Chapter 7 - The Betrayal Inside the Russo Empire
Dominic moved fast.
The entire compound was evacuated.
Lily was taken to a secondary shelter.
Norah refused to leave her.
Dominic finally agreed.
They drove through underground routes while armed vehicles followed.
Halfway there, Dominic's phone rang.
It was Marco, his oldest lieutenant.
“Boss.”
“Talk.”
“We found the leak.”
Dominic gripped the steering wheel.
“Who?”
Silence.
“Marco.”
“It's Adrian.”
Norah looked over.
Adrian was Dominic's cousin.
The man who had once treated Norah kindly.
The man who had played with Lily.
The man who had brought her coffee when she was sick.
Dominic's face became unreadable.
“Where is he?”
“In the old warehouse.”
“Alive?”
“For now.”
They arrived forty minutes later.
Adrian was tied to a chair.
Blood ran from the corner of his mouth.
Dominic walked toward him.
“Why?”
Adrian laughed.
“You want the noble answer?”
“No.”
“I was tired of being second.”
Dominic stared.
“You sold my locations.”
“I sold information.”
“You gave them Norah.”
Adrian's smile vanished.
“I didn't know about the baby.”
“But once you did?”
Adrian looked at Norah.
“I knew what she was.”
Norah felt sick.
“What am I?”
Adrian laughed bitterly.
“Your mother wasn't just a bookkeeper.”
He nodded toward Dominic.
“She was the person who exposed your father.”
Dominic's eyes narrowed.
“What did you say?”
“She sent copies of the ledger to the FBI.”
Dominic went still.
“Then why wasn't my father arrested?”
“Because someone betrayed her.”
Norah whispered, “Who?”
Adrian smiled.
“You're looking at him.”
Everyone looked at Dominic.
His face changed.
“No.”
Adrian laughed.
“You were six years old. You wouldn't remember.”
Dominic grabbed his collar.
“What happened?”
“Your father discovered the betrayal.”
“Whose betrayal?”
“Your mother.”
Norah shook her head.
“My mother wasn't part of this.”
“She tried to escape.”
“Who helped her?”
Adrian's smile faded.
“Your father did.”
Dominic released him.
The room went silent.
Adrian continued.
“Your father discovered that Norah's mother had been planning to expose everything.”
“Then why help her?”
“Because he loved her.”
Norah's eyes filled.
Her mother had never told her.
Adrian looked at Dominic.
“Your father sent them away.”
“And then?”
“He was killed.”
“By who?”
Adrian swallowed.
“That is the part your father never wrote down.”
Dominic's phone buzzed.
A video.
Lily.
Tied to a chair.
Norah gasped.
The room exploded into action.
Dominic watched the screen.
A voice spoke.
“You have one hour.”
The video ended.
Norah's hands shook.
Dominic turned to Marco.
“Trace it.”
“We're trying.”
Dominic looked at Adrian.
“You're coming.”
Adrian laughed.
“Why would I help?”
“Because the people you sold us to are going to kill you too.”
Adrian's expression changed.
Dominic leaned closer.
“They don't leave witnesses.”
Adrian finally nodded.
The location was an abandoned church.
They arrived before midnight.
Dominic entered first.
Norah remained in the vehicle.
Gunfire erupted.
Men ran out.
Marco shouted.
Adrian was shot.
Dominic disappeared inside.
Minutes passed.
Norah couldn't stay in the car.
She ran.
Inside, she found Dominic kneeling beside Lily.
He had blood on his hands.
But it wasn't his.
Lily was alive.
Norah rushed to her.
“Mommy!”
She hugged her.
Dominic stood.
A man emerged from behind him.
The final enemy.
A woman.
Livia.
Norah froze.
“You?”
Livia's face was wet with tears.
“I had no choice.”
Dominic raised his gun.
“Put it down.”
She shook her head.
“You don't understand.”
“You betrayed me.”
“They have my grandson.”
“He's dead.”
Livia closed her eyes.
“No.”
Dominic stared.
“He died twenty years ago.”
She opened her eyes.
“Not mine.”
Norah's heart stopped.
Livia looked at her.
“Your mother had another child.”
Dominic frowned.
“What?”
“Your brother.”
Norah whispered, “I have a brother?”
Livia nodded.
“He's the man behind all of this.”
Dominic's expression changed.
“That's impossible.”
“He has been hunting the ledger for years.”
Norah shook her head.
“Who is he?”
Livia looked at Dominic.
“Gabriel Hayes.”
Norah's world shattered.
May you like
Her brother was alive.
And he had been hunting her.
