Chapter 3 - The One Man She Was Warned Not to Trust
At 11:47 p.m., Genevieve disappeared from her own revenge.
The wedding still continued downstairs, although calling it a celebration had become absurd.
Leo had vanished into one of the château’s private rooms.
Beatrice was crying.
Richard was making frantic calls.
Dominic’s men controlled every exit without making it obvious.
And Genevieve walked through a service corridor in borrowed flats beneath her red gown.
She had told Dominic she needed the restroom.
He had known she was lying.
What he did not know was whether she intended to run.
Genevieve reached a rear staircase.
“Going somewhere?”
She stopped.
Dominic stood behind her.
She turned.
“You follow women to bathrooms?”
“Only women receiving anonymous death threats.”
“I can handle myself.”
“I know.”
“Then move.”
“No.”
She stared at him.
“The message said Natalie is alive.”
“And you believe an anonymous stranger?”
“I have to find out.”
“We find out together.”
“It specifically said to come alone.”
Dominic approached.
“That’s usually how traps work.”
Genevieve folded her arms.
“There was another message.”
“I know.”
Her eyes narrowed.
“How?”
“Because you lied.”
“That doesn't answer my question.”
“You’re good at numbers, Genevieve. You're terrible at lying.”
She said nothing.
“What did it say?”
She watched him.
“That I shouldn’t trust you.”
Dominic’s expression did not change.
“That all?”
“No.”
“What else?”
“It said you know what happened three years ago.”
For the first time, Dominic looked away.
One second.
That was all.
But Genevieve saw it.
Her stomach tightened.
“You do.”
“It’s complicated.”
“That's what guilty people say.”
“I didn’t frame you.”
“Did you know?”
“Not then.”
“When?”
“After your conviction.”
“How long after?”
Dominic remained silent.
“How long?”
“Four months.”
Genevieve stepped backward.
“You knew I was innocent while I was in prison?”
“I suspected.”
“You knew Richard framed me.”
“I knew the evidence didn't add up.”
“And you did nothing.”
Dominic’s jaw tightened.
“I had Leo to think about.”
She laughed.
It sounded broken.
“Of course.”
“Genevieve—”
“Everyone had someone else to think about.”
She stepped closer.
“Richard had his company. Beatrice had her father. Hastings had his career. You had your brother.”
Her eyes glistened.
“And I had a six-by-eight-foot cell.”
Dominic absorbed the words.
“I’m sorry.”
“I don't want your apology.”
“I know.”
“I want to know why.”
Dominic looked down the empty corridor.
“Richard came to me five months after you were convicted.”
“For money.”
“Yes.”
“The forty million.”
“Yes.”
“And you gave it to him.”
“I did.”
“Why?”
“Leo.”
She shook her head.
“You keep saying his name as though it absolves you.”
“It doesn't.”
That stopped her.
Dominic’s voice became quieter.
“My father raised me to believe family was the only thing in this world that couldn't be replaced.”
He looked at her.
“When he died, Leo became my responsibility. I wanted him outside our world. Richard offered legitimacy. Connections. A future.”
“So you bought it.”
“Yes.”
“With a man you suspected had framed me.”
“Yes.”
The honesty hurt more than an excuse would have.
Genevieve turned away.
“I should hate you.”
“Maybe you should.”
“But you brought me here.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Dominic took a moment.
“Because when the invitation came, I realized what I had done.”
“What?”
“I helped Richard survive.”
Genevieve looked back.
Dominic continued.
“I told myself the money was for Leo. But the result was the same. Richard destroyed you, and then I gave him enough money to continue pretending he was untouchable.”
“So tonight was guilt?”
“At first.”
“At first?”
Their eyes met.
Dominic did not answer.
Genevieve understood anyway.
The silence between them became dangerous in a different way.
Then Vincent appeared.
“We found Hastings.”
Dominic turned.
“And?”
“He’s gone.”
“What do you mean gone?”
“His car is still here.”
Genevieve’s anger vanished beneath instinct.
“Where was he last seen?”
“Security camera caught him leaving the library corridor with a waiter.”
“What waiter?”
“No employee matches the face.”
Dominic cursed quietly.
Genevieve checked the time.
11:53.
“The meeting.”
“No,” Dominic said.
“If Hastings disappeared after talking to us, whoever is behind this is moving.”
“That’s why you're not going alone.”
She looked at him.
“Fine.”
Dominic seemed surprised.
“But you stay out of sight.”
They left through a service entrance.
Vincent drove.
The address led them to an abandoned church in Huntington.
Midnight.
Rain had begun falling.
Genevieve stepped from the car.
Dominic caught her hand.
“If anything feels wrong, you leave.”
“That's your plan?”
“That’s an order.”
She almost smiled.
“You really don't know me.”
“I’m learning.”
She entered alone.
The church smelled of damp wood.
Rows of empty pews disappeared into darkness.
“Natalie?”
No answer.
Genevieve moved farther inside.
“Natalie?”
A light came on near the altar.
A woman stood beneath it.
Genevieve stopped breathing.
The woman was thinner.
Her hair was shorter.
A scar ran along her left cheek.
But Genevieve knew her.
“Natalie.”
Natalie Brooks began crying.
Genevieve crossed the church.
They embraced.
For several seconds, neither spoke.
“You're alive.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Where have you been?”
“Hiding.”
“For three years?”
“You don't understand.”
“Then explain.”
Natalie pulled away.
“They’re still watching.”
“Who?”
“The people Richard works for.”
“Who?”
Natalie looked around.
“We don’t have much time.”
Genevieve showed her the key.
Natalie froze.
“Where did you get that?”
“Beatrice.”
“You need to destroy it.”
“What?”
“Throw it into the ocean.”
“What does it open?”
Natalie grabbed her shoulders.
“Listen to me. Richard Sterling is not the worst person involved.”
“I know.”
“No, you don't.”
“Then tell me.”
Natalie started to answer.
A gunshot exploded.
Glass shattered.
Natalie fell.
Genevieve screamed.
Dominic burst through the side door.
“Down!”
He threw himself over Genevieve as another shot struck the wooden pew.
Vincent fired toward a broken window.
Dominic pulled Genevieve behind the stone altar.
“Natalie!”
Blood spread across Natalie’s shoulder.
She was alive.
Genevieve crawled toward her.
“Stay with me.”
Natalie struggled to breathe.
“The key…”
“I have it.”
“Grand Central.”
“Locker 317?”
Natalie shook her head.
“Not locker.”
“What?”
“Old baggage level.”
Genevieve leaned closer.
“What’s there?”
Natalie grabbed her wrist.
“The ledger.”
“What ledger?”
“Everything.”
Another gunshot.
Dominic returned fire.
Natalie whispered, “Names. Payments. Judges. Police. Everyone.”
Genevieve’s heart pounded.
“Who runs it?”
Natalie’s eyes filled with terror.
“You already met him.”
“Who?”
Natalie tried to speak.
Then sirens sounded in the distance.
Whoever had been shooting stopped.
Dominic came toward them.
“We need to move.”
Genevieve looked at Natalie.
“Tell me the name.”
Natalie’s eyes shifted past her.
Toward Dominic.
Her expression changed.
Fear.
“Genevieve…”
“What?”
Natalie whispered four words.
“His father started it.”
Genevieve froze.
Dominic heard.
His face went blank.
Natalie lost consciousness.
Genevieve slowly stood.
She looked at Dominic Costello.
The man who had brought her back into the world.
The man who claimed he wanted to help expose Richard Sterling.
And suddenly she understood why the anonymous warning had told her not to trust him.
This wasn't only the Sterling family’s secret.
May you like
It was the Costellos’ too.
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