Chapter 15 - The Empire Dominic Never Wanted
Vincent’s escape triggered a federal lockdown.
Daniel disappeared for nine hours.
When he finally called, he used a borrowed phone.
“I’m safe.”
I nearly cried from relief.
“Where are you?”
“Can't tell you.”
“Daniel—”
“Nora, listen. The transport route was changed twenty minutes before departure.”
“By whom?”
“Deputy Director Paul Brenner.”
Dominic heard the name.
He went pale.
“What?” I asked.
“Brenner worked with my father.”
Daniel went silent.
“You’re sure?”
“Yes.”
“Proof?”
“The ledger.”
Carlo's records showed years of payments to someone identified only as P.B.
Nobody had connected the initials.
Now we had a candidate.
Daniel contacted internal affairs.
Dominic contacted no one.
That mattered.
The old Dominic would have solved the problem through his own men.
This Dominic waited for lawful investigators.
It was harder for him than any gunshot.
“I hate this,” he said.
“I know.”
“We know where Brenner lives.”
“Don't.”
“I didn't say I was going.”
“You were thinking loudly.”
“I could solve this in an hour.”
“And create ten more problems.”
“Yes.”
He paced.
“You told me to learn.”
“I did.”
“This is unpleasant.”
“Growth often is.”
He glared.
I kissed his cheek.
His entire argument vanished.
“That was unfair.”
“Extremely.”
Brenner was arrested the next morning.
Vincent wasn't with him.
But investigators discovered Brenner had provided Vincent with an emergency passport.
Airport alerts went nationwide.
Border crossings were monitored.
Ports were watched.
Dominic seemed calm.
Too calm.
“What?”
He looked at me.
“Vincent won't run.”
“Why?”
“He thinks he's still smarter than everyone.”
“Is he?”
“He has been.”
“Not anymore.”
Dominic smiled faintly.
That afternoon, he held a meeting with executives from the legitimate Rossi companies.
I didn't attend.
Three hours later, he found me in the garden.
For the first time in years, flowers were being planted at the estate.
Roses.
In memory of Elena.
“I resigned.”
I turned.
“From what?”
“Everything.”
“The companies?”
“As chief executive.”
My eyes widened.
“You're serious?”
“I transferred control to an independent board.”
“What will you do?”
“I don't know.”
That seemed to terrify him and thrill him simultaneously.
“For the first time,” he said, “I don't know.”
I stepped closer.
“That can be good.”
“My entire life was scheduled before I was born.”
“And now?”
He looked at the half-planted roses.
“Now I want something that doesn't belong to my father.”
“What?”
“A life.”
My throat tightened.
He looked at me.
“Maybe with someone.”
“Very subtle.”
“I’m learning.”
Before I could answer, Daniel appeared from the terrace.
“Sorry.”
“You never are,” Dominic muttered.
Daniel ignored him.
“We know where Vincent is.”
Dominic changed instantly.
“Where?”
“The old St. Matthew’s distribution center.”
My mother's former workplace.
Of course.
Vincent had returned to the place where part of it began.
“Why?” I asked.
“Evidence disposal.”
“What evidence?”
“Archived refrigerated-shipment records.”
Dominic looked at Daniel.
“Those could prove Rebecca’s case.”
“Yes.”
“I’m coming.”
Daniel shook his head.
“No.”
Dominic looked at me.
I sighed.
“Don't involve me.”
“You're enjoying this.”
“A little.”
Police surrounded the distribution center.
Vincent barricaded himself inside.
No hostages.
No escape route.
But he had begun burning records.
Firefighters waited nearby.
Negotiators called him.
He refused.
Then he made one request.
Dominic Rossi.
“I have to go,” Dominic said.
“No.”
“Nora.”
“He's manipulating you.”
“I know.”
“Then why?”
“Because if talking keeps him distracted while police get inside, I can help.”
I hated the logic.
Daniel hated it too.
But eventually Dominic was allowed to approach behind armored cover with a wire.
Vincent's voice came through the building intercom.
“You finally became your mother.”
Dominic stood in the rain.
“Maybe.”
“She was weak.”
“No.”
“She thought truth mattered.”
“It does.”
“Truth got her killed.”
“No. You did.”
Silence.
Then Vincent laughed.
“You think giving up your empire makes you better?”
“No.”
“Then why do it?”
Dominic looked toward me behind the police line.
“Because I learned fear isn't respect.”
My eyes filled.
Vincent shouted something I couldn't hear.
Smoke increased.
Then officers entered from the rear.
Minutes later, they emerged with Vincent in custody.
Alive.
No dramatic execution.
No revenge.
No final bullet.
Just handcuffs.
Dominic watched him pass.
Vincent smiled.
“You'll always be Carlo’s son.”
Dominic answered quietly.
“Yes.”
Vincent’s smile widened.
Then Dominic added:
“But I don't have to be Carlo.”
Vincent was placed inside the police vehicle.
And this time, he stayed there.
The empire Dominic had inherited was over.
But there was one final price he still had to pay.
His own testimony.
May you like
And the possibility that telling the truth would take him away from me just as we had finally found one another.
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