Chapter 7 - THE HOUSE BY THE WATER
The place where Dominic’s father died was an abandoned house on Long Island Sound.
Forty minutes away.
No neighbors.
No cameras.
One road in.
One road out.
Perfect.
Which meant Gabriel had planned everything.
As we drove, Marco called tactical teams.
Dominic shut him down.
“No sirens.”
“We need backup.”
“He’ll see them.”
“And if we walk in alone?”
“He kills the children.”
Nobody had a better argument.
I sat beside Dominic clutching Lily’s stuffed rabbit.
Her bunny.
Stupid thing to bring.
But I needed something of hers in my hands.
“Tell me what happened here,” I said.
Dominic didn’t answer.
“Dominic.”
He looked at the road.
“My father died seventeen years ago.”
“I know that part.”
“He was shot in the house.”
“By who?”
“Officially, nobody knows.”
“And unofficially?”
Dominic looked at me.
“Me.”
I stopped breathing.
Marco glanced toward him.
Even he looked surprised.
“You killed your father?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Dominic’s hands tightened on the wheel.
“Because he was beating Gabriel to death.”
That changed everything.
“My father discovered Gabriel was stealing money.”
“He ordered him killed?”
“He did it himself.”
Dominic swallowed.
“I came in halfway through.”
“What happened?”
“I shot him.”
“Your father?”
“Yes.”
“Then Gabriel ran?”
“I thought he died later from his injuries.”
“But he survived.”
“Apparently.”
I stared out the window.
“So why does he hate you?”
Dominic laughed bitterly.
“Because trauma doesn’t always make people grateful.”
Fair enough.
We reached the property.
One light glowed upstairs.
Dominic turned to Marco.
“Stay outside.”
“No.”
“That wasn’t a request.”
Marco’s jaw tightened.
“I’ve protected you for twelve years.”
“And tonight I need you to protect the exit.”
Marco finally nodded.
Dominic looked at me.
“You stay here too.”
I opened the door.
“No.”
“Anna.”
“My daughter is inside.”
“I know.”
“Then stop wasting time.”
For once, he didn’t argue.
We entered through the front door.
The house smelled like salt, mold, and old wood.
“Gabriel!”
Dominic’s voice echoed.
A speaker crackled.
“Welcome home, brother.”
Dominic looked toward the ceiling.
“Where are the children?”
“Upstairs.”
“Let them go.”
“Bring the card.”
Dominic held up the microSD card.
“I have it.”
“Place it on the table.”
A small table stood beneath the staircase.
Dominic set the card down.
“Now release them.”
Gabriel laughed.
“You were always impatient.”
A door opened upstairs.
Ethan appeared.
Hands tied.
Tape over his mouth.
My heart jumped.
“Ethan!”
Then Gabriel stepped behind him.
Gun against his shoulder.
“Where’s Lily?” I shouted.
Gabriel smiled.
“Safe.”
“Show me.”
“In time.”
Dominic slowly moved toward the stairs.
Gabriel raised the gun.
“Stop.”
Dominic stopped.
“You wanted the card.”
“I wanted what the card opens.”
“What does it open?”
Gabriel looked at me.
“Ask Anna.”
My stomach dropped.
“I don’t know.”
“Oh, you do.”
“No.”
“Elena chose you.”
“Why?”
“Because she knew Dominic wouldn’t look twice at a housekeeper.”
Dominic stared at him.
“What are you talking about?”
Gabriel’s smile widened.
“Your wife didn’t hide the real ledger in the pendant.”
He pointed to the card.
“That contains one thing.”
“What?”
“A map.”
Dominic looked at me.
Gabriel continued.
“A map to the actual records.”
“Where?”
Gabriel’s eyes moved to Lily’s stuffed rabbit in my hands.
Then I understood.
No.
I looked down.
Bunny.
Six years old.
Elena gave it to me when Lily was born.
A gift.
I had forgotten.
My knees nearly gave out.
May you like
Gabriel smiled.
“Now we’re getting somewhere.”
