Chapter 4 - She Found Out Who Dominic Corsetti Really WasThe truth came from a man Sarah had never met.
His name was Anthony Russo.
He arrived at the bakery just after midnight.
He wore an expensive suit and carried a leather briefcase.
“You're Sarah Malone.”
“Yes.”
“My name is Anthony Russo.”
“I don't know you.”
“You know Dominic.”
Sarah stiffened.
“What do you want?”
“To warn you.”
“About what?”
Anthony opened the briefcase.
Inside were documents.
Photographs.
Bank transfers.
Newspaper clippings.
Sarah stared.
“What is this?”
“Dominic's real business.”
She looked at him.
“He owns restaurants.”
Anthony smiled.
“He owns much more.”
The documents showed shipping companies.
Construction firms.
Security businesses.
Nightclubs.
Private investment groups.
And names Sarah recognized from stories she had heard whispered around Philadelphia.
Dominic Corsetti wasn't merely wealthy.
He was the head of an organized criminal network.
Sarah's hands went cold.
“How long?”
Anthony raised an eyebrow.
“How long what?”
“How long has he been lying to me?”
“He never lied.”
Sarah looked at him sharply.
Anthony placed another document on the table.
“Read it.”
It was a marriage agreement.
A corporate document.
Sarah's name appeared.
She recoiled.
“What is this?”
“Dominic's enemies have been watching you.”
“When did this happen?”
“Months ago.”
“Why does my name appear here?”
“Because Dominic put your bakery and your father's house under protection.”
Sarah stared.
“He what?”
“He moved your assets into a trust that prevents anyone from using them as leverage.”
Sarah's anger turned to confusion.
“This doesn't make sense.”
“It does if you understand Dominic.”
Anthony closed the folder.
“He grew up believing everyone leaves.”
Sarah looked at him.
“Why?”
“His mother died when he was twelve.”
“His father was killed when Dominic was nineteen.”
“His younger brother disappeared.”
Sarah swallowed.
“What happened to his brother?”
Anthony's face became harder.
“He was taken by a rival family.”
“And Dominic?”
“Dominic spent six years destroying everyone responsible.”
Sarah stared at the floor.
She suddenly remembered the scar beside his jaw.
The nightmares he'd never spoken about.
The way he never sat with his back to a door.
The way he always knew where the exits were.
Anthony leaned closer.
“He doesn't trust anyone.”
Sarah's voice was quiet.
“Except me?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because you never asked him for anything.”
She looked at the documents again.
“You said he never lied.”
Anthony nodded.
“He didn't tell you everything.”
“That's the same thing.”
“No.”
Anthony closed the case.
“Lying is giving you false information.”
“What he did was withholding the truth.”
Sarah looked up.
“Why are you defending him?”
“Because I'm trying to keep you alive.”
He stood.
“One more thing.”
“What?”
“Vanessa isn't the danger.”
“Who is?”
Anthony's expression darkened.
“Dominic's uncle, Salvatore.”
Sarah froze.
“The man who disappeared twenty years ago?”
“He came back six months ago.”
Anthony looked toward the dark street.
“He wants Dominic's empire.”
“And me?”
“He wants to know whether Dominic has finally found something he can't afford to lose.”
Sarah's chest tightened.
“And if he has?”
Anthony's answer was quiet.
“Then you're dangerous.”
After he left, Sarah sat alone.
At 3:00 in the morning, Dominic entered the bakery.
He saw the open documents.
He stopped.
“You know.”
“Yes.”
He closed his eyes.
“Who told you?”
“Does it matter?”
“No.”
She looked at him.
“You should have told me.”
“I wanted to.”
“When?”
“When I knew I could keep you safe.”
“You don't get to decide what I can handle.”
“I know.”
“You keep saying that.”
“Because I keep learning it.”
Sarah looked at him.
“Are you a criminal?”
“Yes.”
No excuse.
No denial.
No manipulation.
Just yes.
“Have you killed people?”
His jaw tightened.
“Yes.”
Sarah closed her eyes.
She was shaking.
“Why did you choose me?”
“I didn't.”
She looked confused.
“What?”
“I didn't choose you because I needed someone.”
He stepped closer.
“I chose you because the first time I saw you, you were exhausted and still kind.”
Sarah cried silently.
“That shouldn't matter.”
“It mattered to me.”
She turned away.
“You should leave.”
Dominic stopped.
“Sarah.”
“Leave.”
He did.
And this time she watched him walk away without calling him back.
For the next month, neither contacted the other.
Sarah returned to work.
Dominic returned to his empire.
The bakery was repaired.
Her father's medical bills were paid by an anonymous donor.
Sarah knew who it was.
She never asked.
Then one winter night, the ovens failed.
The temperature dropped.
Her father was at home alone.
Sarah raced through the snow.
But the street was blocked.
A black SUV was parked outside her house.
And someone had left the front door open.
Sarah froze.
Then she saw Dominic standing inside.
Blood covered his shirt.
He looked at her.
“I'm sorry.”
“For what?”
May you like
He took one step forward.
“They finally came for you.”
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