Vincent’s expression changed.
That sentence revealed something personal.
Old.
Paulie reached for his gun.
Sheriff Dalton moved.
“Now.”
Officers emerged.
Marco turned.
Vincent stepped into the open.
His brother froze.
For the first time in twelve years, the two men looked at each other.
Marco whispered:
“Vinny.”
Vincent hated the childhood name.
Especially from a dead man.
“You look healthy.”
Marco smiled slowly.
“You look old.”
“Being alive does that.”
Paulie stared between them.
“You set me up.”
Vincent did not look at him.
“Yes.”
Marco held the folder.
“You signed.”
“No.”
His smile disappeared.
Elias stepped forward.
“Those documents are legally worthless.”
Marco looked toward Paulie.
Paulie went pale.
The sheriff ordered both men to surrender weapons.
Paulie complied.
Marco did not.
His hand moved.
Vincent drew.
Khloe watched from wagon.
Her heart stopped.
But no shot came.
Marco’s hand froze halfway.
Vincent aimed center mass.
“Don’t.”
Marco smiled.
“You going to shoot your brother?”
Vincent’s voice was quiet.
“I buried you once.”
That ended the smile.
Marco slowly removed the revolver.
Dropped it.
Sheriff Dalton cuffed him.
Paulie said nothing.
The fake deeds fell into mud.
Khloe exhaled for the first time in what felt like minutes.
Then Marco saw her.
Even at distance.
His eyes narrowed.
“Bookkeeper.”
Khloe’s stomach turned.
Vincent followed his gaze.
Marco smiled.
“You should ask her how she got the job.”
Silence.
Khloe froze.
Vincent looked toward her.
Marco’s smile widened.
There it was.
One final secret.
Khloe whispered:
“No.”
Vincent heard.
“What?”
Marco laughed.
“She never told you?”
Khloe stepped from the wagon.
“Marco.”
Vincent’s face changed.
“You know him.”
Khloe closed her eyes.
One second.
Then opened them.
“Yes.”
The night became colder.
Vincent stared.
“How?”
Marco answered for her.
“Her father worked for me.”
Khloe looked at Vincent.
Her face filled with fear unlike anything he had seen.
Not fear of losing employment.
Fear of losing him.
Vincent lowered his gun.
Not completely.
“Khloe.”
“My father didn’t know who Marco really was at first.”
Marco laughed.
“That’s generous.”
She ignored him.
“My father handled accounts for a land company in Cheyenne.”
Vincent’s stomach tightened.
“Costa Holdings.”
“The first version.”
“Yes.”
Marco looked delighted.
Vincent said:
“You told me your father lost everything.”
“He did.”
“Because?”
Khloe’s eyes filled.
“Because he discovered Marco was using the company to hide cattle theft profits.”
Marco shook his head.
“Such ugly wording.”
Khloe continued.
“He tried to report it.”
Vincent looked between them.
“What happened?”
Her voice broke.
“Marco ruined him.”
Silence.
“He froze accounts.”
“Called loans.”
“Destroyed his credit.”
Vincent remembered their conversation.