Chapter 3 - THE WOMAN WHO SHOULD HAVE BEEN DEAD
The hidden tunnel beneath the Foundry stretched for nearly three blocks.
Sadi had no idea such a place existed.
Dominic walked ahead with a gun in one hand and a flashlight in the other.
“You built this?”
“My father did.”
“Of course.”
“You say that like it explains everything.”
“With men like you, it usually does.”
Dominic glanced back.
“You really don't like me.”
“I don't know you.”
“You fought my champion.”
“That doesn't mean I know you.”
“You could have broken his neck.”
“I didn't.”
“Why?”
Sadi shrugged.
“He tapped.”
Dominic almost smiled.
“You're strange.”
“So I've been told.”
They reached an underground garage.
Three black SUVs waited.
Dominic opened the passenger door of one.
Sadi hesitated.
“Where are we going?”
“To keep you alive.”
“I've survived eight years without you.”
“Barely.”
That annoyed her.
But she got in.
They drove to a private property outside the city.
Inside the house, Dominic took her to a library.
A woman sat beside the fireplace.
She was older.
Thin.
Her hair was streaked with gray.
Sadi stopped.
The world seemed to disappear.
The woman slowly stood.
“Sadi?”
The glass in Sadi's hand fell.
It shattered.
She couldn't breathe.
“Mom?”
The woman covered her mouth.
“My baby.”
Sadi crossed the room.
They collided in an embrace that contained eight years of grief.
Sadi cried like a child.
Her mother did too.
Dominic quietly walked out.
For the first time in years, Sadi allowed herself to be held.
Later that night, her mother explained everything.
Caleb had discovered that Dominic's father was using the Foundry to move more than money.
Weapons.
Political documents.
Blackmail material.
But Caleb's biggest discovery had been worse.
Someone inside the organization was selling information to a rival family.
Caleb found the traitor.
He threatened to expose him.
The fire came three days later.
Sadi's mother had been forced into hiding.
She had spent years moving between safe houses.
“Why didn't you find me?”
“I tried.”
“You knew I was alive.”
“Yes.”
“Then why?”
Her mother looked toward Dominic.
“Because your father made me promise never to reveal myself unless I knew who I could trust.”
Sadi turned.
“Dominic?”
Her mother nodded.
“He's not like his father.”
Sadi looked toward the doorway.
Dominic stood there.
“You knew?”
“I suspected.”
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because your mother wanted to tell you herself.”
Sadi stared at him.
“You knew my mother was alive.”
“Yes.”
“For how long?”
“Three years.”
Her face hardened.
“You let me believe she was dead.”
“I was protecting her.”
“You had no right.”
“No.”
His answer surprised her.
“I didn't.”
Sadi looked away.
Dominic stepped closer.
“But I also knew someone was watching you.”
“Who?”
“Vincent Moretti.”
Her mother's face went pale.
Sadi noticed.
“Who is he?”
Her mother whispered, “The man who ordered the fire.”
Dominic's expression darkened.
“Vincent Moretti is my father's former consigliere.”
Sadi looked at him.
“And now?”
“He wants my empire.”
Suddenly everything connected.
The ledger.
The fire.
Her father's death.
Her mother's disappearance.
The attacks.
Dominic's enemies.
All of it pointed toward one man.
Vincent Moretti.
Then the lights went out.
A gunshot shattered the window.
Dominic pulled Sadi to the floor.
Another shot.
Glass exploded.
Her mother screamed.
Dominic moved like lightning.
He returned fire through the curtains.
The room became chaos.
Sadi crawled toward her mother.
“Stay down!”
Another bullet struck the wall.
Dominic shouted into his phone.
“Lock the perimeter!”
Then silence.
The attackers were gone.
Dominic crouched beside Sadi.
“Are you hurt?”
“No.”
Her mother was shaking.
Dominic looked toward the broken window.
“He knows she's alive.”
Sadi swallowed.
“Then what do we do?”
May you like
Dominic looked at her.
“We stop running.”
