Chapter 6 - The Woman Behind the Glass
The shooter was never found.
Charles survived.
Under questioning, he revealed one final name.
A woman called Helena Rossy.
Dominic went pale.
His mother.
The mother he believed had died of cancer four years earlier.
She was alive too.
Mave stared at him.
"Your family has more fake deaths than real ones."
Dominic gave a humorless smile.
"Apparently."
They found Helena at a private estate in Connecticut.
She didn't run.
She waited for them.
When Dominic entered, she looked at him with tears in her eyes.
"My son."
Dominic stopped.
"You lied to me."
"I protected you."
"From what?"
"From your uncle."
"Everyone keeps saying that."
Helena looked at Mave.
"You were supposed to remain invisible."
Mave stiffened.
"Why?"
"Because Armand was right."
"About what?"
Helena sighed.
"The Rossy organization was collapsing from within."
Rafael wasn't the only traitor.
Several senior members were working with the Bellinis.
Helena had hidden herself because she was collecting evidence.
"And my father?"
"He gave his life for it."
Mave's eyes filled.
"Why didn't anyone tell us?"
"Because the people who knew were being killed."
Dominic stared.
"Who is left?"
Helena looked at Mave.
"Your father."
The room fell silent.
Mave whispered, "He's alive."
Helena nodded.
"Somewhere in Europe."
Dominic's expression changed.
"We find him."
Helena shook her head.
"You must first survive the wedding."
Mave frowned.
"What wedding?"
Helena looked at Dominic.
"The marriage arranged by the Rossy council."
Dominic's jaw tightened.
"I canceled it."
"They did not."
Mave stared at him.
"You were supposed to marry someone?"
"Years ago."
"Who?"
Helena didn't answer.
The door opened.
A woman walked in.
Beautiful.
Elegant.
Cold.
Sabrina Bellini.
Mave recognized the family name.
The room seemed to contract.
Sabrina smiled at Dominic.
"The contract still stands."
Dominic didn't look at her.
"No."
She turned toward Mave.
"So you're the cleaning woman."
Mave held her gaze.
"Formerly."
Sabrina smiled.
"That doesn't make you family."
Dominic stepped between them.
"She's with me."
Sabrina's expression changed.
Helena watched silently.
The old political marriage was never merely personal.
It was a peace arrangement.
If Dominic married Sabrina, the Bellinis would gain access to Rossy businesses.
If he refused, the war would continue.
Sabrina leaned toward Mave.
"You have no idea what you're standing in."
Mave answered quietly.
"Neither did the twelve interpreters."
Sabrina's smile vanished.
The next morning, a message arrived.
A video from Armand Vance.
He was older.
Alive.
And standing beside a man Mave knew.
Gregory.
Armand said only one thing.
"Dominic, if you trust my daughter, you will save your family."
Then the screen went black.
Dominic stared at Mave.
"What does he mean?"
Mave looked at the frozen image.
"I don't know."
Then she noticed something.
A clock behind her father.
Eight languages.
No.
Eight numbers.
She translated the pattern.
A location.
Vienna.
May you like
Dominic looked at her.
"Then that's where we're going."
