Chapter 7 - The Betrayal Inside the House
The betrayal came from Marco.
He had been feeding information to Salerno.
Not because he wanted Lena dead.
Because Salerno had his younger brother.
Marco had been forced into cooperation.
When Lena discovered the truth, she confronted him.
“You helped them find me.”
Marco lowered his head.
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“My brother.”
Lena's anger softened.
“Is he alive?”
“Yes.”
“Where?”
“Salerno's people have him.”
Lena understood.
“You were trapped too.”
Marco looked at her.
“I should have told Dominic.”
“You should have.”
“I was afraid.”
“So was I.”
That night, Dominic discovered the truth.
He didn't kill Marco.
Instead, he offered him a choice.
“Bring your brother home.”
Marco stared.
“And then?”
“Then you walk away.”
Marco's eyes filled.
“You'd let me live?”
Dominic's answer was simple.
“You made a terrible choice for someone you love.”
He looked toward Lena.
“I understand that.”
The operation to retrieve Marco's brother led to the final confrontation with Salerno.
The ledger was the key.
It contained evidence connecting several corrupt businessmen to Salerno's network.
Dominic could use it to destroy his rival without starting a war.
But Salerno wanted the ledger back.
He demanded Lena in exchange.
Dominic refused.
Lena stepped forward.
“No.”
Dominic turned.
“Lena.”
“This ends because of me.”
“No.”
“Yes.”
She held up the ledger.
“We can give them what they want.”
Dominic stared.
She smiled.
“Not the real ledger.”
A copy.
A carefully prepared copy.
They created a decoy and arranged for Salerno to believe he had recovered everything.
When he opened it, the pages were blank.
The real evidence had already been delivered to federal investigators through an attorney Dominic trusted.
Salerno's network collapsed within weeks.
The violence that everyone expected never came.
Because for once, Dominic chose a different kind of victory.
May you like
Not revenge.
An ending.
