Chapter 12 - THE BETRAYAL
Everyone looked at Carlo.
Carlo slowly raised his hands.
“Boss.”
Dominic’s expression became unreadable.
“Tell me he’s lying.”
“I can’t.”
Chloe felt her stomach drop.
Carlo removed his weapon and placed it on the floor.
Dominic stepped closer.
“How long?”
“I worked for Victor before I worked for you.”
Luca was safe with Elias.
But Chloe suddenly understood how the tracker got inside the mansion.
“You planted it?”
Carlo looked horrified.
“No.”
“Then what did you do?”
He looked at Dominic.
“I reported on you.”
Dominic went silent.
“For Victor?”
“Yes.”
“How long?”
“Six years.”
Dominic punched him.
Carlo fell.
Chloe didn’t interfere.
Not this time.
Carlo wiped blood from his mouth.
“I deserved that.”
Dominic grabbed his collar.
“You stood beside me at Sofia’s funeral.”
“I know.”
“You held my son.”
“I know.”
“You lied every day.”
“Yes.”
Dominic raised his fist again.
Carlo didn’t defend himself.
Then Chloe noticed something.
“If you were still working for Victor, why help us?”
Carlo looked at her.
“Because Sofia knew.”
Dominic released him.
“What?”
“She caught me.”
Carlo reached inside his jacket slowly.
He removed an old envelope.
“Sofia gave me a choice.”
“What choice?”
“Keep serving Victor or protect Luca.”
Dominic stared.
Carlo’s voice broke.
“I chose Luca.”
“After she died, I fed Victor just enough information to make him think I was still loyal.”
Dominic looked sick.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because you would have killed me.”
Dominic had no answer.
Carlo handed him the envelope.
Sofia’s handwriting covered the front.
For Carlo — if Dominic finally learns to listen.
Dominic almost laughed.
Instead, he opened it.
Inside was a short note.
Carlo made terrible choices. So did you. If he protects Luca when I’m gone, judge him by what he does next.
Dominic looked at Carlo.
“You knew she thought she would die.”
“Yes.”
“And you let her leave that night?”
Carlo’s eyes filled.
“I tried to stop her.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“She believed Victor had someone closer to you.”
“Who?”
Carlo swallowed.
“I never found out.”
Dominic’s phone rang.
Elias.
Dominic answered.
“What?”
He listened.
His face changed.
“No.”
Chloe moved closer.
“What happened?”
Dominic lowered the phone.
May you like
His voice became hollow.
“Luca’s gone.”
