Chapter 9 - The Woman Dominic Could No Longer Treat as a Bargain
Clara did not cry when she learned Ethan might be working with Victor.
That worried Dominic.
Anger he understood.
Tears he could handle.
Silence frightened him.
She returned to the mansion and locked herself in the library.
Dominic stayed outside for ten minutes before entering.
“You’re terrible at boundaries,” Clara said.
“Yes.”
She sat near the fireplace.
An untouched glass of water beside her.
“Did you know?”
“No.”
“Suspect?”
“That Ethan was hiding something. Not this.”
Clara looked toward the flames.
“When we were children, he used to check under my bed for monsters.”
Dominic sat across from her.
“He walked me to school for three years because I was scared of this dog on the corner.”
“People can love you and still make terrible choices.”
“You speaking from experience?”
“Yes.”
That got her attention.
Dominic leaned forward.
“My father loved me.”
Clara waited.
“He also lied to me. Controlled me. Used my loyalty when it suited him.”
“You still loved him.”
“I still do.”
“So Ethan could love me and work with Victor.”
“Yes.”
“That makes it worse.”
“I know.”
She finally looked at him.
“Do you?”
Dominic held her gaze.
“Yes.”
Because he loved Clara.
The realization had stopped being avoidable.
It wasn’t affection born from the rescue.
It wasn’t gratitude for the alley.
It had grown during breakfast arguments.
During charity events where she whispered sarcastic commentary until he nearly laughed in public.
During mornings when she left for the hospital wearing sneakers beneath expensive dresses.
During nights when she forgot she hated him long enough to ask about his day.
He loved the woman she had become.
The discovery of who she had been only made the truth impossible to ignore.
But saying it felt selfish.
She was still bound to him by a marriage she never truly chose.
What right did he have to add his feelings to the weight she already carried?
“Dominic?”
He realized she had asked something.
“Sorry.”
“That’s new.”
“What?”
“You apologizing.”
“Don’t become accustomed.”
“There you are.”
He smiled faintly.
Clara became serious.
“If Ethan is working with Victor, what happens?”
“We find out why.”
“You’re not going to hurt him.”
It wasn’t a question.
Dominic paused.
“Not unless he leaves me no alternative.”
“No.”
“Clara.”
“No.”
“He may have helped someone attack my home.”
“You don’t know that.”
“Correct.”
“And until we do—”
“I won’t touch him.”
She studied him.
“You promise?”
Dominic had made many promises in his life.
Some political.
Some strategic.
Some never intended to last.
This one felt different.
“I promise you.”
Clara exhaled.
“Thank you.”
The next day they surveilled the medical facility.
Ethan appeared shortly after noon.
Healthy.
Unrestrained.
Alone.
He entered a black sedan.
Dominic’s team followed.
The sedan stopped at an old church on the South Side.
Clara insisted on going inside.
Dominic insisted on accompanying her.
They found Ethan seated alone in a pew.
Clara stopped near the entrance.
“Ethan.”
He turned.
Relief and fear crossed his face.
“Clara.”
She walked toward him.
Then slapped him.
The sound echoed through the church.
Dominic decided he liked her approach better than his.
Ethan touched his cheek.
“I deserved that.”
“Where do I start?”
“Clara—”
“Did Victor kidnap you?”
“No.”
“Are you working with him?”
Ethan looked toward Dominic.
“Answer her,” Dominic said.
“Yes.”
Clara’s face hardened.
“Why?”
“To destroy him.”
She stared.
Ethan spoke quickly.
“I infiltrated his network months ago.”
“You made it look like you were his ally.”
“Yes.”
“You let me think you were kidnapped.”
“I needed Victor to believe Dominic would panic.”
Dominic stepped forward.
“You used her.”
Ethan stood.
“And you married her for leverage.”
Dominic stopped.
Fair.
Clara pointed at both of them.
“Neither of you gets to use the other as an excuse.”
Both men became silent.
Ethan almost smiled.
Clara glared.
“Don’t.”
“Sorry.”
She sat.
“Start from the beginning.”
Ethan explained.
After discovering Robert’s records, he contacted Victor using a false promise.
He claimed he hated Dominic.
Claimed Clara’s marriage gave him access to Rossi information.
Victor believed him because resentment was plausible.
Ethan fed him minor details while gathering evidence.
“But the dock ambush?” Dominic asked.
“I didn’t know.”
“The mansion breach?”
“No.”
“Prove it.”
Ethan reached inside his coat slowly.
He handed Dominic a small device.
“Recordings.”
Victor discussing shipments.
Bribery.
Financial crimes.
And something called Project Mercy.
Clara frowned.
“What is that?”
Ethan’s expression changed.
“I don’t know completely.”
“But?”
“He talks about you.”
“Me?”
“He refers to ‘the nurse.’”
Dominic’s body went cold.
Ethan continued.
“Victor has been obsessed with the night you saved Dominic.”
“Why?”
“Because you ruined the event that was supposed to make him untouchable.”
Clara looked confused.
Ethan turned toward Dominic.
“If you died that night, the Rossi organization collapsed. Victor expected to absorb most of it.”
Dominic knew that.
“But you survived,” Ethan continued, “and eventually became stronger than your father.”
Clara whispered, “Because I kept him alive.”
“Yes.”
“So Victor blames me.”
“Not only that.”
Ethan hesitated.
“Project Mercy involves your medical career.”
Dominic’s voice went dangerously quiet.
“Explain.”
“Victor has spent years funding medical companies through shell corporations.”
Clara frowned.
“What kind?”
“Private clinics. Pharmaceutical distributors. Hospital supply companies.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know.”
Ethan handed her a photograph.
A building.
Clara recognized it instantly.
Her hospital.
Her stomach dropped.
“He owns part of it?”
“Through several entities.”
Dominic stood.
“We’re leaving.”
Clara resisted.
“Why?”
“Because he has had access to your workplace.”
The implications hit her.
Schedules.
Records.
Coworkers.
Patients.
Victor had been closer than they realized.
Ethan caught Clara’s hand.
“There’s something else.”
“What?”
“Victor knows we’re here.”
Dominic turned.
“How?”
“I was supposed to bring Clara.”
Silence.
Ethan continued.
“I didn’t.”
Dominic moved closer.
“So this was a trap.”
“No. I changed locations.”
“Did you?”
A sound came from outside.
Cars.
Several.
Dominic reached for Clara.
“Behind me.”
The church doors opened.
But it wasn’t Victor.
Federal agents entered.
Weapons lowered but ready.
A woman in a navy suit walked forward.
“Dominic Rossi?”
He stared.
“Special Agent Evelyn Grant.”
She showed identification.
“We need to talk.”
Dominic almost laughed.
“Bad timing.”
Grant looked at Clara.
“Actually, Mrs. Rossi, you’re the reason we’re here.”
Clara stiffened.
“Why?”
“Because your father contacted us eight years ago.”
Everything stopped.
Grant continued.
“Robert Hayes was a confidential federal source.”
Clara’s world shifted again.
Her father had not merely collected evidence.
He had been preparing to testify.
May you like
And according to Agent Grant, his death might not have been natural after all.
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