Chapter 10: Enemies in the Shadows

Marcus drove Emily away from the bank through the underground parking exit while Dominic stayed behind.

Emily looked back through the rear window.

"We can't just leave him there," she said anxiously.

"Trust him," Marcus replied calmly.

"Dominic knows exactly what he's doing."

"But those men—"

"They won't risk attacking him in public."

"Not yet."

Emily reluctantly nodded.

Meanwhile, Dominic watched the three mysterious men leave the bank.

Instead of following them himself, he quietly contacted his private security team.

"Track the black SUV and everyone who left the bank five minutes ago," he instructed.

"I want names before sunset."

"Understood, sir."

An hour later, Dominic returned to Steele Empire.

Emily was waiting inside his office.

The moment he walked in, she stood up.

"Are you alright?"

"Perfectly."

"They left without causing trouble."

Emily released the breath she had been holding.

"I was worried."

Dominic smiled faintly.

"I'm not that easy to intimidate."

Marcus entered carrying the journal and documents from the safety deposit box.

"I've stored everything inside the company's secure vault," he reported.

"Only the three of us know where it is."

"Good," Dominic replied.

"Now we need to examine the flash drive."

Marcus connected the flash drive to a secured offline computer.

Several encrypted folders appeared on the screen.

"They're password protected," Marcus said.

"Can you unlock them?" Dominic asked.

"Give me some time."

After nearly thirty minutes of work, Marcus finally smiled.

"I'm in."

The first folder contained hundreds of financial records.

Offshore accounts.

Illegal wire transfers.

Bribery payments.

"This is enough evidence to send powerful people to prison," Marcus whispered.

The second folder contained photographs.

Most featured businessmen meeting secretly late at night.

Then one picture appeared on the screen.

Emily froze.

"Wait..."

"Zoom in."

Marcus enlarged the photograph.

"That's... impossible."

"What is it?" Dominic asked.

Emily pointed toward a familiar face standing beside Victor Kane.

"That's my uncle... Richard Hart."

"My father's younger brother."

Silence filled the office.

"Are you certain?" Marcus asked.

"Yes."

"He attended every family gathering when I was little."

"After Dad disappeared... he stopped visiting us completely."

Dominic looked at the screen thoughtfully.

"That means someone inside your own family may have betrayed your father."

Emily felt sick.

"No... Uncle Richard would never..."

"People change," Dominic said quietly.

"Especially when money is involved."

Just then, Dominic's phone rang.

"Steele."

His expression hardened immediately.

"When?"

"Keep watching him."

"Don't lose sight of him."

He ended the call.

"What's wrong?" Emily asked.

"My security team found the black SUV."

"Where?"

"Outside your mother's house."

Emily's face turned pale.

"Mom!"

"We're leaving now," Dominic ordered.

Within minutes, the three rushed toward the parking garage.

Dominic drove faster than Emily had ever experienced.

"Please let her be okay," Emily whispered repeatedly.

When they reached the neighborhood, police cars were already outside the house.

Emily jumped out before the car completely stopped.

"Mom!" she screamed.

Her mother rushed outside and immediately hugged her tightly.

"Emily! Thank God you're here."

"Are you hurt?" Emily asked desperately.

"No."

"Someone broke into the house while I was shopping."

"The police said they were searching for something."

Dominic exchanged a knowing look with Marcus.

"Just like Emily's apartment," Marcus whispered.

A police officer approached them.

"Mr. Steele?"

"We found something unusual inside."

"What is it?"

"The intruders left this behind."

He handed Dominic a small black envelope.

There was only one sentence written inside.

"Return Robert Hart's evidence... or Emily dies."

Emily's mother gasped.

"What evidence?"

Emily slowly looked toward Dominic.

Their enemies now knew one thing for certain.

The evidence had been found.

And from this moment onward...

The hunt had officially begun.