Chapter 12 - The Man Behind the Family
Alessandro called Nathan before leaving the police station.
“Get Emma out of the penthouse.”
“Why?”
“Dominic.”
Silence.
Then Nathan understood.
“I’m moving her now.”
“Don’t tell anyone where.”
“What about Teresa?”
“Take her too.”
Alessandro drove straight to Romano Holdings.
Dominic was in the boardroom.
Seventy-six years old.
Silver hair.
Perfect navy suit.
He looked surprised when Alessandro entered.
“You look terrible.”
Alessandro closed the door.
“Did you kill my father?”
Dominic’s expression didn’t change.
“What?”
“Did you kill Vittorio?”
Dominic leaned back.
“You’ve had a difficult day.”
“Answer me.”
“You’re emotional.”
“Emma’s mother found the fake vendors.”
Dominic said nothing.
“She found millions missing.”
Still nothing.
“Dad discovered it too.”
Dominic sighed.
“Sit down.”
“No.”
“Alessandro.”
“Did you kill him?”
Dominic slowly removed his glasses.
“Your father was going to destroy the family.”
“By exposing theft?”
“By exposing everything.”
“What everything?”
Dominic looked toward Manhattan through the glass walls.
“Romano Holdings wasn’t always clean.”
Alessandro knew that.
His grandfather had started in construction in the 1950s.
Cash deals.
Political favors.
Questionable contracts.
Old history.
Or so he thought.
“Vittorio wanted to confess to federal investigators,” Dominic said.
Alessandro stared at him.
“He wanted to protect you.”
“By going to prison?”
“He thought taking responsibility would end it.”
“What did you do?”
Dominic looked back at him.
“I tried to stop him.”
“How?”
No answer.
Alessandro felt sick.
“You poisoned him.”
Dominic’s eyes hardened.
“He had a weak heart.”
“You poisoned your own brother.”
“I protected this family.”
Alessandro stepped closer.
“And Elena?”
“She found records she didn’t understand.”
“You killed her too?”
“She refused to stop.”
Rage exploded through Alessandro.
He grabbed Dominic by the jacket.
“You left a six-year-old without a mother!”
Dominic didn’t fight back.
Instead, he smiled.
“You always had Vittorio’s temper.”
Alessandro shoved him away.
“You’re finished.”
“Am I?”
Dominic straightened his jacket.
“You have no proof.”
“Enzo talked.”
“Enzo is facing kidnapping and attempted murder charges. A defense attorney will destroy him.”
“The accounts.”
“Gone.”
“Isabella.”
“Unstable.”
“Then I’ll find Elena’s records.”
Dominic’s smile disappeared.
Alessandro saw it.
That was the first thing that truly scared him.
“Where are they?” Dominic asked.
“I don’t know.”
“Yes, you do.”
Alessandro suddenly remembered the flash drive.
Emma’s rabbit.
But that drive had contained only videos.
Unless—
There were seven files.
He had only watched one.
His phone rang.
Nathan.
Alessandro answered.
“Tell me Emma’s safe.”
Nathan was breathing hard.
“We have a problem.”
“What?”
“The safe house driver never arrived.”
Alessandro’s chest tightened.
“Where are Emma and Teresa?”
“They left ten minutes ago with someone else.”
“Who?”
Nathan’s voice dropped.
“Dominic’s personal driver.”
May you like
Alessandro looked up.
Dominic was smiling again.
