Chapter 8: The Man Behind the Empire
Richard Kane didn’t look like the kind of man who controlled an underground empire.
That was the first thing that bothered me.
Men like him were supposed to look dangerous.
Scarred.
Broken.
Like the violence they created had left a mark on them.
Richard looked like a man who belonged on the cover of a business magazine.
Perfect suit.
Silver watch.
Calm smile.
The kind of smile people trusted.
The kind of smile that made people forget to ask questions.
And that was probably what made him dangerous.
Victoria stared at him.
“Father.””
The word came out quietly.
Not with respect.
With fear.
I noticed.
Richard noticed too.
He smiled slightly.
“Still dramatic, Victoria.””
She stepped forward.
“You said you weren’t coming.””
“I changed my mind.””
“You knew about this?””
Richard looked at me.
“I knew Ethan would eventually return.””
My grip tightened around the envelope Marcus had thrown me.
“You planned this.””
“No.””
His answer was immediate.
“I prepared for it.””
“That’s the same thing.””
Richard smiled.
“You sound like your father.””
I hated how many people had said that to me.
Like my entire identity was connected to a man I never truly understood.
I stepped forward.
“You knew my father.””
Richard nodded.
“Very well.””
“Then tell me the truth.””
A quiet laugh escaped him.
“Everyone wants the truth.””
He looked around the room.
“Until they realize the truth destroys the person they thought they were.””
Jake moved beside me.
“We’re done listening to people talk in circles.””
Richard looked at him.
“Jake Walker.””
My brother stiffened.
“You know me?””
“I knew you before you knew yourself.””
That sentence made my stomach turn.
Richard continued.
“Your father worried about you.””
Jake’s face hardened.
“Don’t pretend you cared.””
“I did.””
“No.””
Jake shook his head.
“People who care don’t threaten children.””
Richard looked confused.
“Threaten?””
His eyes moved toward Marcus.
Then back to Jake.
“Is that what you were told?””
Jake’s expression changed.
I noticed.
Because Richard wasn’t denying it.
He was questioning it.
And that bothered me.
I looked at Marcus.
“You threatened him.””
Marcus stayed silent.
Richard sighed.
“This is what happens when everyone keeps their own version of the story.””
He looked at me.
“Your family has been carrying pieces of the truth for years.””
“And you have the rest?””
“Yes.””
“Then start talking.””
Richard looked at the envelope.
“Before I do, open it.””
I didn’t move.
“No.””
His smile faded slightly.
“You don’t understand what you’re holding.””
“Then explain.””
“I can’t.””
“Why?””
“Because your father designed it that way.””
I looked down at the envelope.
“What does that mean?””
Richard took a step closer.
“Your father didn’t trust anyone.””
“Except himself?””
“No.””
Richard looked at Claire.
“He trusted one person.””
Everyone became still.
I followed his gaze.
My mother looked away.
“Who?””
Richard didn’t answer.
That bothered me.
Because everyone in this room knew something I didn’t.
Again.
I opened the envelope.
Inside was a small piece of paper.
Only one sentence.
My father’s handwriting.
*Ethan, if you are reading this, you have already met the people who lied to you.*
I frowned.
That wasn’t a message.
It was a warning.
I turned the paper over.
Nothing.
Richard watched me.
“Keep going.””
I looked inside the envelope again.
A small key fell into my hand.
Old.
Metal.
With a number engraved on it.
417.
“What is this?””
Richard’s expression changed.
For the first time, he looked surprised.
“I don’t know.””
Nobody believed him.
Especially not Marcus.
“You’re lying.””
Richard looked at him.
“You always were too emotional, Marcus.””
“And you always hid behind money.””
The tension between them was immediate.
I looked at Victoria.
“You knew they hated each other?””
She laughed quietly.
“Hate?””
She looked at Richard.
“My father doesn’t hate anyone.””
Richard smiled.
“Correct.””
Victoria’s voice became colder.
“He just removes people who become inconvenient.””
The room went silent.
Richard looked disappointed.
“You still blame me.””
“You destroyed everything.””
“I saved everything.””
“You destroyed my brother’s family.””
Richard’s eyes moved to me.
“Your brother’s family was destroyed long before I arrived.””
I stepped forward.
“Choose your next words carefully.””
He studied me.
Then smiled.
“There it is.””
“What?””
“The reason your father was afraid of you.””
My jaw tightened.
“I’m not afraid of who I am.””
“No.””
Richard nodded.
“You’re afraid you’re exactly who they made you.””
The words hit harder than I wanted them to.
Because deep down, that fear existed.
Every fight.
Every moment I lost control.
Every time anger felt easier than forgiveness.
I had wondered.
Was I choosing violence?
Or was violence choosing me?
Richard walked toward the table.
“Your father created Black Crown because he believed he could change the world.””
He picked up the old photograph.
“He was wrong.””
“About what?””
“People.””
Richard placed the photograph down.
“Your father believed everyone had a line they wouldn’t cross.””
He looked at Marcus.
“He was wrong.””
“Marcus crossed it.””
Richard nodded.
“Marcus crossed many.””
Marcus’s eyes narrowed.
“Careful.””
Richard ignored him.
“Your father discovered that Black Crown wasn’t the only organization using fighters.””
I frowned.
“What?””
Richard looked at me.
“There were others.””
The room became quiet.
“Rival groups?””
“No.””
His voice lowered.
“Partners.””
I felt a chill.
“Partners with Black Crown?””
“Yes.””
“Who?””
Richard looked toward the window.
“People with influence.””
“Names.””
“People you see every day.””
“That’s not an answer.””
“It’s the truth.””
I hated that.
Because it sounded exactly like something my father would have said.
Richard continued.
“The Black Ledger contains those names.””
“And my father hid it.””
“Yes.””
“Where?””
Richard looked at the key.
“That key is part of the answer.””
Daniel suddenly stepped forward.
“Impossible.””
Everyone looked at him.
Richard smiled.
“Daniel.””
The old man froze.
“You know what 417 means.””
Daniel’s face changed.
I noticed immediately.
“You know.””
Daniel looked at me.
“I…”
“No.””
My voice was sharp.
“Not again.””
Daniel closed his eyes.
“It was a storage unit.””
“What storage unit?””
“Your father’s.””
Richard nodded.
“Unit 417.””
I stared at Daniel.
“Where?””
He hesitated.
“Chicago.””
My heart sank.
The place I spent years trying to forget.
The place where my father disappeared.
The place where my fighting career began.
Richard looked satisfied.
“Now you understand.””
I turned toward him.
“Understand what?””
“That this was never about bringing you back into the fight.””
I waited.
“It was about bringing you back to the beginning.””
A sudden sound interrupted him.
A phone ringing.
Everyone looked around.
It wasn’t mine.
It wasn’t Jake’s.
It was Claire’s.
She stared at the screen.
Her face lost all color.
I saw the name.
Unknown.
She answered slowly.
“Hello?””
Nobody spoke.
Then her expression changed.
“Who is this?””
A pause.
Then she dropped the phone.
“What happened?””
Claire looked at me.
Tears filled her eyes.
“Ethan…”
“What?””
She couldn’t speak.
Daniel picked up the phone.
The call was still connected.
A voice came through the speaker.
A man.
Older.
Weak.
But familiar.
My entire body froze.
Because I knew that voice.
I had heard it in old home videos.
In memories.
In dreams.
A voice I thought I would never hear again.
My father.
“Ethan…”
Nobody moved.
Nobody breathed.
The voice continued.
“I’m sorry.””
My hands started shaking.
Jake whispered:
“Dad?””
The voice crackled.
“I don’t have much time.””
Richard’s expression changed for the first time.
Real fear.
My father continued.
“If you are hearing this…”
A pause.
“…then they know where the ledger is.””
I stared at everyone.
The phone.
The room.
The people who had lied to me.
Then my father said the words that changed everything.
“Ethan, do not go to Unit 417.””
My heart stopped.
“Because the ledger isn’t there.””
Silence.
“Your mother knows where it really is.””
Everyone turned toward Claire.
My mother looked terrified.
The voice continued.
“And Ethan…”
A pause.
Longer this time.
Like he was struggling.
“Do not trust the person standing closest to you.””
The call suddenly ended.
Nobody spoke.
Slowly…
I turned.
The person standing closest to me wasn’t Claire.
Wasn’t Jake.
Wasn’t Daniel.
It was Victoria.
She looked shocked.
But before anyone could react, she whispered:
“He wasn’t talking about me.””
My blood went cold.
Because she wasn’t looking at herself.
She was looking behind me.
At someone else.
I turned slowly.
May you like
And saw Marcus holding a gun.
Pointed directly at my back.
