Chapter 4 - The Woman in the Photograph
The woman in the photograph was not Clara.
I learned that at four in the morning.
Dominic had summoned Enzo, Isabella, and two senior security officers into the library.
I wasn't supposed to be there.
So naturally, I was there.
The photograph lay on the desk.
My father stood on the left.
Dominic's father stood in the middle.
And the woman stood beside them.
She had dark hair and sharp eyes.
I knew her.
Not personally.
From my father's photographs.
“She was my mother's best friend,” I whispered.
Dominic looked at me.
“You're sure?”
“Yes.”
“Her name?”
“Margaret Cole.”
Enzo went pale.
“Boss.”
Dominic turned.
“What?”
“Margaret Cole disappeared eighteen years ago.”
My hands went cold.
“Disappeared?”
“Officially, she moved overseas.”
“But that's false.”
Dominic nodded.
“She was part of the original financial investigation.”
“What investigation?”
“My father's.”
I looked at him.
“What did she know?”
“Everything.”
The next morning, Isabella told me the rest.
Margaret had been the Rossi organization's legal adviser.
She discovered millions missing from shell companies.
She warned Dominic's father.
Then she vanished.
My father became frightened.
He started hiding documents.
Then he died.
“And my mother?” I asked.
“Your mother never knew the full truth.”
“Are you sure?”
Isabella looked at me.
“She knew enough to be afraid.”
That afternoon, a package arrived.
No return address.
Inside was a single flash drive.
Dominic ordered it scanned.
No viruses.
No explosives.
Just one folder.
The folder contained video footage.
A gas station camera from eighteen years earlier.
My father stood beside his car.
Margaret approached.
They spoke for less than a minute.
Then another vehicle arrived.
A black SUV.
Margaret looked frightened.
My father pushed her behind him.
The footage ended.
Dominic stared at the screen.
“That SUV belonged to my uncle.”
“Your uncle?”
“Rafael Rossi.”
Isabella went silent.
“Rafael died fifteen years ago,” she said.
Dominic shook his head.
“His death was staged.”
I stared.
“What?”
“Rafael disappeared after my father died. We assumed he was dead.”
“Then where is he?”
Dominic looked at the screen.
“I don't know.”
The answer disturbed me.
If Rafael was alive, then the person my father feared might still be alive too.
We traveled to Cleveland.
My mother was still in treatment.
When she saw Dominic beside my hospital wheelchair, her face changed.
Fear.
Not surprise.
Fear.
“Mom?”
She looked at him.
“Why is he here?”
“Because he saved me.”
She looked at my hand.
The wedding ring was still there.
Her face went white.
“You married her?”
Dominic said quietly, “Only in the religious ceremony.”
My mother turned to me.
“You need to leave.”
“Leave where?”
“Anywhere.”
“Mom, what's happening?”
She began crying.
“I was hoping you would never know.”
“Know what?”
She looked at Dominic.
“He promised your father.”
Dominic stepped closer.
“Ellen, tell her.”
My mother shook her head.
“No.”
I stared.
“Tell me what?”
Finally, she whispered.
“Your father didn't die in a car accident.”
Everything stopped.
“What?”
“He was murdered.”
I looked at Dominic.
He didn't deny it.
“Why did you lie to me?”
“To keep you alive.”
“I was eight.”
“Exactly.”
My mother explained that my father had been investigating a financial scheme that involved the Rossi organization, Costa's network, and several legitimate corporations.
He discovered a hidden ledger.
The ledger listed names.
Politicians.
Judges.
Bankers.
Police officers.
Businessmen.
People who had used criminals to hide millions of dollars.
My father copied the ledger.
Then he disappeared.
The next day, his car was found destroyed.
His body was never found.
I stared at her.
“You told me he was dead.”
“I didn't know for sure.”
“Then why?”
“Because men came to our house.”
My mother began trembling.
“Two days after your father's disappearance, two men told me that if I searched for him, they would take you.”
I closed my eyes.
My whole childhood had been built on a lie.
Dominic stood motionless.
“You knew.”
My mother looked at him.
“Yes.”
“And you never told her.”
“I promised her father.”
“No,” I said.
I looked at Dominic.
“You promised my father.”
“Yes.”
“And my mother?”
“She promised too.”
I felt betrayed by both.
I wheeled myself toward the window.
“I need air.”
Dominic followed.
“I should have told you earlier.”
“Yes.”
“I was afraid.”
I laughed bitterly.
“You?”
“Yes.”
“Of what?”
“That you'd look at me the way you are looking at me now.”
“And how am I looking at you?”
“Like I failed you.”
I turned.
“Did you?”
“Yes.”
The admission stunned me.
Before I could respond, the hospital doors below exploded open.
Security shouted.
A gunshot rang out.
Dominic pulled me behind the wall.
Another shot.
Glass shattered.
Then a voice echoed through the hall.
“Evelyn!”
I froze.
The voice was familiar.
Impossible.
My father.
I looked at Dominic.
His face had gone completely still.
“That can't be…”
But there it was again.
“Evelyn!”
Security rushed toward the stairwell.
Dominic held me back.
“Stay here.”
“No.”
He stared at me.
“You heard him.”
“I did.”
The voice came again.
Then the fire alarm began screaming.
A man appeared at the end of the corridor.
He was older.
Gray hair.
A scar along one cheek.
But his eyes were unmistakable.
My eyes.
My father's eyes.
I stopped breathing.
“Dad?”
The man stared at me.
Tears filled his eyes.
“Evelyn.”
Dominic stepped forward, gun raised.
The man smiled sadly.
“You've kept your promise, Dominic.”
May you like
Then he raised his hands.
And three armed men appeared behind him.
