Chapter 524 - 120 Grandfathers Hidden Empire

Chapter 524: Chapter 120 Grandfathers Hidden Empire

Lila’s POV

The entire week rushed by in a chaotic haze. Anxiety gnawed at me as I waited to hear what my brother needed to tell me about the Sullivan family operations.

Today was the day Beckett would arrive and finally explain everything about our grandfather’s underground empire, but I’d already made up my mind about what to do, regardless of what he said. When my phone lit up with my father’s name, a smile automatically spread across my face.

"Dad!" I answered with genuine happiness.

"My sweet girl! Beckett mentioned you’ve been concerned about the family situation," he said, worry evident in his voice.

"These sudden changes in the organization caught me off guard."

"Listen to me, darling. Trust your brother. Beckett would move heaven and earth to keep you safe from the other families." He wasn’t telling me anything I didn’t already know – my brother would sacrifice himself for me without hesitation.

"I do trust him. Are you coming to New York today too?"

"No, Beckett will stay there for several days to handle territorial matters. I need to manage things with our legitimate businesses." He paused. "Lila, be vigilant. Claire is spiraling out of control since learning about grandfather’s true legacy."

"I’m terrified of her, Dad. And what she might do to secure her position."

"I know, sweetheart. I’ve hired someone reliable to monitor her movements. We’ll know immediately if she leaves our territory. Still, stay alert – I can’t bear the thought of her orchestrating something against you again."

"What about the annulment proceedings with the Commission?"

"That’s precisely why she’s livid. Beckett helped me secure the family assets before filing with the Council. All I have now are the legitimate front businesses and some clean cash accounts. She’ll only get the restaurant chain, and she’s furious. I’m hoping that once the money flow from the laundering operations stops, Justin might finally decide to contribute something worthwhile to the organization, considering he abandoned his training in the family business ages ago."

"I can imagine her rage. But I doubt Justin will ever amount to anything in this life."

"Exactly why you need to be careful until this power struggle settles."

Someone called for my father in the background – likely one of his lieutenants. We said goodbye, and his words echoed in my mind – to be careful until things settled down. But when would that be in our world?

Later that day, Beckett and his wife arrived at Thorne Corporation with Daniel, using the legitimate business as cover for our family meeting.

"Look at my little sister, all grown-up behind that executive desk, learning the clean side of operations," Beckett teased.

I couldn’t help but smile. I hadn’t expected him to come to the Thorne offices, thinking he’d go straight to the safe house apartment.

"I am grown-up!" I stood to embrace him, inhaling the familiar scent of expensive cologne and danger that always surrounded my brother.

"Not quite. Standing next to Daniel, you look even smaller." My brother laughed as I playfully swatted his arm in mock offense, though we both knew size meant nothing in our world – it was about intelligence and ruthlessness.

Before heading to the secure location, we went out for dinner at one of the family’s protected restaurants. Jude and Sybilla joined us, making for an evening filled with conversation, laughter, and the kind of enjoyment that could only happen when surrounded by trusted allies. By the meal’s end, Jude and Sybilla had convinced Beckett and his wife to visit one of the family-owned nightclubs the following night, and all four were trying to persuade Daniel and me to join them.

We returned to Daniel’s fortified penthouse late. Beckett acknowledged my anxiety and asked if I wanted to discuss family business, but I decided it was better to wait until morning when our minds would be clearer for such serious matters.

Nevertheless, I was awake at first light the next day, old habits from a childhood in a dangerous world dying hard.

"Still rising with the roosters, sis?" Beckett appeared in the kitchen doorway, wearing an impeccably tailored suit that probably cost more than most people’s cars.

"Old habits die hard. That’s a new suit, isn’t it?" I pointed out, recognizing the Italian craftsmanship.

"Like it? I’m looking pretty intimidating for the meeting with the other families today, right?" I laughed; my brother was both devastatingly handsome and deadly serious about his image in the organization.

"You’re intimidating regardless, brother." I hugged him around his waist. "I’ve missed you so much."

"Missed you too, but you’re thriving here under Daniel’s protection. This arrangement suits you." He squeezed me tighter, and I felt the subtle bulge of his shoulder holster.

"I agree completely," Daniel said, entering the kitchen, which suddenly felt cramped with these two powerful men who commanded respect in their respective territories. "I want a hug too."

"Get your own sister," Beckett grumbled with mock annoyance, and I laughed, noticing Daniel’s amused smile and the way his hand instinctively moved to check his own concealed weapon.

"You’re in a suit today too," I observed, admiring my detective who straddled both worlds so skillfully. He didn’t wear suits daily for his police work, but when meeting with family heads, appearances mattered.

"We’re meeting my father’s associate in the Commission," Daniel explained, prompting me to look questioningly at Beckett.

"Lila, the Sullivan territory and operations remain just yours and mine. I have no interest in partnerships with other families, but since you mentioned Daniel’s father wanted to discuss possible alliances, I’ll extend the courtesy of hearing him out in person," Beckett clarified. "If you want to consider territorial agreements, though, we can discuss it."

"I already told Beckett I don’t think it’s wise to mix our operations," Daniel interjected.

"As I’ve said before, I trust your judgment about family politics, Beckett. I’ll support whatever you decide," I assured him, earning a smile that reminded me why even hardened criminals feared crossing him.

"Great, now sit down. I need to explain some things about our inheritance from Grandfather’s empire," Beckett pulled out a chair for me with the same protective gesture he’d made since childhood. "Let’s start from Grandpa’s death. His will divided the legitimate assets between Dad, you, and me, as you know."

"Yes, portions of the front companies and clean money," I confirmed.

"That was just the public part read immediately after his death for the authorities. Remember there was another section to be opened on a specific date, with only direct blood heirs present?" When Beckett mentioned this, a foggy memory of hushed conversations and Claire’s fury surfaced.

"Vaguely. I recall Mother was furious because Grandpa had frozen certain operations until that second reading," I strained to remember when that was supposed to happen.

"The date was set for some time after you came of age. By then, you’d already left town and given me power of attorney, so Dad and I decided it was best if you didn’t return for the reading, given the danger," Beckett explained, and so far nothing seemed unusual for our world.

"That was probably for the best. What did it reveal?" I pressed.

"The second part divided the money laundering operations through three major territories – the docks, the art auction houses, and the high-end real estate network. All three territories belong to us equally, Lila. Grandpa also stipulated that if Dad divorced Claire through the Commission, he would be immediately stripped of his position, with his territory transferred to us. Grandpa’s empire was vastly larger than anyone realized – even Dad was unaware of the full scope of operations." I listened as if Beckett was describing strangers, not our family’s criminal enterprise.

"But Dad hasn’t finalized the annulment yet. And why would Grandpa discourage it? He despised Claire," I questioned.

"Grandpa left Dad a letter explaining everything. He knew Dad couldn’t endure the marriage forever, and that upon divorce, Claire would claim half of everything through Commission law. She and Justin would destroy our operations with their recklessness and exposure to law enforcement. Remember Justin had already proven himself incompetent in family business by then?" I nodded, recalling Grandpa’s concerns about Justin inheriting Claire’s worst traits and dangerous impulsiveness.

"Justin was always a liability," I muttered.

"So Dad, already contemplating the annulment, formally renounced his inheritance through the proper channels, allowing it to be divided between Grandpa’s remaining heirs – us. Claire couldn’t challenge this when she discovered it through her informants. Dad endured the marriage for quite some time to protect the timing."

Everything clicked into place with terrifying clarity.

"So everything belongs to just you and me? For all this time?" I was stunned by this revelation about controlling such vast criminal operations.

"Yes. It’s an enormous empire, Lila. We kept everything secret so Claire wouldn’t discover the truth before the annulment was filed with the Commission. She’ll be livid when she learns all she’s getting are the legitimate restaurant chains. We didn’t tell you because you were already overwhelmed adapting to this life, and we knew you’d react exactly like this. We wanted you to mature and understand the weight of power before you learned everything." I stared at my brother as if seeing him anew – not just as my protector, but as a true don.

"That explains why you pushed me to learn about the business operations," I said, feeling lightheaded at the scope of responsibility.

"Exactly. You’re incredibly powerful now, Lila. I know that doesn’t interest you, but it’s our reality. Grandpa secured our future in this world."

My brother squeezed my hand, and I took a deep breath, regaining the composure that had been drilled into me since childhood.

"Fine. How do we transfer everything to you?" I asked determinedly.

"That’s not happening. We remain in this together. We’re siblings and partners; you can’t escape our legacy that easily." Beckett smiled warmly, but with the steel underneath that made him feared.

"But if I own nothing, she’ll leave me alone. Beckett, I can’t live fearing she’ll force me into a marriage alliance with Connor’s psychotic son." The possibility terrified me more than any physical threat.

"Sis, transferring your territories won’t make her back off. She’ll be so enraged she’ll want blood." Beckett showed me an angle I hadn’t considered in our dangerous world.

"Then what should I do?" I was exhausted by the constant danger.

"Keep being vigilant. I’ve implemented measures to protect your operations; she’ll never touch them. I’ll explain our security protocols in detail later – you need to get to work maintaining your cover, and I have Commission business to handle."

Beckett spoke like the criminal mastermind he was, but I only saw my protective big brother who had taught me to shoot and how to read people for threats.