Chapter 3 - The Name Behind the Door
Dominic did not answer.
Elena watched him from the bed.
The door handle moved again.
“Dominic?”
Salvatore Rossi sounded concerned.
Almost frightened.
That made Dominic suspicious.
His uncle had never sounded frightened in his life.
Dominic drew his pistol.
Elena's eyes widened.
He put one finger to his lips.
The emergency light painted the room red.
“Sal,” Dominic called.
“Thank God. Open up.”
“What happened?”
“Someone cut the power. Two of your men are down.”
Dominic looked at Elena.
“How'd you get up here?”
Silence.
Only a second.
But too long.
“I came when I heard about the girl.”
“Who told you?”
Another pause.
“Matteo.”
Dominic's eyes hardened.
Matteo hadn't told anyone.
Dominic knew because he had ordered him not to.
“Open the door,” Salvatore said.
Dominic moved beside it.
“Tell me something first.”
“What?”
“Warehouse 19.”
Nothing.
The silence became an answer.
Then gunfire tore through the door.
Dominic threw himself toward Elena's bed.
Bullets struck the wall.
Glass shattered.
Elena screamed.
Dominic covered her with his body.
Then gunfire erupted in the hallway.
Matteo.
The attack lasted perhaps six seconds.
Then silence.
Dominic raised his weapon.
“Matteo?”
“Clear!”
Dominic opened the door.
One attacker lay wounded.
Another had fled.
Salvatore was gone.
Matteo's shoulder bled.
“Where is he?”
“Stairwell.”
Dominic wanted to chase him.
He didn't.
Elena mattered more.
Security restored power within minutes.
Police flooded the hospital.
Dominic hated police attention, but for once he welcomed every uniform.
Elena was moved to another floor under an assumed name.
By dawn, Dominic sat beside her again.
She looked exhausted.
“You asked who the traitor was.”
Dominic nodded.
“It was Salvatore.”
He felt no surprise.
Only disappointment.
“How do you know?”
“I saw him on your father's recordings.”
Elena described the video.
Carlo confronting Salvatore.
Salvatore admitting he had sold information about Victor's evidence to a network of businessmen.
But Salvatore wasn't the leader.
“Who was?”
Elena hesitated.
“The files called him Shepherd.”
“Real name?”
“I don't know.”
Dominic frowned.
“Then Sal is only part of this.”
“Yes.”
“Where's the chip?”
Elena looked at him.
“Safe.”
“That isn't an answer.”
“It's the only answer you're getting.”
Despite everything, Dominic smiled faintly.
She noticed.
“What?”
“You've been awake four hours after being shot seven times and you're already arguing with me.”
“You married me while I was unconscious.”
“Symbolically.”
“Stop saying that like it makes it normal.”
“It doesn't.”
For the first time, Elena almost smiled.
Then pain crossed her face.
Dominic reached for the nurse button.
She caught his wrist.
“Wait.”
Her fingers rested against his.
The ring remained there.
Elena noticed.
“So what happens to this?”
“Whatever you want.”
She studied him.
“You really mean that?”
“Yes.”
“I can throw it out the window?”
“I'll open the window.”
A weak laugh escaped her.
It hurt.
She winced.
Dominic immediately looked guilty.
“Don't make me laugh.”
“I'll try being less charming.”
“That shouldn't be difficult.”
He smiled.
For several seconds, the violence outside the room seemed far away.
Then Elena became serious.
“Your father saved me.”
“I know.”
“He also saved you.”
Dominic frowned.
“What do you mean?”
“The final recording.”
“You watched it?”
“Yes.”
“What did he say?”
Elena looked toward the door.
“He said Shepherd wanted you.”
“Why?”
“Because Carlo planned to give you the legitimate side of his businesses and dismantle everything else.”
Dominic stared at her.
His father had never told him.
“He knew you'd eventually walk away.”
Elena continued.
“Shepherd couldn't allow that.”
“Why?”
“Because your family's businesses were laundering billions for him.”
Dominic felt sick.
He had inherited accounts he never understood.
He had closed many.
Perhaps not enough.
“Carlo tried to expose him.”
“And died.”
“Yes.”
Dominic stood.
He walked toward the window.
For eleven years, he had believed his father died suddenly.
For eleven years, he had accepted condolences from the man who had helped kill him.
Salvatore.
His uncle.
His father's brother.
Elena watched him.
“Dominic.”
He didn't turn.
“Don't become what they think you are.”
That made him look back.
“What do they think I am?”
“A weapon.”
He said nothing.
“They shot me because they wanted you angry.”
“Why?”
“Angry men stop thinking.”
Dominic looked at her for a long time.
“You're telling a crime boss not to seek revenge.”
“I'm telling Dominic Rossi not to.”
There was a difference.
He felt it.
By afternoon, Victor returned.
Elena refused to see him.
Dominic spoke with him instead.
Victor provided names.
Old associates.
Bankers.
A former prosecutor.
A retired police commissioner.
Many were dead.
Two remained active.
One was Salvatore.
The other was Senator Marcus Hale.
Dominic recognized the name immediately.
Hale had built a national reputation as an anti-organized-crime politician.
He was considering a presidential run.
“He's Shepherd?” Dominic asked.
Victor shook his head.
“I don't know.”
“Then why is he on the list?”
“He attended the meetings.”
Dominic's phone rang.
Unknown number.
He answered.
Salvatore.
“Hello, nephew.”
Dominic's grip tightened.
“You shot at her.”
“No.”
“You sent men.”
“I sent men to retrieve something.”
“They fired into an ICU.”
“That wasn't my order.”
Dominic almost crushed the phone.
“You have one opportunity to disappear.”
Salvatore laughed.
“You still don't understand.”
“Enlighten me.”
“Elena isn't the target.”
Dominic looked toward her room.
“You are.”
“You could've killed me tonight.”
“No. Shepherd doesn't want you dead.”
“What does he want?”
“Your name.”
Dominic frowned.
“Your companies. Your accounts. Your political connections. Everything Carlo built.”
“Why?”
“Because the evidence Elena found can destroy all of it.”
“Then destroy the evidence.”
“We can't.”
“Why?”
“Because your father designed it so the files release automatically if the wrong people disappear.”
Dominic understood.
A dead-man switch.
“Where?”
“I don't know.”
“Then why call?”
“To offer you a choice.”
“What choice?”
“Bring Elena to me.”
Dominic became completely still.
“And?”
“You walk away.”
“No.”
“You didn't hear the terms.”
“I don't need to.”
Salvatore sighed.
“Always like Carlo.”
“That's supposed to insult me?”
“It killed him.”
Dominic's eyes darkened.
Salvatore continued.
“Midnight tomorrow. Pier 26. Come alone.”
“Not happening.”
“Then ask Elena about December 14.”
Dominic looked through the glass.
Elena was sleeping.
“What?”
“Ask her.”
The call ended.
That evening, Dominic sat beside Elena.
He waited until she woke.
“What's December 14?”
Her face changed instantly.
Dominic saw fear.
Real fear.
“Who told you that?”
“Salvatore.”
She looked away.
“Elena.”
“I can't.”
“Seven bullets didn't scare you enough to hide the chip. What happened December 14?”
Tears formed in her eyes.
“My mother died December 14.”
Dominic softened.
“I'm sorry.”
“No.”
She shook her head.
“You don't understand.”
“Then tell me.”
Elena looked directly at him.
“My mother didn't die from cancer like I was told.”
Dominic waited.
“She was murdered.”
“By Salvatore?”
Elena shook her head.
“By someone your father trusted.”
“Who?”
“I saw it on the recording.”
Dominic leaned closer.
Elena whispered the name.
Before Dominic could react, Matteo burst into the room.
His face was pale.
“Boss.”
“What?”
“We found Salvatore.”
“Where?”
“Your father's house.”
Dominic stood.
Matteo swallowed.
“He's dead.”
Elena stared at him.
Dominic felt the room change.
“How?”
“Someone tied him to Carlo's old desk.”
Matteo handed Dominic a photograph.
A message had been carved into the wooden desktop.
Not into Salvatore.
Into the desk.
Four words.
THE SON PAYS LAST.
Dominic stared at it.
Then Matteo's phone rang.
He answered.
Listened.
His expression collapsed.
“What?”
May you like
Matteo slowly lowered the phone.
“Someone just entered your mother's house.”
