Chapter 8 - Account Seven
Alexander did not defend himself.
That frightened Sofia more than an immediate denial would have.
Mercer quietly ordered two agents to stand near the study entrance.
Elena moved between Alexander and Sofia.
“My brother did not sell her.”
Adriana’s expression remained cold.
“Then he should explain why Meridian Seven transferred three million dollars into an account opened under his military identification.”
Alexander closed the ledger.
“I never received that money.”
“Every guilty man says the same thing.”
“I was twenty-two when the account was opened. I had just entered officer training.”
“And General Vale was your sponsor.”
Alexander looked toward Mercer.
“Verify the account.”
Mercer photographed the ledger entry and sent it to his financial team.
Sofia watched Alexander carefully.
He did not appear afraid of arrest.
He appeared afraid of what the investigation might uncover.
“Did you introduce Javier to me?” she asked.
“No.”
“You invited him to the foundation gala where we met.”
“I invited his company because it funded the veterans’ program.”
“Through Carmen.”
“Yes.”
“Did Vale tell you to invite them?”
Alexander looked away.
That was enough.
Elena stepped closer to him.
“What did Vale ask you to do?”
“He said the Robles family wanted to repair its relationship with ours.”
“After Luciana died?”
“He said Rafael had discovered financial crimes committed by our father and wanted to make restitution.”
Adriana laughed without humor.
“And you believed him?”
“I had no evidence Rafael was alive.”
“You had thirty years of warnings.”
“I had stories from people who refused to tell me the truth.”
The accusation landed between Alexander and Elena.
Sofia understood then that the Serrano family had not been destroyed by one betrayal.
It had been weakened by decades of secrets.
Mercer’s phone rang.
He answered, listened and looked toward Alexander.
“The account exists.”
Elena’s face fell.
Mercer continued.
“It contains three million dollars. There have been no withdrawals. The statements were sent to a military postal address controlled by General Vale’s former office.”
Alexander released a slow breath.
“I never knew.”
“The account was designed to make it appear that you did,” Adriana said. “Vale has been building leverage against you for years.”
“Why?”
“Because Luciana trusted you.”
Alexander looked toward Sofia’s photograph inside the glass case.
“Luciana stopped speaking to me before she died.”
“She stopped because she knew your phone was monitored.”
Adriana removed a letter from inside her coat.
The envelope was addressed to Alexander.
The postmark was dated one day before Luciana’s death.
“I intercepted this from one of Rafael’s couriers,” Adriana said. “I kept it because I did not know whether you were part of their plan.”
Alexander opened the letter.
His hands trembled slightly.
Luciana’s words were brief.
Alexander,
If anything happens to me, protect Sofia from our father’s partners. Do not trust Vale. Do not trust the Robles family. The condo is not an inheritance. It is a witness.
I am sorry I could not tell you sooner.
Luciana
Alexander read it twice.
Then he folded it carefully.
“You had this for fifteen years.”
Adriana’s face remained hard, but pain entered her eyes.
“I had no reason to trust you.”
“You watched Sofia marry Javier.”
“I tried to stop the wedding.”
“The fire alarm,” Sofia said.
Adriana nodded.
“I entered the hotel through the kitchen and triggered the system when I realized Carmen had taken you upstairs.”
“Why did you not come to me?”
“Because Carmen was not the only person watching.”
Adriana pointed toward a small security monitor mounted above the hidden room.
The screen displayed a live image of the building lobby.
General Marcus Vale stood near the elevators.
Although he was nearly seventy, his posture remained straight. Two men in dark coats stood behind him.
Vale looked directly into the lobby camera.
Then he raised a phone.
Alexander’s phone rang.
He answered on speaker.
Vale’s voice filled the study.
“Colonel Serrano, you have opened a room that should have remained closed.”
Alexander stared at the monitor.
“You used my name to steal three million dollars.”
“I protected your future.”
“You targeted my niece.”
“I arranged a marriage. Carmen’s methods were regrettable.”
Sofia stepped closer to the phone.
“You ordered what happened in the hotel.”
“No, Sofia. Your husband did.”
Javier’s voice suddenly came through the call.
“Do not listen to him, Sofia.”
She froze.
Javier was supposed to be in federal custody.
Mercer reached for his radio.
Vale spoke again.
“Agent Mercer, you should contact your transport team. Their vehicle never reached headquarters.”
The lobby elevator began to rise.
May you like
Its destination illuminated on the monitor.
Penthouse.
