraid."
That answer stopped her.
For once, he did not call fear love.
Police led Conrad past them.
He looked toward Owen.
"This isn't over."
Owen stared back.
"Yes, it is."
But Arthur Mercer smiled as officers placed him in handcuffs.
"No."
Everyone looked at him.
Arthur's eyes settled on Della.
"You still think I'm the Architect."
May you like
His smile widened.
"I'm not."
