Chapter 11 - THE DEAL
Federal agents surrounded the house.
Grace stood behind me.
Evelyn cursed under her breath.
Isabella looked strangely calm.
“You knew this could happen,” I said.
“Yes.”
“You called them?”
“No.”
“Then who?”
A voice came from the front porch.
“Dominic, my name is Special Agent Claire Monroe. We need to talk.”
I knew the name.
Financial crimes.
Organized crime task force.
Vittorio wanted me arrested while he went after Grace.
Smart.
I opened the door with empty hands.
Agent Monroe was in her forties.
Tired eyes.
No dramatic attitude.
She looked past me.
“Isabella Caruso?”
My mother stepped forward.
Monroe stared.
“You’re supposed to be dead.”
“Story of my life.”
The agent almost smiled.
Then she looked at me.
“We have warrants for financial fraud, racketeering, conspiracy, and money laundering.”
“I have something better.”
I held up the ledger.
Monroe’s expression changed.
“Where did you get that?”
“Vittorio.”
“Then why do you have it?”
“Because he tried to burn us alive.”
We spent two hours talking.
I told the truth.
Not all of it.
Enough.
Grace sat beside me the whole time.
At one point Monroe looked at her.
“You understand what your father is accused of?”
Grace answered calmly.
“My dad has done bad things.”
I turned toward her.
She continued.
“He also thinks hiding bad things makes them smaller.”
That hurt.
Monroe looked back at me.
“Smart kid.”
“Too smart.”
Grace smiled.
I gave Monroe Sofia’s recording.
The ledger.
Account numbers.
Names.
Everything tying Vittorio to decades of corruption.
“What do you want?” Monroe asked.
“Protection for Grace.”
“And?”
“My mother.”
“And?”
“Evelyn and Daniel.”
Monroe waited.
“That’s it?”
I looked at Grace.
For once, I meant it.
“That’s it.”
She leaned back.
“You understand cooperating won’t erase your own crimes.”
“Yes.”
“You could still go to prison.”
“Yes.”
Grace stiffened.
I took her hand.
Monroe watched us.
“Vittorio contacted our office before dawn.”
“What did he say?”
“That you kidnapped Grace.”
I laughed.
Monroe didn’t.
“He filed an emergency petition using the trust documents.”
My smile disappeared.
“What petition?”
“To remove you as Grace’s legal guardian based on criminal activity.”
Evelyn swore.
Monroe continued.
“The filing names Vittorio as temporary guardian and trust protector.”
Grace stood.
“He wants custody of me?”
“Yes.”
“Can he get it?”
Monroe hesitated.
“For a short time, maybe.”
I stood.
“No.”
“Dominic—”
“No judge is handing my daughter to that man.”
Monroe’s phone rang.
She answered.
Listened.
Then her face changed.
“What?”
She hung up.
“The hearing already happened.”
My chest went cold.
“Without us?”
“Emergency hearing.”
“And?”
Monroe looked at Grace.
“Vittorio was granted temporary authority.”
Grace’s hand tightened around mine.
Monroe continued.
“And there’s a court order requiring Grace to appear in Chicago by six tonight.”
I stared at her.
“That judge is in the ledger.”
Monroe nodded.
“I know.”
Grace whispered, “So we’re walking into his trap.”
Agent Monroe looked toward the files.
“Yes.”
Then Grace lifted her chin.
“Good.”
May you like
Everyone stared at her.
“I’m tired of running.”
