Chapter 5 - The Betrayal Inside the Family
Dominic's uncle, Vincent Rossi, had been the only member of the family Dominic had trusted without question.
That trust had now become a weapon.
The live location showed an abandoned industrial complex on the east side of the city.
Lena stared at the map.
"He's luring us there."
"Yes," Dominic said.
"Then don't go."
Dominic looked at her.
"My uncle has access to every emergency code in the Rossi system."
"And that's why you are the target."
"He knows how I think."
"So does Marcus."
Dominic's expression hardened.
"Exactly."
They arrived at the warehouse before dawn.
Lena stayed in the command vehicle with Rafael.
Dominic entered with 6 men.
Cecilia remained on the opposite side.
The building was silent.
Then Vincent appeared on the balcony.
"Dominic."
Dominic looked up.
"Uncle."
Vincent shook his head.
"You were always too sentimental."
"Where is Marcus?"
"Not here."
"Where is the chairman?"
Vincent smiled.
"He's already dead."
Dominic's eyes darkened.
Then Lena saw the truth.
Vincent was not standing alone.
Two men beside him wore Rossi security uniforms.
One was the head of internal security.
The other was Dominic's chief financial officer.
The betrayal went deeper than anyone expected.
Vincent had been feeding information to Marcus for years.
He had deliberately created weak points in the company.
He had also ordered the leak that exposed Lena.
Dominic looked at his uncle.
"You sent the messages."
"No."
Vincent's smile faded.
"Cecilia did."
Lena looked at Cecilia.
Cecilia stepped forward.
"He's lying."
Vincent laughed.
"Ask her about the first shipment."
Dominic turned.
"Cecilia."
She hesitated.
It was enough.
Lena realized the truth.
Cecilia had once helped Marcus move money.
Not because she wanted power.
Because Marcus had threatened her family.
But she had made mistakes.
Large ones.
"You lied to us," Lena said.
Cecilia looked at her.
"Yes."
"How much?"
"Enough to be ashamed of."
Dominic's expression remained cold.
"Tell me everything."
Cecilia did.
Marcus had forced her to sabotage Rossi operations.
She had fed him schedules.
Names.
Financial movements.
But she had also secretly protected Lena.
The anonymous messages had been warning her.
The reason Cecilia had always been near Dominic was to monitor Marcus's movements.
She had been playing both sides.
Vincent's face darkened.
"You're all fools."
He raised his hand.
The lights went out.
Gunfire erupted.
Dominic dragged Lena behind a steel column.
"Stay here."
"No."
"Lena."
"I found the evidence."
She held up the flash drive.
"Then I can find the access point."
Dominic stared at her.
"You know where the servers are."
"I know where your old backup room is."
A brief smile crossed his face.
"That's why I hired you."
They moved through the warehouse.
Lena navigated the building from memory of old company blueprints.
They reached the server room.
She inserted the drive.
The system loaded.
A list of hidden accounts appeared.
One account was active.
Marcus Devo.
But another name appeared.
Lena froze.
"Dominic."
He looked.
"What's wrong?"
"Your uncle wasn't working alone."
On the screen was a timestamped transfer.
Payment recipient:
DANIEL VALE.
Lena's father's name.
She stared.
"If Dad was alive..."
Dominic understood.
"Marcus wasn't holding your father."
"Vincent was."
A sound came through the speakers.
A man's voice.
Weak.
Older.
"Lena?"
She nearly collapsed.
"Dad?"
Michael Vale's voice trembled.
"Don't trust Vincent."
A gunshot sounded.
Then silence.
Dominic's face became terrifyingly calm.
"He has him."
They found Vincent in the lower basement.
Michael was tied to a chair.
Blood covered his temple.
Marcus stood beside him.
Vincent stood on the opposite side.
Dominic raised his weapon.
"Let him go."
Marcus laughed.
"You finally came."
Lena stepped forward.
"Marcus."
He turned.
She noticed his hesitation.
"You don't have to do this."
His face changed.
"You sound like your father."
"Then maybe you should listen."
Marcus looked at Michael.
"Your father was a coward."
Michael lifted his head.
"No."
His voice was weak.
"I was the man who knew what you really were."
Marcus raised the gun.
Dominic moved.
Cecilia fired first.
The bullet struck Marcus's weapon.
Dominic reached Michael.
Vincent ran.
Lena followed.
She caught him near the exit.
He grabbed her.
"You have no idea what your boss is."
"He saved my father."
"He needs you."
Vincent whispered.
"That's all this is."
Lena stared at him.
"No."
She pulled free.
"He loved me before he admitted it."
Vincent's face twisted.
Then Dominic appeared.
"Move away from her."
Vincent raised a hidden weapon.
Dominic fired once.
Vincent dropped.
Alive.
Barely.
Outside, police sirens approached.
Cecilia had made an anonymous call.
Marcus was arrested after trying to escape through the river tunnel.
Michael was rushed to the hospital.
For the first time in 12 years, Lena sat beside her father.
He opened his eyes.
"You're beautiful."
She laughed through tears.
"You look terrible."
He smiled.
"So do I."
Dominic stood in the hallway.
Michael looked toward him.
Then whispered.
"You kept your promise."
Dominic nodded.
"I tried."
Michael smiled.
"Try harder."
May you like
Dominic looked at Lena.
"I will."
