Chapter 6
Julian arrived at my house that evening.
I had not summoned him.
That told me enough.
He walked into the library carrying concern on his face like a tailored suit.
“Marina, I heard about the children.”
From whom?
I had told no one outside the casino room.
Samuel stood near the fireplace.
Julian saw him.
Stopped.
There.
“Where are Owen and Piper?”
“Safe.”
“With whom?”
“Not relevant.”
He frowned.
“I’m their uncle.”
“No.”
I held his eyes.
“You’re their father’s brother.”
Small distinction.
Important.
I placed the black chip on the table.
J.V.
Julian stared.
Then laughed softly.
“Daniel used to mark everything.”
“You know this mark?”
“Yes.”
Too easy.
He was trying to make familiarity harmless.
Then I placed the wedding ring beside it.
That changed him.
Only for half a second.
Enough.
“Where did you get that?”
Not: Is that Daniel’s?
He knew.
“Casino.”
His jaw tightened.
“Edmund?”
“Yes.”
“I told Daniel those people were animals.”
Interesting.
“Then why were you meeting them?”
He looked at the chip.
“I met everyone.”
Wrong.
Samuel spoke.
“Not everyone had private access after midnight.”
Julian turned toward him.
“Careful.”
Samuel almost smiled.
Wrong man to threaten tonight.
I asked:
“What was Daniel protecting me from?”
Julian sighed.
“My brother became paranoid.”
There it was.
The dead cannot defend themselves.
“He believed I wanted his position.”
“Did you?”
Silence.
Then:
“I believed he was tired.”
Not answer.
“Did you sell Voss protection?”
His face hardened.
“I maintained relationships.”
Same language.
Always.
“By taking money?”
“Families contribute.”
“Without Daniel knowing?”
Julian looked away.
There.
He created a shadow system.
Certain families paid Julian personally.
In return, he promised that if conflict came, Voss support would prioritize them.
Daniel discovered it.
Ordered it stopped.
Julian refused.
“He was throwing away leverage,” Julian said.
“No.”
I leaned closer.
“He was refusing to sell the same protection twice.”
His eyes sharpened.
May you like
Then I asked about the coffin.
For the first time, he went completely still.
