Chapter 3 - Dominic Russo Learns the Truth
Norah did not answer.
Dominic waited.
The refrigerator hummed behind them.
A clock ticked over the stove.
Somewhere upstairs, Lily shifted in her sleep.
Norah felt suddenly aware of every fragile thing in the house.
“I told you I have a tumor.”
“And I told you I know you're pregnant.”
Norah closed her eyes.
There was no way out.
She considered running.
But there were men outside.
Cars at the gate.
Cameras.
Dogs.
Dominic's entire world had been built to prevent people from disappearing.
Then the baby kicked.
His gaze lowered.
Norah instinctively covered her stomach.
Dominic saw.
His face changed.
Not anger.
Not disgust.
Shock.
Almost disbelief.
“Five months?”
She nodded.
His voice came softer.
“How long have you known?”
“Almost four.”
He stared at her.
“Why didn't you tell me?”
Norah laughed once, bitterly.
“Because I knew what you'd do.”
“What would I do?”
“You'd take my baby.”
His jaw tightened.
“I wouldn't.”
“You don't know that.”
“I know exactly what I would do.”
“You're a mafia boss.”
The words landed heavily.
Dominic looked at her.
“I know.”
“You have people killed.”
“I know.”
“You have enemies everywhere.”
“I know.”
“You think every problem can be solved with money, guns, threats, or fear.”
His eyes did not move from hers.
“Sometimes it can.”
“And a child?”
He paused.
“No.”
Norah frowned.
“No?”
“No.”
Dominic approached slowly.
“A child isn't a problem.”
Her eyes burned.
“Then what is he?”
Dominic stopped in front of her.
“You said he.”
Norah's face went blank.
Dominic's eyes narrowed.
Norah looked away.
He exhaled.
“It's a boy.”
She whispered, “I didn't want to know.”
“I understand.”
“No, you don't.”
“You kept an ultrasound.”
Her eyes widened.
Dominic's voice softened.
“You should have destroyed it.”
“I know.”
“But you didn't.”
“No.”
“Why?”
Norah's lips trembled.
“Because he's the only thing in my life that doesn't belong to someone else.”
Dominic stared at her.
Then he did something she had never seen him do.
He looked away first.
The silence lasted several seconds.
“Does he have a heartbeat?”
Norah blinked.
“What?”
“Of course he does.”
“I know.”
His voice cracked almost imperceptibly.
“I heard it once.”
Norah stared.
Dominic's eyes returned to her.
“When we were trapped in that room.”
Her breath stopped.
“You remember.”
“I remember everything.”
His gaze moved to her hands.
“That night changed something.”
Norah whispered, “You never acted like it did.”
“I thought you regretted it.”
“I didn't.”
“Neither did I.”
She looked at him.
For the first time, the wall between them seemed thinner.
Then Dominic's phone rang.
He answered.
His expression hardened.
“Bring me the access log.”
He hung up.
“They found something.”
“What?”
“One of my security cameras was disabled three days before you first left for the clinic.”
Norah's stomach dropped.
“Three days?”
Dominic nodded.
“That means someone knew about your pregnancy before I did.”
She stared.
“How?”
Dominic looked toward the hallway.
“Someone inside the house.”
The investigation began before sunrise.
Dominic had every employee questioned.
No accusations.
No screaming.
Just interviews.
Maria.
The cooks.
The drivers.
The gardeners.
The security team.
Even Lily's tutor.
Norah sat in the library while Dominic reviewed reports.
She watched him work.
He was different around business.
Cold.
Precise.
Terrifyingly focused.
Then a report landed on his desk.
He read it once.
Twice.
He looked up.
“What?”
Dominic slid the paper toward her.
The security system had recorded a car near the clinic.
A black SUV.
The license plate was fake.
But the passenger had been captured.
The image was blurry.
Yet Norah recognized the jacket.
She felt sick.
“Who is that?”
Dominic's face darkened.
“My sister.”
Norah froze.
“Livia?”
“Yes.”
Dominic stood.
“Get out of the room.”
“Why?”
“Because I need to make a phone call.”
He stepped toward the window.
Norah hesitated.
Then she left.
But she did not go far.
She stood in the hallway.
Through the closed door, she heard Dominic's voice.
“You've been following her.”
Silence.
Then another voice.
Norah couldn't hear the words.
Dominic spoke again.
“Why?”
The response was faint.
His voice became quieter.
“Do not lie to me.”
A pause.
Then:
“Who told you about the child?”
Norah's hand flew to her mouth.
She heard the phone slam down.
The door opened.
Dominic saw her.
Neither spoke.
“What did she say?” Norah asked.
“Nothing useful.”
“Then why did you look like that?”
Dominic stared at her.
“She said she wasn't investigating you.”
“Then why was she at the clinic?”
“She said she was investigating me.”
Norah frowned.
“What?”
Dominic handed her the phone.
A message was open.
Livia had written:
You think Norah is the secret. She isn't. The baby is.
Norah's stomach turned.
Dominic's eyes met hers.
“She knows something.”
Before Norah could reply, an explosion shook the compound.
Glass shattered.
The library windows cracked.
Lily screamed upstairs.
Dominic grabbed Norah and pulled her behind him.
Another blast.
Then gunfire.
Dominic drew his weapon.
“Stay with me.”
They ran.
Norah clutched her stomach.
Smoke filled the west corridor.
Guards shouted.
A man appeared at the far end.
Dominic fired once.
The attacker dropped.
Norah stopped.
She had never seen Dominic shoot someone at such close range.
He turned immediately toward her.
“Don't look.”
But Norah had already seen.
She whispered, “I'm scared.”
Dominic reached for her hand.
“I know.”
This time, he didn't let go.
They made it to the safe room.
Lily was brought downstairs.
Maria followed.
The door sealed.
Dominic checked everyone.
Then he looked at Norah.
The ultrasound was still in her coat.
He knew it.
He held out his hand.
Norah stared.
Then she gave it to him.
Dominic unfolded the picture.
His eyes rested on the tiny profile.
He touched the corner of the paper.
“That’s my son.”
Norah swallowed.
“Yes.”
He closed his eyes briefly.
When he opened them, something had changed.
Not because he was suddenly gentler.
Because he had found something he was willing to destroy his world to protect.
He folded the ultrasound carefully.
Then he gave it back to Norah.
“No one takes him from you.”
May you like
She stared.
“Not even me.”
