Chapter 6 - The Billion-Dollar Secret
The hidden trust controlled dozens of properties.
Warehouses.
Restaurants.
Marinas.
Apartments.
Shipping rights.
Construction contracts.
Businesses nobody connected to the Russo name.
Together, they were worth more than a billion dollars.
But the money was not the secret.
The real secret was control.
Matteo explained that twenty-five years earlier, Dominic's grandfather had created the trust to protect the waterfront from outside corporations and corrupt politicians.
The trust belonged to the family.
But he had placed control in the hands of the youngest heir.
Maya.
"Why me?" she asked.
"Because you were the only one they couldn't manipulate."
"How?"
"Your mother refused to let the family turn you into another soldier."
Maya wiped tears from her face.
"Did my mother know?"
"Yes."
"Where is she?"
Matteo looked at the floor.
"Dead."
Maya closed her eyes.
"How?"
"Vincent."
Dominic looked at Matteo.
"Prove it."
Matteo pointed to a locked cabinet.
Inside was a recording.
Vincent's voice.
Ordering the hit.
Maya listened.
Her entire body shook.
Dominic stood behind her.
He placed a hand on her shoulder.
She leaned into him.
"I hate him."
"I know."
"I want him to suffer."
"I know."
"But I don't want to become him."
Dominic looked at her.
"Then don't."
They planned the final confrontation carefully.
Maya would use the medallion to access the trust's digital system.
Dominic would expose Vincent's financial records.
Matteo would testify.
They would turn the entire operation over to federal investigators.
But Vincent discovered the plan.
He kidnapped Matteo.
Then he sent Maya a message.
Bring me the medallion.
Come alone.
Or your father dies.
Dominic wanted to stop her.
Maya refused.
"I have to go."
"No."
"He has my father."
"We'll find another way."
"There isn't one."
Dominic grabbed her.
"You think I'm going to let you walk into a room with a man who tried to kill your family?"
Maya stared at him.
"I've spent my whole life running."
"This isn't running."
"Then what is it?"
Dominic softened.
"Survival."
She touched his face.
"I'm not asking you to stay away."
"Then what?"
"Come with me."
He nodded.
"Always."
They entered the old Russo waterfront warehouse at midnight.
Vincent stood in the center.
Matteo was tied to a chair.
Maya walked forward.
"Let him go."
Vincent smiled.
"You look just like Elena."
Maya raised the medallion.
"You want this."
"Yes."
"You get it when he walks out."
Vincent laughed.
"You think you're negotiating."
"I am."
Dominic appeared behind her.
Vincent's smile disappeared.
"Dominic."
"You knew I'd come."
"I hoped you would."
"Why?"
"Because your death makes everything easier."
Vincent raised his gun.
Then the warehouse doors exploded open.
Federal agents stormed inside.
Vincent turned.
Maya smiled.
"You talk too much."
Vincent's face twisted.
The agents arrested him.
Matteo was freed.
But Vincent had one final move.
He reached beneath the table and pressed a button.
The warehouse began to shake.
Explosives.
Dominic grabbed Maya.
They ran.
Matteo couldn't move fast enough.
Dominic turned.
"Go!"
He ran back.
Maya followed.
They reached Matteo seconds before the explosion.
Dominic dragged him through a side door.
The warehouse erupted behind them.
Maya screamed.
Dominic was thrown to the ground.
Silence.
Smoke.
Fire.
Maya crawled toward him.
"Dominic!"
He moved.
Barely.
"I'm okay."
She started crying.
He smiled.
"You're going to have to stop saving me."
May you like
She laughed through tears.
"No."
