Chapter 6 - Someone Had Been Watching Us
Dominic didn't chase the sedan.
That surprised me.
“Why are we letting her leave?”
“Because she wants us to follow.”
He photographed the license plate instead.
False registration.
Of course.
But Lucia had noticed something again.
“There was a sticker.”
A parking permit.
Blue triangle.
Dominic recognized it.
A private harbor facility.
Pier 9.
Exactly where the message wanted us.
That meant whoever was behind this wasn't hiding anymore.
They were arranging a meeting.
Dominic refused to let Lucia come.
I refused to leave her anywhere we couldn't personally secure.
In the end, Mrs. Bianchi remained with Lucia at the estate while Dominic and I went to the harbor accompanied by security who stayed out of sight.
Pier 9 was nearly empty.
Margaret waited inside an office.
She looked ordinary.
That disturbed me.
No villainous smile.
No theatrical cruelty.
Just an older woman wearing a gray coat.
“Alina.”
“Where is my husband?”
“Alive.”
My knees weakened.
“Where?”
“Safe, for now.”
Dominic stepped forward.
“You put something in my coffee.”
“No.”
“Your bracelet.”
“Was stolen.”
She looked at me.
“Victor wants Dominic to believe I'm responsible.”
“Then why did Lucia see you?”
“She didn't.”
The room went quiet.
Margaret removed her glasses.
“The woman your daughter saw resembles me because Victor selected her to.”
Dominic frowned.
“Selected?”
“A disguise. Nothing more.”
Margaret explained that Victor had spent years siphoning money through shell companies and falsified contracts.
Evelyn discovered it.
Paulo later rediscovered the same network.
Margaret helped them.
But Victor had controlled people inside law enforcement, private security, and Dominic's companies.
After Paulo's crash, Margaret arranged for him to be taken to the clinic before Victor's people could reach him.
“Why didn't he come home?”
“Because Victor threatened Alina and Lucia.”
I felt sick.
Paulo had chosen disappearance.
Four years.
Birthdays.
Christmases.
First days of school.
All to keep us alive.
“Where is Evelyn?”
Margaret looked at Dominic.
“She died three years ago.”
Dominic closed his eyes.
For several seconds he said nothing.
Then:
“And Paulo?”
“Victor found him six months ago.”
My heart stopped.
Margaret had hidden Paulo successfully for years.
Then someone betrayed the location.
Victor now held the leverage he had always wanted.
Evidence Paulo had collected could destroy Victor financially and legally.
Victor believed Dominic had the final copy.
Dominic didn't.
Paulo had hidden it.
“Where?”
Margaret looked at me.
“He said Alina would know.”
I didn't.
Then I remembered Paulo's habit.
Every anniversary, he gave me something inexpensive but meaningful.
On our final anniversary, he gave me a children's book for Lucia.
I thought it was strange.
The book remained in her bedroom.
We rushed home.
Lucia was awake.
I found the book.
The Little Lighthouse.
Inside the back cover, something had been hidden beneath the binding.
A memory card.
Dominic stared at it.
Paulo had preserved everything.
Bank transfers.
Recordings.
Contracts.
Victor's signatures.
Enough evidence to end the entire scheme.
Then Lucia said:
“Mama, where's Mrs. Bianchi?”
I turned.
The hallway was empty.
Her bedroom door stood open.
On the floor lay her phone.
A new message glowed on the screen.
BRING THE CARD TO PIER 9.
OR PAULO DISAPPEARS FOR GOOD.
Below it was a photograph.
Mrs. Bianchi sat beside Paulo.
Both alive.
May you like
Behind them stood Victor Hale.
And Victor was holding the same espresso cup Lucia had warned Dominic not to drink.
