Chapter 3 - Dominic's Missing Sister
Gianna Romano was twenty-nine.
She was smart, charming, and one of the few people Dominic trusted without question.
When Grace met her again, it was inside a hospital room.
Gianna had been found injured near the river.
A nurse led Grace and Dominic into the room.
Gianna opened her eyes.
"You're the hairdresser."
Grace smiled weakly.
"That's me."
Gianna looked at Dominic.
"You brought her."
"Yes."
"Good."
Dominic frowned.
"Why good?"
Gianna tried to sit up.
"Because they were looking for her."
Grace's blood chilled.
"Who?"
"The Crown."
Dominic moved closer.
"Tell me what happened."
Gianna looked toward the door.
"Not here."
Dominic signaled his men.
They cleared the hallway.
Gianna lowered her voice.
"There is an old network my father built before you took over."
Dominic's jaw tightened.
"I destroyed his network."
"You destroyed most of it."
She glanced at Grace.
"Not all."
"What does this have to do with Grace?"
Gianna shook her head.
"It's not Grace."
Dominic's eyes narrowed.
"It's her family."
Grace whispered, "My family?"
Gianna nodded.
"Your grandmother protected something."
"The evidence."
"Yes."
"What evidence?"
"A ledger."
Dominic went still.
"The black ledger."
Gianna nodded.
Grace looked from one to the other.
"Why is everyone talking like I'm supposed to know what that means?"
Gianna reached beneath her pillow.
She removed an old key.
"This belonged to your grandmother."
Grace stared.
"Where did you get it?"
"Your mother gave it to me."
Grace felt a sharp pain in her chest.
"My mother?"
Gianna nodded.
"Three months ago."
Dominic looked furious.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because she made me promise."
"Where is she now?"
Gianna hesitated.
"She left town."
Grace grabbed the key.
"Why?"
"She was afraid."
"Of what?"
Gianna looked at Dominic.
"Of the man who took her son."
Grace stared.
"My mother had a son?"
Dominic's eyes widened.
"Grace, you're not an only child."
Everything inside her seemed to stop.
"Where is he?"
Gianna whispered:
"Missing."
Grace couldn't speak.
Her mother had always said she lost a baby before Grace.
But never that she had another child who lived.
The hospital room door suddenly opened.
A doctor stepped inside.
Dominic's bodyguard immediately blocked him.
The doctor raised his hands.
"Routine check."
Dominic looked at his badge.
Then at the nurse.
"He's not on staff."
The doctor reached for his pocket.
Dominic moved instantly.
The man ran.
Security caught him in the hallway.
He carried a photograph.
Grace saw it.
A boy.
Approximately seven years old.
Dark hair.
Same gray eyes as Grace.
Her heart slammed against her ribs.
"Who is that?"
The fake doctor smiled.
"Ask your mother."
Police took him away.
But the photograph remained.
Dominic studied it.
"His name is Daniel Miller."
Grace's voice broke.
"My brother."
That night, Grace confronted her mother over the phone.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
Her mother cried.
"Because I thought keeping you ignorant would keep you alive."
"Where is Daniel?"
"I don't know."
"You lied."
"I protected you."
"You let me believe I was alone."
"I am sorry."
Grace closed her eyes.
"Why did you give Gianna the key?"
"Because Dominic is the only person powerful enough to protect you."
"Why him?"
Silence.
Then her mother whispered:
"Because your father trusted his father."
Grace's heart sank.
"My father trusted the man who hurt him?"
"Not at first."
"Then what happened?"
"He discovered Dominic's father wanted to expose the network."
Grace frowned.
"That makes no sense."
"It will when you know the truth."
"What truth?"
Her mother hesitated.
"Your father wasn't killed."
Grace's breath caught.
"He's alive?"
"No."
"Then what do you mean?"
"He disappeared because he made a deal."
"What deal?"
"With Dominic's father."
Grace sat down.
"To protect us."
Her mother began crying.
"Thomas traded himself for you."
Grace covered her mouth.
"What happened to him?"
"I never found out."
After the call, Dominic sat beside her.
"Do you believe her?"
"I don't know."
He looked at the photograph of Daniel.
"We're going to find him."
Grace looked at him.
"Why?"
"Because he's your brother."
"That's not enough for you."
"No."
He took her hand.
"It's enough because he's family."
She stared at him.
"You're starting to scare me less."
"That's disappointing."
She smiled.
"Don't ruin the moment."
He smiled back.
For a few seconds, they forgot about criminals, secrets, and missing relatives.
Then Dominic's phone rang.
He listened.
"Where?"
A pause.
"You're certain?"
He ended the call.
"What?"
"We found Daniel."
"Where?"
Dominic looked at her.
"A private boarding school in Michigan."
Grace stood.
"Let's go."
Dominic nodded.
May you like
But neither of them knew that finding Daniel would bring them face-to-face with the one person they had assumed was dead.
Dominic's father.
