Victor leaned forward, elbows resting on his knees, eyes fixed on his son. The living room was still, save for the faint ticking of the old wall clock and the hum of the refrigerator from the kitchen.
"You remember the Virella deal, don't you?" he began.
Jesse narrowed his eyes. "Barely. You were always in and out. One day you were smiling about contracts, the next you were gone."
Victor nodded. "That deal-Virella Corp-was meant to be the last thing I did for our family. A legacy."
Gran scoffed behind them, arms crossed from the hallway. "A legacy that ended in fraud and prison."
Victor didn't flinch. "It was supposed to be clean. But my partner, Dalton-he cut corners. We were already under watch. One wrong signature, and it spiraled. I tried to protect your name, Jesse. That's why I disappeared."
Alina's voice was sharp. "But you came back. Why now?"
Victor turned to her. "Because Virella is back in the picture. And this time, they're coming after your company."
Alina blinked. "What?"
Jesse stood up. "Why her company?"
"Because she's powerful. Because you're married to her. And because Victor Langley's son is still a name they think they can manipulate." He looked Jesse dead in the eyes. "They want to finish what we started. But I won't let them."
Alina was already opening her laptop on the couch, typing furiously. "They reached out for a shadow bid last week," she murmured. "Anonymous. I didn't bite."
Victor nodded. "It was them. They're using shell companies now-layers of misdirection. They're targeting your board. Vantage included."
The room sank into silence.
Jesse looked to Alina. "We need to warn them."
Victor stepped in. "No. If you move too fast, they'll bury the trail. We have to be strategic."
"But you're the one they know," Jesse said. "They'll never trust you."
"That's why I need you, son."
Jesse blinked, fury swirling just beneath the surface. "You don't get to ask for that. Not now."
Alina placed a hand on Jesse's back. "We do this together. But not on their terms."
Gran shuffled in, holding a dusty leather file. "He left this behind when he ran. I kept it. Figured he'd come back eventually."
Victor stiffened. "You still have it?"
She dropped it on the table with a thud.
Alina opened the file carefully. Inside were handwritten notes, a map, and names-dozens of them. Government contacts. Virella executives. Money trails.
Victor pointed at one name. "This man-Darien Moss-he's in Lagos now. Fronting as a logistics investor. But he's laundering money through shell acquisitions. He's the link."
Jesse leaned in. "So we find him."
Victor's jaw tightened. "He's not someone you find. He finds you-if he wants to."
Jesse cracked his knuckles. "Then we make him want to."
Alina looked between them. "This is bigger than us."
Victor nodded. "Which is why we need to move before they buy out your board."
Just then, a phone rang. Alina's.
Naomi.
She picked it up.
"Alina-Vantage just pulled out of negotiations. No warning. No statement. Just a one-line email."
Jesse's blood ran cold.
Victor muttered, "It's starting."
Alina lowered the phone slowly. Her voice was deadly calm.
"They're not just threatening us now. They've made their first move."
Gran stood taller in the doorway, arms crossed. "Looks like the ghosts are walking again."
Jesse clenched his fists. "Then let's bury them for good."
Just then, the lights flickered. Then again. And then-
*Boom.*
The power cut out completely.
Alina and Jesse froze.
Outside, the unmistakable sound of tires screeching pierced the night.
Gran moved to the window. "We've got company."
Victor's voice dropped. "They've come early."
Jesse darted to the hallway, grabbing the old steel bat from behind the umbrella stand. Alina took Victor's phone and stuffed the documents into her briefcase.
From outside, shadows moved. Men. Four, maybe five.
Victor turned to Jesse. "You ready?"
Jesse nodded. "I've been waiting my whole life for this."