Chapter 14 - The Last Name on the List
Victor was alive.
The blood at Costello House had been real.
The betrayal had been real.
But so had the deception.
He appeared at the hospital two hours later under federal protection.
Dominic nearly hit him.
Victor did not resist.
“Do it if you need to.”
Dominic stopped.
“Explain.”
Victor sat.
Thomas had given him a final assignment.
Not to protect B-17.
Not to protect Crown.
To protect Meline from becoming consumed by either.
The list was not a list of villains.
It was a list of custodians.
People entrusted with pieces of evidence.
Victor’s name remained because his job was unfinished.
“What job?”
Victor looked at Meline.
“To destroy the archive after justice had enough evidence.”
Dominic frowned.
“That archive is leverage.”
“Exactly.”
Meline understood.
If they kept it, they would become the next Crown.
A secret group holding information powerful enough to control thousands of people.
Her father had seen the danger.
Truth could liberate.
Secret truth could enslave.
Meline made the decision.
They turned authenticated copies of criminal evidence over to independent federal teams, courts and journalists.
Then Building Zero’s private archive was destroyed under legal supervision.
No Costello ownership.
No Hayes ownership.
No Crown.
Victor watched the last box leave.
“Thomas would be proud.”
Meline looked at him.
“I’m still angry with you.”
“I know.”
“I may always be.”
“I know.”
“But you can stop running.”
Victor nodded.
It was not forgiveness.
Not yet.
But it was a beginning.
Evelyn was charged under federal racketeering, conspiracy, kidnapping and homicide cases built from decades of evidence.
Greg testified.
Harper was cleared of the worst accusations after her cooperation was documented.
Meline’s mother finally returned home.
Dominic began dismantling the remaining illegal pieces of the Costello organization.
Legitimate companies stayed.
Criminal operations closed.
Some men objected.
Dominic gave them a choice.
Leave cleanly.
Or explain themselves to prosecutors.
Most chose the door.
Months passed.
Meline returned to architecture.
She thought normal life would feel boring.
Instead, it felt luxurious.
Coffee without gunfire.
Meetings without kidnappings.
Dinner without concealed weapons.
One evening Harper appeared at her office carrying daisies.
Meline stared.
“Seriously?”
Harper laughed.
“I thought we should reclaim them.”
Their friendship was not magically repaired.
Trust did not work that way.
But they began again.
Slowly.
Honestly.
Dominic arrived later.
Black suit.
No tie.
Still intimidating enough to make Meline’s interns suddenly discover urgent work elsewhere.
“You scare my staff.”
“They’ll recover.”
“Debatable.”
He kissed her.
“I made a reservation.”
Meline narrowed her eyes.
“Where?”
“Belladonna.”
“No.”
“Yes.”
“Absolutely not.”
“Table seventeen.”
“You have developed a strange sense of humor.”
“I learned from you.”
She went.
Belladonna had repaired the damage.
The same crystal lights.
The same white tablecloths.
The same booth.
Meline sat opposite Dominic.
No guns.
No assassins.
No Greg.
A waiter poured wine.
Dominic reached beneath the table.
Meline froze.
“Dominic.”
He looked innocent.
“What?”
“If you pull out a firearm, this relationship ends tonight.”
His hand returned.
Holding a small velvet box.
Meline stopped breathing.
“No gun.”
“Technically smaller.”
He opened it.
A ring.
Simple.
Elegant.
Exactly her taste.
“Meline Hayes.”
She stared at him.
The feared man in New York suddenly looked nervous.
That alone almost made her say yes before he asked.
Then the restaurant doors opened.
Dominic looked over.
His expression changed.
Meline followed his gaze.
A woman stood at the entrance.
Silver-haired.
For one impossible second, Meline thought Evelyn had escaped.
Then the woman stepped into the light.
Isabella.
Dominic’s mother smiled.
Behind her stood Meline’s mother.
Harper.
Victor.
Even federal agents Meline recognized from Building Zero.
Dominic exhaled.
“You ruined the surprise.”
Isabella laughed.
Meline looked at the ring.
Then at Dominic.
“You planned an audience?”
“I was told people enjoy these things.”
“You hate audiences.”
“I do.”
“Then why?”
His eyes softened.
“Because the first time you sat at this table, you had no idea what you were choosing.”
He took her hand.
“This time I wanted the choice to be entirely yours.”
Meline’s eyes filled.
Dominic lowered himself beside her.
“Meline, will you—”
His phone rang.
Everyone groaned.
Dominic ignored it.
It rang again.
Meline laughed.
“You should answer.”
“No.”
“It could be important.”
“Nothing is more important.”
The phone stopped.
Then Meline’s phone buzzed.
A message.
Unknown number.
Her smile faded.
Dominic saw it.
“Don’t.”
Meline opened the message.
There was no threat.
No photograph.
No coordinates.
Only three words.
CHECK TABLE SEVENTEEN.
Meline looked beneath the table.
Something had been taped underneath.
A small envelope.
Her name was written across it.
In her father’s handwriting.
She slowly reached for it.
Dominic whispered, “Meline?”
She pulled the envelope free.
May you like
The seal had never been broken.
And inside was the final letter Thomas Hayes had written for his daughter...
