Chapter 5 - The Night Dominic Costello Chose Who He Wanted to Be
Pier 19 looked abandoned.
It wasn't.
Dominic knew the difference.
Too few cars.
Too much darkness.
Too much silence.
He arrived at 9:58 p.m.
Alone.
At least that was what Richard Sterling was supposed to believe.
Dominic carried a leather briefcase.
Inside was a perfect copy of Antonio Costello’s ledger.
Vincent wanted twenty men surrounding the pier.
Dominic allowed six.
Hidden.
No one moved unless Leo was visible.
Dominic entered the warehouse.
Richard waited beneath a single hanging light.
Four armed men surrounded him.
Leo sat tied to a chair.
His face was bruised.
But alive.
“Dom.”
Dominic stopped.
“You okay?”
“I've been better.”
Richard smiled.
“Touching.”
“Let him go.”
“The ledger.”
Dominic lifted the briefcase.
“Leo first.”
Richard laughed.
“You don't negotiate from strength anymore.”
“I always negotiate from strength.”
Richard’s smile faded.
Dominic looked at Leo.
“You should've stayed at Harvard.”
Leo gave a weak laugh.
“You should've told me the truth.”
“Fair.”
Richard snapped his fingers.
One man took the briefcase.
He opened it.
The ledger sat inside.
Richard examined several pages.
His eyes narrowed.
“You found it.”
“Yes.”
“And the tape?”
“Destroyed.”
Richard looked at him.
“Your father always was sentimental.”
Dominic’s expression hardened.
“You killed him?”
Richard smiled.
“Not personally.”
Leo stared.
“What?”
Richard closed the ledger.
“Antonio became inconvenient.”
Dominic felt rage moving through him.
He forced it down.
“Who ordered it?”
Richard said nothing.
“M.C.?”
For the first time, Richard’s confidence cracked.
“How do you know those initials?”
Dominic smiled coldly.
“Because you talk too much.”
Richard realized the mistake.
Then the warehouse lights exploded on.
Genevieve’s voice echoed from the upper catwalk.
“He really does.”
Everyone looked up.
She stood above them.
Richard stared.
“What are you doing here?”
Genevieve smiled.
“Changing the board.”
Dominic almost laughed.
She had stolen his line.
Richard raised his gun.
Dominic moved.
Chaos erupted.
Vincent’s men entered.
Richard’s guards scattered.
Genevieve ducked behind the railing.
Dominic reached Leo and cut his restraints.
“Move!”
Gunshots thundered.
Leo stumbled.
Dominic pulled him behind a steel container.
“Where’s Genevieve?”
“You brought her?”
“I absolutely did not.”
Leo laughed despite himself.
“I like her.”
“Not now.”
Above them, Genevieve moved along the catwalk.
She had not come alone either.
Two FBI vehicles waited three blocks away.
Senator Hastings sat inside one.
Terrified.
But cooperating.
Genevieve had made him a deal.
Tell the truth or appear in the ledger without explanation.
Hastings chose truth.
Richard ran toward a side exit.
Genevieve intercepted him at the stairs.
He pointed the gun at her.
“Stop.”
She did.
For the first time since prison, Genevieve stood alone with the man who had destroyed her.
Richard smiled.
“You should have stayed invisible.”
“You should have learned accounting.”
His eyes narrowed.
“You think that book saves you?”
“It helps.”
“You're still a convicted felon.”
“For tonight.”
“You have no idea who you're dealing with.”
“Then tell me.”
Richard laughed.
“You think Dominic is your hero?”
“No.”
“He’s exactly like his father.”
Genevieve shook her head.
“No.”
“You've known him a week.”
“And I've known men like you my entire career.”
She stepped closer.
“You know the difference?”
Richard tightened his grip.
“Dominic knows what he is.”
She looked him in the eyes.
“You spent your entire life pretending you're respectable.”
Richard’s face twisted.
Then Dominic appeared behind him.
“Put the gun down.”
Richard turned.
Dominic held his weapon steady.
Richard positioned himself between them.
“You won't shoot.”
“Try me.”
“You might hit her.”
Dominic’s eyes found Genevieve’s.
Richard noticed.
And smiled.
“Oh.”
He looked between them.
“I understand.”
Genevieve said nothing.
Richard laughed.
“The great Dominic Costello.”
“Shut up.”
“You actually care about her.”
Dominic’s voice became colder.
“Put it down.”
Richard pressed the gun toward Genevieve.
“Maybe I'll take something from you before this ends.”
Dominic did not move.
Genevieve did.
She slammed her heel down onto Richard’s foot and twisted aside.
Dominic crossed the distance.
Richard’s gun flew across the floor.
Dominic struck him once.
Richard fell.
Dominic grabbed him by the collar.
Years of anger surfaced.
His father.
Leo.
Genevieve.
Everything.
He raised his fist.
Genevieve caught his arm.
“Don't.”
Dominic looked at her.
“He deserves it.”
“I know.”
“Then move.”
“No.”
Richard laughed through blood.
“She wants to save you.”
Genevieve looked down at him.
“No.”
Her voice was calm.
“I want him to let the law destroy you.”
Sirens approached.
Richard’s face changed.
“What did you do?”
Genevieve smiled.
“The one thing you never expected.”
FBI agents entered the warehouse.
Richard stared.
“You gave them the ledger?”
“No.”
Genevieve’s smile widened.
“I gave them copies.”
Agents surrounded Richard.
Senator Hastings entered behind them with an attorney.
Richard looked at him.
“You coward.”
Hastings replied, “I'm done going to prison for you.”
Richard was handcuffed.
Genevieve watched.
She had imagined this moment for years.
It felt quieter than expected.
No music.
No applause.
Just steel cuffs closing around Richard Sterling’s wrists.
Then Richard looked at Dominic.
“You think this ends with me?”
Dominic said nothing.
Richard smiled.
“Ask your mother.”
Dominic stepped forward.
Agents stopped him.
“What about her?”
Richard laughed.
“You still don't understand.”
“Understand what?”
“Maria didn't hide from the network.”
Richard was pulled toward the door.
“She took it over.”
Dominic froze.
Genevieve stared.
Richard shouted one final sentence before disappearing into the night.
May you like
“Your mother ordered Antonio Costello’s death.”
---
