Chapter 4 - The Secret Dominic Caruso Buried
The office was searched within minutes.
Nobody was found.
Dominic’s security team checked the executive floor, stairwells, elevators and neighboring offices.
Nothing.
Diana sat silently while Dominic issued orders.
She had never seen him like this.
Focused.
Cold.
Protective.
When the room finally emptied, Diana asked:
“What did you do the night my father died?”
Dominic stopped.
Marcus looked away.
That frightened her more than anything.
“Tell me.”
Dominic slowly removed his jacket.
He seemed suddenly tired.
“Your father didn’t die in a construction accident.”
“I know that now.”
“He came to me.”
Diana frowned.
“You?”
“I was twenty-four.”
Dominic looked toward Manhattan.
“My father was still alive. I was trying to prove I belonged in his world.”
He swallowed.
“Anthony told me someone was moving money through our shipping companies. Millions. He had records.”
“What happened?”
“I didn’t believe him.”
Diana’s eyes hardened.
“Why?”
“Because the person he accused was someone I trusted.”
Marcus stared at Dominic.
Diana noticed.
“Who?”
Dominic continued.
“I told Anthony to go home. I said I would investigate.”
His voice became quieter.
“Three hours later, his car exploded in a parking garage.”
Diana’s knees weakened.
Dominic moved instinctively toward her.
She raised a hand.
“Don’t.”
He stopped.
“You could have helped him.”
“Yes.”
“But you didn’t.”
“No.”
“You let him leave.”
“Yes.”
Every answer was honest.
That made them hurt worse.
Dominic looked at her.
“I have regretted it every day for sixteen years.”
Diana wiped her eyes.
“Who did my father accuse?”
Dominic looked toward Marcus.
Marcus’s face changed.
“No.”
Diana followed Dominic’s gaze.
“Marcus?”
“No,” Dominic said. “His father.”
Salvatore Santoro.
Marcus stepped backward.
“My father died twelve years ago.”
“That doesn’t make Anthony wrong.”
Marcus’s voice rose.
“You’ve believed this all along?”
“I believed there was evidence.”
“And you never told me?”
“Now you understand how Diana feels.”
Silence.
Diana almost laughed at the cruel symmetry.
Three people.
Three sets of secrets.
Three different betrayals.
Then Marcus sat.
“My father kept a storage unit.”
Dominic turned.
“What?”
“After he died. I found the key among his things.”
“Where?”
“Queens.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because I didn’t know what was inside.”
Dominic stared at him.
“You never opened it?”
Marcus shook his head.
“My father left instructions. If anyone ever came asking about Anthony Moretti, I was supposed to destroy the key.”
Diana’s pulse accelerated.
“And you didn’t.”
“No.”
“Why?”
Marcus looked at her.
“Because I wanted to know the truth too.”
They went that night.
Dominic insisted Diana remain behind.
Diana refused.
Nobody argued twice.
The storage facility smelled like concrete and dust.
Marcus opened Unit 318.
Inside were boxes.
Dozens.
Financial records.
Old photographs.
Cassette tapes.
Ledgers.
Dominic opened one.
His face changed.
“What?”
“These are transactions.”
Marcus looked.
“From Caruso Shipping?”
“And Santoro Logistics.”
Diana noticed a small metal case beneath a shelf.
She pulled it out.
Inside was an old handheld recorder.
A label was attached.
ANTHONY — FINAL MEETING.
Nobody moved.
Dominic pressed play.
Static.
Then her father’s voice.
Older than Diana remembered.
But unmistakable.
“If you’re hearing this, something happened to me.”
Diana covered her mouth.
The recording continued.
“The money isn’t the important part. The money is camouflage.”
Dominic leaned closer.
“I discovered who has been manipulating both families.”
Static interrupted.
Then Anthony spoke again.
“It isn’t Salvatore Santoro.”
Marcus closed his eyes.
Diana looked at Dominic.
The recording continued.
“Salvatore tried to help me.”
Marcus whispered:
“Dad.”
Then Anthony said something that changed everything.
“The person behind it is inside the Caruso family.”
Dominic became motionless.
A sound came from outside the storage unit.
Footsteps.
Dominic immediately switched off the recorder.
The footsteps stopped.
Nobody breathed.
Then a familiar voice came from the hallway.
“You should have destroyed that years ago.”
A man stepped into view.
Dominic’s face went white.
Diana had never seen fear on him before.
May you like
“Uncle Vincent?”
---
