Chapter 6 - The Betrayal Inside The Gallo Family
Dominic spent the night in his father's office.
He didn't sleep.
Every memory had become suspicious.
Every lesson.
Every warning.
Every decision.
He had spent his life trying not to become his father.
Now he wondered if his father had designed his entire life from the beginning.
Elena found him at dawn.
“You need to eat.”
“I don't care.”
“I do.”
He looked at her.
“Why?”
“Because you become stupid when you're hungry.”
He actually laughed.
The tension broke for one second.
Then Dominic asked,
“Did you know?”
“No.”
“About my mother?”
“No.”
“About Vivien?”
“No.”
Elena sat beside him.
“Your family is complicated.”
“That is one word for it.”
She took his hand.
“I didn't come here to destroy you.”
He looked at her.
“I know.”
“I came because I needed somewhere safe.”
“You found it.”
She smiled.
“I did.”
That simple admission affected him more than any confession.
Dominic leaned closer.
Then stopped.
“What?”
Elena whispered.
“You're looking at me like you're afraid.”
“I am.”
“Of me?”
“No.”
“Then what?”
“Of losing you.”
She went still.
Dominic kissed her.
It was gentle.
Nothing like the violence surrounding them.
Elena responded slowly.
Then she pulled away.
“We shouldn't.”
“Why?”
“Because everything around us is falling apart.”
Dominic touched her cheek.
“Then we fall apart together.”
Before she could answer, the door opened.
Leo entered.
“Boss.”
Dominic turned.
“What?”
“We have a problem.”
“What kind?”
“Your mother is alive.”
Dominic froze.
Leo continued.
“She was located in a private care facility in Vermont.”
Dominic stared.
“My mother died fifteen years ago.”
“That is what we were told.”
Elena stood.
“Who put her there?”
Leo looked at Dominic.
“Your father.”
Dominic's entire body went still.
They flew north that afternoon.
His mother was alive.
Weak.
Older.
But alive.
When Dominic entered her room, she began crying.
“My son.”
He stared at her.
“Why didn't you tell me?”
She covered her face.
“I was afraid.”
“Of Dad?”
“Yes.”
“Why did you marry Arthur?”
She looked at Elena.
Then she understood.
“So Gabriel's daughter survived.”
Elena nodded.
His mother closed her eyes.
“Your father wanted the Black Ledger.”
“Did he create the network?”
“No.”
She swallowed.
“Your grandfather did.”
“Then what did Dad do?”
“He tried to control it.”
Dominic sat.
She continued.
“Arthur discovered your father wanted out. He wanted to leave the organization and protect you.”
Dominic looked at Elena.
“Why did he hide her?”
“Because Arthur wanted Elena dead.”
His mother began crying.
“Your father made one final deal.”
“What deal?”
“He surrendered control of the syndicate in exchange for Elena's life.”
Dominic stared.
“So he protected her.”
“Yes.”
“Then why was he murdered?”
“Arthur killed him anyway.”
The room fell silent.
Elena looked at Dominic.
For years, she had believed Dominic's father was her enemy.
Now she knew he had tried to protect her.
The truth wasn't simple.
It never was.
Dominic returned to Bellhaven determined to end the syndicate.
He called every senior member.
“They have two choices,” he said.
“Leave.”
“Or answer to me.”
Some laughed.
Others hesitated.
A few walked out.
Leo stayed.
“So what now?”
Dominic looked at the Black Ledger.
“We shut it down.”
“You know what happens if you do that.”
“Yes.”
“People will come for you.”
“They already are.”
Meanwhile, Vivien vanished.
That worried Dominic more than anything.
He knew her.
She would not run.
She would prepare.
Three days later, every Gallo account was frozen.
Two warehouses were raided.
Three senior captains were arrested.
Dominic realized someone had leaked information.
He called Leo.
“Find the source.”
Hours later, Leo returned.
“It came from inside the house.”
Dominic's stomach dropped.
“Who?”
Leo looked reluctant.
“Beatrice.”
Dominic stared.
“What?”
“She has been meeting someone.”
“Who?”
Leo placed a photograph on the desk.
Beatrice stood beside Arthur Vale.
Dominic felt betrayed.
But before he could react, another photograph appeared.
Beatrice was not meeting Arthur.
She was meeting a federal investigator.
Dominic frowned.
“She has been feeding evidence to the government.”
Leo nodded.
“She has been doing it for twenty years.”
Dominic closed his eyes.
Twenty years.
Beatrice had watched over him.
She had protected him.
And she had quietly gathered evidence against the organization.
Suddenly, her phone call made sense.
She hadn't called because she feared for Nora.
She had called because she knew Nora would defend herself.
She was warning Dominic.
May you like
The maid was not the danger.
The maid was the witness.
