Chapter 4 - The Woman Varga Wanted
Varga did not attack Dominic.
He attacked Naomi.
First came the leaked documents.
Then the anonymous tips.
Then the newspaper article accusing Naomi Callahan of financial crimes.
By morning, her photograph was everywhere.
Her home address appeared online.
A former colleague claimed she had manipulated financial records.
A federal investigator requested an interview.
Naomi read the article while drinking coffee.
Dominic entered the kitchen.
“You're not eating.”
“I’m busy being a criminal mastermind.”
His expression darkened.
“I’ll fix this.”
“No.”
He stopped.
“I will.”
“You’ll make it worse if you threaten every journalist in Manhattan.”
“I wasn't planning to threaten them.”
Roman appeared in the doorway.
Dominic looked at him.
Roman sighed.
“You absolutely were.”
Naomi almost laughed.
The situation became more serious when federal investigators arrived at the Valente hotel project.
Naomi sat across from two agents.
One of them slid a folder onto the table.
“We believe you helped conceal millions of dollars.”
“I did.”
Dominic, standing behind the glass wall, stiffened.
Naomi continued.
“I also know where most of that money came from.”
The agents looked surprised.
She smiled.
“Which means your investigation is incomplete.”
Dominic understood instantly.
Naomi had been preparing something.
For months, she had secretly built a parallel accounting system.
Every illegal payment.
Every bribe.
Every shell company.
Every connection between Varga and corrupt officials.
But she hadn't exposed it.
Because she had been waiting.
She slid a flash drive across the table.
“Everything you need is here.”
Dominic stared at her through the glass.
He understood the sacrifice.
Naomi was willing to burn the empire down.
Even if she burned herself with it.
The agents took the drive.
Within hours, federal agencies began raiding Varga's businesses.
Varga retaliated.
Naomi was abducted leaving the courthouse.
She woke in a warehouse tied to a chair.
Varga sat across from her.
“You're clever.”
“Thank you.”
“I killed your father.”
Her smile vanished.
“I know.”
“And I can kill you.”
“You could.”
Varga leaned closer.
“But Dominic will destroy half the city trying to find you.”
“That is the idea.”
Varga smiled.
“You think he loves you.”
“I know he does.”
“You're wrong.”
He placed a photograph on the table.
It showed Dominic shaking hands with Vincent Valente years earlier.
Naomi frowned.
“That proves nothing.”
“Look closer.”
She did.
In the background was her father.
Alive.
And standing beside him was a young Dominic.
Naomi’s breathing stopped.
Her father was speaking to Dominic.
Then Vincent.
Then the photograph changed.
Another image.
Her father handing Dominic a folder.
On the folder was one word.
VARGA.
Naomi's mind raced.
“You're lying.”
“Am I?”
He smiled.
“Ask Dominic what your father begged him to do.”
Before Naomi could answer, the warehouse door exploded open.
Dominic walked in.
His suit was torn.
His face was bloody.
Roman and several men followed.
Varga ran.
Dominic crossed the room.
He cut Naomi free.
Then pulled her against him.
She held him tightly.
“I knew you'd come.”
“I always come for you.”
She pulled back.
“Dominic, your father—”
“I know.”
“You knew about the photographs?”
“Yes.”
“What did my father ask you to do?”
Dominic stared at her.
“To protect you.”
Naomi went still.
“He knew he was going to die,” Dominic said.
“He knew Vincent had ordered his death.”
“Then why didn't he run?”
“Because he had evidence.”
“What evidence?”
Dominic’s eyes filled with something Naomi had never seen.
Regret.
“Evidence that Vincent wasn't acting alone.”
The warehouse fell silent.
“There was someone higher,” Dominic said.
“Someone who financed both the Valente and Varga operations.”
Naomi whispered.
“Who?”
Before Dominic could answer, gunfire erupted outside.
Roman shouted.
“Boss!”
Dominic pushed Naomi behind him.
Then his phone rang.
The caller ID showed an old name.
His father's.
Impossible.
Dominic answered.
A distorted voice said five words.
“You should have stayed obedient, son.”
The line went dead.
Dominic looked at Naomi.
May you like
For the first time, genuine fear appeared in his eyes.
His father was alive.
