Chapter 6 - The Night Everything Burned
Senator Vale moved faster than we expected.
He released a statement accusing Dominic of orchestrating attacks.
News stations displayed Dominic's photograph.
Federal agents surrounded the ports.
The city believed another gang war was coming.
Dominic disappeared from public view.
For three days, he did not come home.
On the fourth night, I received a message.
Don't trust the police.
One hour later, smoke filled our apartment.
I grabbed Lily.
We ran.
The hallway was already dark.
Someone had started a fire downstairs.
I covered Lily's mouth.
“Stay with me.”
She cried.
We reached the back stairs.
A figure appeared.
I froze.
Then Dominic stepped through the smoke.
“Emma!”
I ran into his arms.
He pulled us outside.
Lily coughed.
“Dad.”
The word escaped her.
Dominic closed his eyes for one second.
Then he held her tighter.
We reached a safe house.
I finally lost my temper.
“You disappeared.”
“I was trying to protect you.”
“You could have called.”
“My phone was being monitored.”
“You could have sent someone.”
“I did.”
“No.”
I pointed to Lily.
“You sent people.”
“I sent three.”
“I needed you.”
He went silent.
“You don't get to protect me by disappearing.”
His face broke.
“You're right.”
I stepped closer.
“You don't get to decide whether I'm part of your life.”
He looked at me.
“I don't know how to do this.”
“Do what?”
“Love you without fearing what it will cost.”
I softened.
“It costs nothing.”
He laughed sadly.
“It costs everything.”
He kissed my forehead.
Then we heard a car.
Dominic immediately moved toward the window.
“It's Carlo.”
Carlo entered carrying a folder.
“They found the diner.”
“What?”
“Vale knows the ledger is hidden there.”
Dominic looked at me.
“What ledger?”
Carlo sighed.
“Your mother kept records of everything.”
“Where?”
“Under the floor.”
We returned to Rosie’s diner with federal agents.
The floor was ripped open.
Beneath it was a metal box.
Inside was the ledger.
Names.
Payments.
Dates.
Proof.
Everything Vale needed buried.
Dominic looked at me.
“This ends tonight.”
The final confrontation happened at the harbor.
Vale arrived with armed men.
Carlo surrendered first.
Dominic handed the ledger to federal investigators.
Vale shouted that Dominic had betrayed his own family.
Dominic looked at me.
“No.”
He turned back.
“I chose my family.”
Shots rang out.
Agents moved.
Vale tried to escape.
He was arrested at the pier.
Dominic stood still in the rain.
For a moment, I thought it was over.
Then someone fired from a rooftop.
Dominic pushed me aside.
The bullet hit him.
“Dominic!”
He collapsed.
Everything blurred.
Ambulance lights.
Rain.
Blood.
My hands.
Lily crying.
I held his hand all the way to the hospital.
He survived.
But only barely.
For six hours I sat beside him.
At dawn, his eyes opened.
He looked at me.
“You stayed.”
I laughed through tears.
“Of course.”
“You should sleep.”
“So should you.”
He smiled.
Then whispered,
“I love you.”
I touched his cheek.
“I love you too.”
He closed his eyes.
“Good.”
I looked at him.
“Why good?”
“Because I was worried I'd have to ask twice.”
I laughed.
May you like
He smiled.
And despite everything, somehow the room felt peaceful.
