CHAPTER 6 — Vault 9
The key led beneath Blackwood Tower.
Even Alexander had never known the underground vault existed.
According to company blueprints, Basement Level Four ended at a reinforced concrete wall.
But Marcus discovered a hidden elevator concealed behind an old wine cellar.
The brass key fit perfectly.
The steel doors opened with a deep metallic groan.
Cold air rushed upward.
The elevator descended...
Ten floors.
Twenty floors.
Thirty floors below street level.
Finally, the doors opened onto a massive underground archive stretching farther than Alexander could see.
Rows upon rows of steel cabinets filled the darkness.
Every cabinet carried the name of a powerful family.
Blackwood.
Harrington.
Sterling.
Ashford.
Kingsley.
Hundreds of others.
Each file contained surveillance photos, forged documents, financial records, secret affairs, DNA reports, and evidence of decades of blackmail.
Emily stared in horror.
"They've controlled the richest families in America for generations."
Marcus pulled open another cabinet.
Inside were photographs of children.
Every photo had a red stamp.
SUCCESSOR.
Alexander frowned.
"What does that mean?"
Before Marcus could answer, a voice echoed through the darkness.
"It means they choose who inherits the world."
Lights switched on one by one.
An elderly woman stepped out from the shadows wearing an elegant white suit.
Silver hair.
Calm eyes.
No fear.
Victoria slowly walked in behind her...
Not as a prisoner.
As an obedient subordinate.
Alexander froze.
"You..."
Victoria lowered her head.
"I'm sorry."
"I was never your fiancée."
"I was assigned to you."
The old woman smiled warmly.
"My name is Eleanor Graves."
"For forty years, I've built presidents..."
"...destroyed billionaires..."
"...and rewritten family histories."
She looked directly into Alexander's eyes.
"The accident wasn't meant to kill you."
"It was meant to test whether you were worthy."
Emily stepped forward.
"You stole my life."
Eleanor nodded without emotion.
"Yes."
"And I can return it."
Then she placed a leather folder on the table.
Inside were official government records.
Emily's real identity.
Alexander's true birth records.
And one document that made his blood run cold.
His father's signature.
Approving the separation of the twins.
Alexander shook his head.
"No..."
"My father would never..."
Eleanor interrupted softly.
"Your father wasn't our enemy."
"He was one of our founders."
The world seemed to stop.
Everything Alexander believed about his family collapsed in a single sentence.
But Eleanor wasn't finished.
She smiled as the heavy blast doors behind them slammed shut.
Steel locks engaged automatically.
Then the lights turned red.
"You came looking for the truth."
"Now you'll never leave with it."
As hidden machine guns slowly emerged from the ceiling, Alexander realized the vault had never been a secret archive.
May you like
It was a trap.
And someone inside the room had already betrayed them... again.
