Chapter 6 - The Betrayal Sitting at Dominic’s Table
Lena refused to let Dominic decide for her.
Marco wanted an exchange.
The recording for Gianni.
Dominic called it suicide.
Lena called it her choice.
They compromised.
Lena would go.
Dominic would control everything around her.
The meeting took place in an abandoned restaurant once owned by Sofia’s family.
Marco stood in the kitchen.
Gianni was tied to a chair.
Lena entered alone.
“Give me my father.”
“The recording.”
“Father first.”
Marco smiled.
“You really are Sofia’s daughter.”
Lena placed the drive on the counter.
Marco approached.
“You know what your mother’s mistake was?”
“Trusting your family?”
“Believing truth mattered.”
He reached for the drive.
Lena pulled it back.
Marco’s smile vanished.
“You think Dominic loves you?”
The word hit harder than she expected.
“He doesn't know me.”
“He knows enough.”
Marco stepped closer.
“He’s already changed rules for you.”
Lena said nothing.
“He let you challenge him. Let you leave. Protected your father.”
Marco leaned close.
“That makes you dangerous.”
“To you?”
“To him.”
Lena looked past Marco.
Gianni met her eyes.
Then glanced toward the stove.
Once.
Twice.
Lena understood.
Gas.
One burner was open.
Marco smelled it too late.
Gianni kicked the chair sideways.
Lena dropped.
The back door exploded inward.
Dominic’s men entered.
Marco grabbed Lena.
A knife pressed against her throat.
Dominic appeared.
Everything stopped.
Marco smiled.
“There he is.”
Dominic raised his weapon.
“Let her go.”
“Drop it.”
Dominic did.
Immediately.
Lena stared at him.
Marco laughed.
“The great Dominic Moretti.”
His grip tightened.
“All it took was one chef.”
Then Lena did what Marco had never expected.
She fought.
Her elbow drove backward.
His grip loosened.
She twisted.
Dominic moved.
Seconds later, Marco was on the floor.
Raphael restrained him.
Gianni was freed.
And Lena stood trembling in the middle of her mother's old kitchen.
Dominic approached slowly.
“Are you hurt?”
“No.”
He touched her face.
His hand trembled.
That frightened her.
Not because Dominic was dangerous.
Because she finally understood.
Marco had been right about one thing.
She mattered to him.
May you like
And Dominic Moretti was terrified of that fact.
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