Chapter 7 - Dominic Had To Choose Between His Empire And The Woman He Loved
Angelo Caruso returned to New York without warning.
He walked into Dominic's headquarters one morning wearing a dark coat and carrying no weapon.
Every guard froze.
Dominic came downstairs.
Father and son faced each other.
"You've changed."
Dominic laughed without humor.
"You died."
"That was necessary."
"People believed you."
"People believe what they're told."
Dominic stepped closer.
"You ordered my mother's disappearance."
Angelo said nothing.
"You killed Daniel Bennett."
"Daniel made choices."
"You tried to kill Clara."
"Clara is dangerous."
Dominic's jaw tightened.
"Leave."
Angelo smiled.
"I built everything you have."
"And I'll destroy it."
"Then you destroy yourself."
He placed a folder on the table.
Inside were contracts.
Accounts.
Names.
Proof of Dominic's involvement in the criminal side of the Caruso business.
"One phone call," Angelo said, "and you'll spend the rest of your life in prison."
Dominic stared at the papers.
"You're bluffing."
"No."
Angelo smiled.
"Choose."
"Choose what?"
"Your empire."
He looked toward Clara.
"Or her."
Clara had been standing behind Dominic.
She stepped forward.
"That's not a choice."
Angelo looked at her.
"It is for men like us."
Clara shook her head.
"I'm not interested in your world."
"You're already in it."
Dominic took her hand.
"I choose her."
Angelo stared.
"You'll lose everything."
Dominic nodded.
"Then I lose everything."
Angelo left.
The next forty-eight hours were chaos.
Accounts were frozen.
Police warrants appeared.
News channels began reporting on the Romano-Caruso network.
Dominic's allies abandoned him.
His company stock collapsed.
His own employees walked away.
He returned home carrying a single bag.
Clara met him at the door.
"What happened?"
"It's over."
She studied his face.
"Everything?"
"Almost."
She stepped closer.
"Then we'll build again."
He laughed softly.
"With what?"
She held up the brass key.
"With the truth."
They used the evidence.
Every ledger.
Every account.
Every recording.
Clara testified.
Dominic cooperated fully.
He surrendered ownership of the criminal assets.
He turned over offshore accounts.
He exposed judges.
Police officials.
Bankers.
Politicians.
The investigation became one of the largest organized-crime prosecutions the city had seen in years.
Angelo was arrested.
Victor surrendered.
Samuel testified.
Vale disappeared.
But the Black Rose records remained.
Clara had memorized enough to recover them.
Her father's work became public.
His name was cleared.
Months later, Dominic stood in front of a courthouse.
Reporters shouted questions.
"Do you regret what your family did?"
Dominic looked toward Clara.
"I regret not stopping it sooner."
"Are you still running the organization?"
"No."
"What are you doing now?"
He smiled.
"Starting over."
Clara waited across the street.
When he reached her, she smiled.
"You survived."
"So did you."
"Mostly."
He laughed.
Then took her hand.
"Come home."
She looked at him.
"What does home mean now?"
May you like
He answered without hesitation.
"Wherever you are."
