Chapter 5 - The Second Archive and the Woman Who Knew Everything
The second archive was not beneath the hotel.
It was beneath the old Carbone family home in Brooklyn.
The house had been abandoned after Vincenzo's death.
Dominic had never returned.
Serena insisted.
Inside, every room smelled of dust and old wood.
The silver key opened a hidden panel beneath the library fireplace.
Behind it was a narrow staircase.
At the bottom sat dozens of metal cabinets.
Livia followed them.
“This is where my father kept his records.”
Dominic looked around.
“How do you know?”
“Because my mother told me.”
“Where is your mother?”
Livia hesitated.
“She isn't dead.”
Dominic turned.
“What?”
“She has been living under another name.”
“Where?”
“Pennsylvania.”
They found her two days later.
Her name was Elena Moretti.
She was sixty-one.
She looked at Dominic and began crying.
“You have Nico's eyes.”
Dominic could barely speak.
“You knew me?”
“I saw you once.”
“When?”
“The night your brother died.”
She revealed the truth.
Nico had discovered Vincenzo's network and planned to expose it.
He also discovered that Serena's father had once handled financial records for Vincenzo.
Serena's family had been trapped in the system.
Her mother's employment had not been random.
Vincenzo wanted Serena close to the family.
He believed marriage would make the Daynes easier to control.
But he had underestimated Serena.
She was intelligent.
Independent.
And emotionally stronger than anyone expected.
So they changed strategies.
They used Dominic's feelings.
They created financial emergencies.
They pushed Dominic toward greater involvement in the darker side of the business.
They isolated him from Serena.
Then, after the first miscarriage, they realized grief worked better than fear.
Serena listened in horror.
“So they watched us.”
Elena nodded.
“I tried to warn your mother.”
“Why didn't she tell me?”
“She was afraid.”
“Of my father?”
“Of what would happen to you.”
Serena closed her eyes.
For twelve years, she had blamed herself for not being enough to stop Dominic from becoming distant.
For not being stronger.
For not seeing the signs.
Now she understood.
She had never been given a fair fight.
But she also knew something else.
She had survived.
Elena showed them a box.
Inside were letters Nico had written before his death.
One was addressed to Dominic.
One to Livia.
One to Serena.
Serena opened hers.
If you're reading this, then they failed to break you.
Her hands trembled.
I chose you long before you understood why. Not because my father wanted it. Because Dominic needed someone outside the family who could still tell him no.
Serena looked at Dominic.
He looked devastated.
The letter continued.
He will hurt you before he learns to protect you. I hope you forgive me for putting that burden on you.
Serena cried.
Nico had known.
All those years earlier.
He had tried to protect them both.
Then the door downstairs slammed.
Matteo.
Dominic moved in front of Serena.
Livia grabbed Elena.
Matteo walked into the archive with a gun.
“You always were sentimental, Dominic.”
Dominic stared.
“You killed Nico.”
Matteo laughed.
“No.”
A gun appeared in his other hand.
“Father did.”
Dominic froze.
“Then why are you here?”
“Because he promised me the empire.”
“And Arthur?”
“An insurance policy.”
Serena stepped forward.
“You used Livia.”
Matteo smiled.
“Yes.”
“She was your bait.”
“Yes.”
“You wanted Dominic distracted.”
“Yes.”
“And you wanted me frightened.”
His smile faded.
“You were supposed to be frightened.”
Serena looked at the gun.
“I was.”
Matteo frowned.
“Then why aren't you now?”
“Because I finally realized fear is what you people use when you have nothing else left.”
A shot rang out.
Dominic moved.
Serena ducked.
Livia screamed.
Matteo fled through the back passage.
Dominic chased him.
The pursuit led into the alley.
Police surrounded the building.
Matteo stopped.
Arthur had already surrendered.
The network was collapsing.
But Matteo looked at Dominic.
“You think this is over?”
Dominic raised his weapon.
“You're right.”
Matteo smiled.
“For once.”
Dominic lowered the gun.
“You're going to face a court.”
“Why?”
“Because my daughter will never inherit a world where her father solves every problem with a bullet.”
Matteo's smile disappeared.
May you like
Police took him away.
That night, Serena went into labor three weeks early.
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