Page 29 of Raphael
His earnest warmth catches me off guard. Dom acts as a concerned mentor focused wholly on assisting me. It spurs an impulsive confession before better judgment can rein me in.
“From the beginning then...” I take a bracing gulp of cool water. “I’m consulting for my family’s club. I expected minor cash troubles given the current economy. But the discrepancies keep cropping up inexplicably, until they become too large to ignore.” My free hand fists, anger returning. “At first, I blamed it on greedy staff pocketing some extra cash on the sly. But then, massive chunks started disappearing repeatedly from the owner’s reserves, and they were otherwise inaccessible. That’s when my suspicion shifted. Someone higher is betraying my family’s trust and profiting off it illegally, funneling funds to clandestine enterprises—registered under your name.”
Uphir merely nods, waving me on as my breath grows short. Weighing his placid response, I venture the next damning confession: “In following the obscured paper trail, all clues point to you, Dominique Uphir. You run half a dozen shell companies with controlling interests tangled through Luxury Management and franchise leadership. The pieces align too neatly between this hidden money siphon and your activities basically next door...”
I trail off pointedly, pulse thrumming as I await his reaction to such inflammatory suggestions.
Across from me, Uphir strokes his goatee absently. “A compelling theory, you present. I can see how suspicion reasonably fell upon me.” He chuckles without mirth. “My interests do intersect closely with your family’s... establishments. But I can assure you, Ms. Morningstar, my own dealings adhere strictly to human laws and ethical practices.”
I snort rudely before thinking better of antagonizing someone likely entangled with dangerous segments of society. But Uphir beams unexpectedly.
“Therenow! You show refreshing candor, young lady.” He leans forward earnestly. “Not all in my position could say the same alas, so some skepticism remains reasonable. But I conducted my own quiet investigation into your club’s troubles once whispers reached me. After much effort and calling in favors, I recently uncoveredthe true culprit.”
I gape, mind whirling to process his words. Dominique Uphir admitting backroom researching affairs at the DeLux? Either he crafts lies to deflect any blame, or far greater forces stir these waters than I ever imagined. And his revelation about already identifying the real embezzler steals any response from my lips.
Oblivious to my internal floundering, Uphir smooths a few errant hairs back into place, grim satisfaction weighing on his broad shoulders. “You were wise coming to me for aid. We must collaborate if the Board hopes to oust this swindler from their midst.”
I seize that leading thread desperately, thoughts racing. The Board—so he knows Uncle’s true name and standing, not just his flashy club ownership persona. Meaning Uphir is undoubtedly far more than the human entrepreneur he appears. But why assist the DeLux? What stake does he hold in these schemes?
I regain speech finally, tongue clumsy around the multitude of questions swarming my brain. “Forgive me, I don’t follow... You know things, truths about my family most don’t even guess. Why offer help?” Eyes narrowed in suspicion, I prod for the catch not yet revealed. “What interest have you in preserving the DeLux or stopping this faceless thief?”
Now Uphir levels a measuring look, gauging my reaction to his next revelation. I hold brittle stillness. His solemn words drop into the space between us, pointed as a dagger.
“Because if Lucifer Morningstar falls, he won’t be the only one struggling in the power vacuum left behind.”
My lungs are crushed violently, rational thought fading away. It’s one thing to deduce Mr. Uphir’s sketchy connections from afar, but hearing him casually name-drop the most infamously ruthless denizen of Hell in friendly tones is another level entirely.
My stunned silence eventually prompts Uphir to elaborate. “This is not my original face or name, of course. But the core identity remains, however altered by myths over centuries.” His lips quirk oddly. “I was Dumuzid once, a powerful Sumerian king. Ruled wide fertile lands with fair hand, so stories go. But that ancient mantle matters little now.”
He strokes the tumbler absently. “I prefer Dominique these days. Kingship never fulfilled me as money and shadows do. So I cultivate both, making friends in low places.” A wink sends wholly inappropriate sparks through my core before I smother them ruthlessly. “Lucifer understands there are mutual benefits from our association, both profiting from humanity’s insatiable hungers.”
Dumuzid. King Consort of Sumeria, slaughtered for power, then resurrected as cautionary tale. Of course, the face I summoned from frustrating dead ends transforms into literal lore walking our earth still. At this point, no outrageous reveals could shock me further tonight.
“So...” Speaking forces steadiness upon me. “You brought me out here for more than just commiserating, I expect? Or was this dramatic alleyway farce purely for your amusement?”
“Right you are.” Deft fingers withdraw an expensive crocodile briefcase I hadn’t noticed from the shadows. He lays it gently atop a nearby crate. My heart double beats apprehensively. But Dominique only enters a quick combination sequence, then swings the container to face me. No scorpions or flesh-eating scarabs emerge, so I risk scooting closer.
Nestled inside lie several disturbingly familiar folders, their contents spilling haphazardly. Endless rows of disjointed figures flash before my eyes. I reach tentatively to trail fingers over the crumpled spreadsheet headers. “Can it be..?”
“The infamous ledger’s missing pages?” Dominique supplies helpfully. “Quite right.”
I catch up a handful of scattered pages, scanning them frantically.
It’s all here…
CHAPTER18
Helena
It’s all here—theraw data I’ve sought endlessly. Proof of massive withdrawals over months from Lucifer’s most restricted accounts. Figures adding up to small fortunes constantly funneled to outsiders by some hidden fiend.
My hands shake nearly too hard to hold the damning evidence. “How... did you find these?” Disbelieving eyes lift back to Dominique’s grave nod.
“I have resources beyond most, as well as connections throughout every enterprise, legitimate and otherwise.” He drums polished nails on the case edge. “Nurturing these alliances over centuries has its benefits, although some may find it distasteful. But when one is faced with threats, there’s little choice but to eliminate them.”
I nod slowly, thoughts churning. “This thief... they had access few do, even managing codes to sealed accounts.” I chew my lip anxiously. “Do you know who it is?”Please say yes,my feverish brain chants.Let this nightmare end so I can return proudly to Uncle Luci with no more looking daggers over my shoulder.
Uphir sighs heavily, mouth thinning. “Indeed. But brace yourself. It’s worse than we guessed.” He grips my shoulder until I meet his intent stare fully. “The one responsible goes by Kane Tharaux. And he’s no mere corrupt lackey—this scheme runs deeper than greed or opportunism.”
