Chapter 6 - The Night Dominic Chose Her Over The Empire
The war escalated.
Luca controlled enough people to make a direct assault impossible.
Dominic faced a choice.
Protect the empire.
Or protect Norah.
Everyone expected him to choose the first.
He chose her.
He sold three major properties.
Moved money.
Broke old alliances.
Destroyed records that could have been used to control people.
His lieutenants were furious.
"You are dismantling everything your family built."
Dominic answered:
"Good."
Norah watched him.
"Why?"
"Because I don't want to inherit their sins."
She smiled.
"You really are different from your father."
Dominic looked toward Salvatore.
"He would have killed me for saying that."
The old man raised one finger.
Then pointed at Dominic.
Then himself.
Dominic laughed.
"He says you're right."
Norah smiled.
For a while, peace seemed possible.
Then Rosa, an elderly housekeeper, vanished.
She left one note.
I know where Luca is.
Dominic found the location.
An abandoned opera house.
They went.
Rosa was trapped backstage.
Luca waited in the balcony.
"You've become sentimental."
Dominic looked up.
"No."
"You've become weak."
"No."
He glanced at Norah.
"I've become selective."
Luca smiled.
"She is the weakness."
Norah stepped forward.
"That's what everyone thinks."
Luca looked at her.
"What are you saying?"
"I'm the reason he'll burn his empire."
Dominic stared at her.
"Norah."
She looked at Luca.
"And you're the reason he finally has nothing left to lose."
Luca's smile faded.
The lights went out.
Gunfire erupted.
Dominic pulled Norah behind the stage.
Rosa crawled toward them.
"There's another exit."
They escaped.
But Dominic was injured.
A bullet grazed his side.
Norah treated him in the car.
"You need a hospital."
"No."
"You've lost blood."
"I'm fine."
"You sound like your father."
Dominic looked at her.
"That's insulting."
She laughed.
Then her expression softened.
"I was scared."
"So was I."
"You?"
"Of losing you."
She pressed the bandage.
"Then stop scaring me."
He took her hand.
"I'll try."
They returned to the estate.
Salvatore was waiting.
He had something in his hand.
A key.
He gave it to Norah.
She frowned.
"What is this?"
Dominic examined it.
"The old chapel."
They drove there the next morning.
Inside the chapel, behind a stone altar, they found a box.
Inside:
Elena's diary.
Daniel's watch.
And one photograph.
Luca and a politician.
The date was recent.
Dominic understood.
"The politician controls the police."
Norah looked at the diary.
"Then Luca isn't alone."
The diary revealed the entire network.
Corrupt officials.
Bankers.
Shipping executives.
Judges.
Luca was only one piece.
The real mastermind was a man named Victor Hale.
A senator.
Norah stared.
"He has been behind everything."
Dominic nodded.
"Then that's who we expose."
They copied the evidence.
But before they could act, Salvatore's health crashed.
Norah rushed upstairs.
His breathing was shallow.
His heart rate erratic.
Dominic stood beside him.
"Papa."
Salvatore opened his eye.
He looked at Norah.
Then Dominic.
His lips moved.
Norah leaned close.
"What?"
He whispered.
"Perdono."
Forgiveness.
Dominic began crying.
Norah looked at him.
"He wants you to forgive him."
Dominic held his father's hand.
"I already did."
Salvatore's eye closed.
His breathing steadied.
For the first time, Dominic understood.
May you like
The empire had never been the thing Salvatore wanted to save.
His family had.
