Chapter 6 - The Friend He Never Suspected
Dominic's investigation turned inward.
He reviewed security footage.
Financial transfers.
Phone records.
Travel logs.
Every path led to Vincenzo.
Not enough to prove betrayal.
Enough to raise questions.
Emma noticed.
"Do you think he's bad?"
Dominic hesitated.
"I don't know."
"Mom says when you don't know, you don't accuse."
"Your mother is wise."
"She says you don't listen."
Dominic laughed.
That was the first genuine laugh Emma had heard from him.
Then Vincenzo entered.
"Boss, we found Rafael's vehicle."
"Where?"
"South side."
Dominic watched him closely.
"Take four men."
"Yes."
"Not six."
Vincenzo paused.
"Understood."
After he left, Emma looked at Dominic.
"Why did you send fewer men?"
"Because I wanted to see who he called."
She nodded.
An hour later, a phone record came in.
Vincenzo had called an unknown number.
Dominic traced it.
Rafael.
The evidence was enough.
But Dominic did not confront him.
Instead he created a trap.
They would move the trust documents.
Vincenzo would be told the fake location.
If Rafael appeared, they would know.
The trap worked.
Rafael's men attacked the wrong warehouse.
Dominic watched from across the street.
He finally turned to Vincenzo.
"You betrayed me."
Vincenzo did not deny it.
"I never wanted you dead."
"You gave them our movements."
"Yes."
"You helped them track Emma."
"No."
"Then why?"
Vincenzo looked at him.
"Because my daughter was being held."
Dominic stopped.
"What?"
"Rafael has her."
A photograph appeared.
A little girl.
Eight years old.
Vincenzo's daughter.
He had been trying to save her.
Dominic understood.
He lowered his weapon.
"How long?"
"Nine months."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because Rafael said he would kill her."
Dominic looked at the photograph.
"Where is she?"
"I don't know."
"We'll find her."
Vincenzo stared.
"Why?"
"Because you made a terrible choice."
Dominic's voice hardened.
"But you're family."
Vincenzo began crying.
"You don't owe me that."
"No."
Dominic turned.
"I owe it to your daughter."
The rescue operation took place that night.
They found her in an abandoned motel.
Alive.
Terrified.
But safe.
Vincenzo held her and cried.
Dominic stood outside.
Emma approached.
"You saved them."
"We all did."
She smiled.
Then her face changed.
"Dominic?"
"What?"
"What if everyone who helped my father gets a second chance?"
He looked at her.
"Why?"
"Because my dad wanted us to have a better family."
Dominic smiled faintly.
"Your father would have liked you."
She hugged him.
Then the real danger arrived.
Rafael released documents to the press.
The Moretti family was accused of money laundering, extortion, and murder.
Dominic's legal teams went into overdrive.
But one document looked authentic.
A bank transfer signed by Dominic.
It showed a payment to the judge overseeing the Bell Foundation case.
Dominic had never made it.
Someone had forged his signature.
The judge issued an arrest warrant.
Dominic looked at Emma.
"Go with Mara."
"No."
"Emma."
"No."
"You're not coming."
"I am."
He stared at her.
She held his gaze.
"If you go to jail, who protects Mom?"
Dominic had no answer.
She was right.
He looked at Vincenzo.
"Get Lillian somewhere safe."
Then he turned toward the courthouse.
As Dominic walked away, Emma whispered:
"He'll come back."
Mara asked:
"How do you know?"
May you like
Emma smiled.
"Because he promised."
