Chapter 6 - The Snake Eats Its Tail
The small consultation room exploded into absolute chaos.
"Dad?!" Bruno screamed, slamming his hands against the stainless-steel table so hard the water cups rattled. "You told me you were taking care of it! You told me you were going to handle the prosecutors! You put my name on those shell companies!"
Indigo didn't even flinch. He sat back in his chair, his expression hardening into a cold, ruthless mask of self-preservation.
"Shut up, Bruno!" Indigo hissed coldly. "You're young! You have no prior record! You'll do three years in a minimum-security facility and get parole! If I go in, at my age, I'll die in prison! Someone has to protect the family name!"
"Protect the family name?!" Bruno wailed, tears spilling down his cheeks as he stared at his father in complete disbelief. "You used me! You made me sign those wire transfers! You told me it was legal! You said Jade would cover for us if anything went wrong!"
Amber sat between them, covering her ears, rocking back and forth as her husband and son tore each other apart. "Stop it! Both of you, stop it! Oh God, my head hurts!"
"Look at them, Marcus," I said softly, sitting back with my arms crossed, watching the pathetic display before me. "Ten years they spent telling me that 'family comes first.' Ten years of preaching loyalty."
Marcus chuckled softly, shaking his head. "It's amazing how fast the illusion shatters when the ship starts taking on water."
"You did this!" Bruno shouted, suddenly turning his rage toward me, pointing a shaking finger at my face. "You brought these papers here on purpose! You wanted us to fight!"
"I didn't forge your father's signature on that plea bargain, Bruno," I pointed out evenly. "He signed that document willingly twenty-four hours ago. He was ready to send you to federal prison for a decade just so he could keep his country club golf membership."
Bruno stared at his father, his chest heaving, his eyes wild with the ultimate betrayal. For ten years, Bruno had been his father's loyal dog, doing his bidding, abusing me on his command, sacrificing his own marriage to earn Indigo's approval.
And in the end, Indigo had traded Bruno's life for a reduced sentence without a second thought.
"I'm not taking the fall for you, Dad," Bruno whispered, his voice trembling with a terrifying, quiet fury.
"Bruno, be reasonable—" Indigo began, reaching out a hand.
"Don't touch me!" Bruno roared, leaping out of his chair. He turned frantically toward Marcus and me. "I have the flash drive! I have the secondary ledger! The one Dad kept in his safe at the cottage! I took it the night Jade locked us out! It has every offshore account, every bribe to the state inspectors, every single wire transfer signed personally by Indigo Vance!"
Indigo’s eyes widened in sheer, unadulterated terror. He lunged across the table, grabbing Bruno by his shirt collar. "You little idiot! Keep your mouth shut!"
"Get off him!" the two guards barked, rushing forward, grabbing Indigo by the arms and slamming him back into his chair, forcing his hands behind his back to recuff him.
"Marcus," I said, standing up smoothly and buttoning my suit jacket. "Please coordinate with the prosecutor. I believe Mr. Bruno Vance would like to turn over evidence in exchange for state witness protection."
"It will be my absolute pleasure," Marcus smiled, pulling his tablet out to record Bruno's official statement on the spot.
I turned and walked toward the heavy steel door, listening to Indigo screaming curses at his son while Amber sobbed hysterically on the floor.
As the guard unlocked the door to let me out into the hallway, I paused and looked back over my shoulder at Bruno.
He was sitting at the table, slumped over, weeping like a broken child, surrounded by the wreckage of the toxic empire he had helped build.
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"Goodbye, Bruno," I said softly.
I walked out into the bright afternoon sun, leaving the snakes to devour each other in the dark.
