Chapter 4 - The Man Who Ordered the Search
Vincent Russo was waiting when Dominic returned.
He sat in the study of the Russo estate, drinking espresso as though nothing had happened.
Dominic entered alone.
"You sent men after her."
Vincent didn't look up.
"No."
"Lie again and I'll put you through this table."
Vincent smiled.
"You're starting to sound like your father."
Dominic's jaw tightened.
"You kidnapped Matteo."
Vincent finally looked at him.
"Your father destroyed himself."
"Did he?"
"He betrayed the family."
"You've been telling that story for twenty years."
"Because it's true."
Dominic threw the journal onto the table.
Vincent glanced at it.
Something changed in his face.
Only for a fraction of a second.
But Dominic saw it.
"You recognize it."
Vincent leaned back.
"Where did you get this?"
"From Maya."
Vincent stood.
"You should stay away from that girl."
"No."
"Dominic."
"Who is she?"
"Nobody."
"Then why are you afraid of her?"
Silence.
Vincent's expression hardened.
"Her blood carries information your father died protecting."
Dominic stared.
"What information?"
"The name of the person who owns the waterfront."
Dominic frowned.
"I do."
Vincent laughed.
"No."
He stepped closer.
"You think you do."
Then he said the words that changed everything.
"The entire waterfront has been operating under a secret trust for twenty-five years."
"Whose trust?"
Vincent smiled.
"Your father's."
Dominic froze.
"He never transferred ownership."
"He did."
"He couldn't."
"He could."
Vincent pointed to the journal.
"That medallion is the key."
Dominic understood.
"Maya can access the trust."
"Yes."
"That's why you want her."
"Yes."
"And if she refuses?"
Vincent's smile disappeared.
"Then she dies."
Dominic's eyes turned cold.
"Touch her, and you die first."
Vincent laughed.
"You've already chosen."
Dominic walked away.
Behind him, Vincent made a phone call.
"Proceed."
Meanwhile, Maya was staying in a safe apartment owned by one of Dominic's trusted men, Marco.
She didn't trust the place.
She didn't trust Dominic.
But she trusted Marco enough to sleep.
At 3:00 a.m., Dominic arrived.
He found Maya sitting at the kitchen table.
She had the journal open.
"You shouldn't read alone."
"I've survived this long."
He pulled out a chair.
"What did you find?"
She turned the journal.
A page had been marked.
One sentence.
The family will destroy itself over the girl.
Dominic read it twice.
"The girl," he whispered.
"Me."
"Yes."
"Why?"
He looked at her.
"Because your father knew the truth."
"Which is?"
Dominic hesitated.
"That you were the legal heir to the hidden trust."
Maya laughed bitterly.
"That sounds insane."
"It is."
"I'm a waitress."
"You were trained to disappear."
Maya frowned.
"What?"
"Your grandmother didn't just raise you."
"What did she do?"
"She taught you languages."
"Three."
"She taught you accounting."
"She called it budgeting."
"She taught you how to identify people."
Maya went silent.
Dominic smiled faintly.
"You thought she was teaching you to survive."
"She was."
"She was teaching you to inherit."
Maya stared at him.
"No."
"Yes."
He placed another document on the table.
Elena's signature.
A legal guardianship agreement.
The words were clear.
If Matteo died, guardianship of Maya would transfer to Elena until she reached twenty-five.
At twenty-five, Maya would receive access to the Russo family trust.
Maya's eyes widened.
"I'm twenty-seven."
Dominic nodded.
"Which means the trust should already be yours."
"Where is it?"
"Missing."
"Stolen?"
"Probably."
"By Vincent?"
"Probably."
Maya looked at him.
"Then why hasn't he killed me?"
May you like
Dominic stared at her.
"Because he needs your fingerprints."
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