Chapter 3 - SOFIA’S LAST NIGHT
Until that moment, Chloe believed Sofia Russo had died in a car accident.
That was what everyone said.
Dominic never discussed it.
Luca remembered almost nothing.
Now Dominic closed the safe-room door.
“Sofia’s car exploded two years ago.”
Chloe stared.
“Exploded?”
“The police report called it an accident.”
“But you don’t believe that.”
“No.”
“Why?”
Dominic looked at Luca.
“Because she called me six minutes before it happened.”
Luca looked up.
“Mommy called you?”
Dominic’s voice softened.
“Yes.”
“What did she say?”
Dominic hesitated.
It was the first time Chloe had ever seen him afraid of words.
“She told me she had found something.”
“What?”
“Evidence.”
Carlo stepped closer.
“Dominic.”
“He deserves to know.”
Luca sat beside Chloe.
Dominic continued.
“Your mom believed somebody was stealing from my companies.”
Luca frowned.
“Money?”
“Yes.”
“She said she had proof.”
Chloe asked, “Did she tell you who?”
“No.”
Dominic looked toward the floor.
“She said she didn’t trust the phones.”
“What happened next?”
“She told me to meet her at our lake house.”
His voice became rough.
“I never got there.”
The room went quiet.
“She was driving with Luca.”
Chloe’s eyes widened.
“Luca was in the car?”
Dominic nodded.
“He survived because Sofia stopped at a gas station and sent him inside with her bodyguard.”
“Why?”
“We never knew.”
Carlo added quietly, “Thirty seconds later, the car exploded.”
Luca’s face went pale.
Dominic instantly regretted saying too much.
“Hey.”
He crouched before his son.
“You don’t need to understand all of this tonight.”
Luca stared at his father.
“Did someone kill Mommy?”
Dominic couldn’t lie.
“I think so.”
Luca’s lower lip trembled.
“Are they going to kill me?”
“No.”
Dominic grabbed his shoulders.
“No one is touching you.”
“You couldn’t save Mommy.”
The words were innocent.
But Dominic looked like they cut straight through him.
Luca immediately started crying.
“I’m sorry.”
Dominic pulled him into his arms.
“No.”
For the first time since Chloe began working there, she saw Dominic hold his son without stiffness.
Without fear.
Just a father holding a terrified child.
“I’m sorry,” Dominic whispered.
“I should have told you she loved you enough to save your life.”
Luca buried his face against his chest.
Dominic looked at Chloe.
Something passed between them.
A quiet understanding.
Protect him.
No matter what.
Carlo’s phone buzzed.
He answered.
Listened.
Then cursed.
“What?”
“One attacker gave us a name.”
Dominic stood.
“Who?”
“He says the order came through Victor.”
Chloe frowned.
“Victor who?”
Dominic’s face darkened.
“My uncle.”
Luca looked up.
“Uncle Victor?”
Dominic didn’t answer.
Carlo’s phone rang again.
This time his expression changed completely.
“Boss.”
“What now?”
“The prisoner is dead.”
Dominic stared.
“How?”
Carlo looked toward the locked door.
“Poison.”
Chloe’s blood ran cold.
“But nobody got inside.”
“I know.”
Dominic slowly scanned the room.
May you like
Then he said the words nobody wanted to hear.
“The killer is already in the house.”
