Chapter 6 - The Night Varga Came for Them
Chloe wanted to go alone.
Dominic said no.
For once, she didn't argue.
Not because she was frightened for herself.
Because Sam mattered more than pride.
Mercer's address led to an abandoned private school outside the city.
Federal authorities were notified.
But Chloe knew Mercer would be watching.
So Dominic gave her the metal case.
The real one.
Empty.
"What if he checks?"
"He will."
"Then?"
"Keep him talking."
"That's your plan?"
"It's part of it."
"What's the rest?"
Dominic looked at her.
"Trust me."
She almost laughed.
"My father's letter specifically warned me about that."
"It said trust me when I let you walk away."
"You did."
"Then?"
Chloe took the case.
"Don't make me regret it."
The school was dark.
Chloe entered alone.
Mercer waited inside the old auditorium.
Sam sat onstage.
His hands weren't tied.
That surprised her.
"Chloe!"
"I'm okay."
Mercer stood beside him.
He looked less impressive outside a courtroom.
Older.
Tired.
"Put the case down."
"Let Sam come to me."
"First the case."
"No."
Mercer sighed.
"You've spent too much time with Rossi."
"Apparently."
Sam looked terrified.
Chloe kept her voice calm.
"Why my father?"
"Because Michael couldn't leave things alone."
"He was an accountant."
"He was a coward who occasionally confused guilt with courage."
Chloe absorbed the insult.
Didn't react.
"Did you create the debt?"
"Varga did."
"On your orders?"
Mercer smiled.
"You're recording this."
Chloe's heart jumped.
Mercer walked toward her.
"Your father tried the same tricks."
He took the case.
Opened it.
Empty.
His face changed.
Chloe moved toward Sam.
Mercer grabbed her arm.
"Where are the documents?"
A voice came from the auditorium doors.
"Everywhere."
Dominic.
Mercer released Chloe.
Dominic walked down the aisle.
No weapon.
No dramatic threat.
Just absolute certainty.
"You weren't invited," Mercer said.
"I rarely am."
"You're making a mistake."
"I've made several."
Dominic looked at Chloe.
"This isn't one."
Mercer laughed.
"You think evidence matters? I buried evidence before you were old enough to shave."
"That's why we didn't send it through your courts."
Mercer's smile disappeared.
Dominic continued.
"Federal prosecutors. Journalists. Three independent attorneys."
Footsteps sounded outside.
Mercer looked toward the exits.
"You're bluffing."
"No."
Sam ran to Chloe.
She wrapped both arms around him.
Then Mercer did something unexpected.
He laughed.
"You think Varga will let this happen?"
Dominic's expression shifted.
"Varga?"
Mercer looked toward the stage entrance.
"Victor."
Varga appeared.
Chloe pulled Sam behind her.
Dominic went still.
Varga walked toward Mercer.
"You always talked too much, Thomas."
Mercer relaxed.
"Get us out."
Varga stopped.
"No."
Mercer's face changed.
"What?"
"For thirty years, I cleaned your messes while you pretended you were protecting me."
"You worked for me."
"That's what you believed."
Varga looked at Dominic.
"I'm done."
Dominic said nothing.
Varga removed a phone.
He placed it on a seat.
A recording was playing.
Mercer's voice.
Dates.
Payments.
Names.
Mercer stared.
"You recorded me?"
"For six months."
"Why?"
Varga's smile was tired.
"Because even men like me eventually understand when the room is burning."
Police lights appeared through the windows.
Mercer backed away.
"No."
Chloe held Sam tighter.
Dominic came beside them.
Mercer looked at him.
"You think you're different?"
Dominic didn't answer.
"You think because you opened a restaurant and wear a better suit, you're clean?"
"No."
The simplicity silenced everyone.
Dominic looked at Chloe.
"I think people decide what they become next."
Mercer was arrested.
So was Varga.
Varga went willingly.
Before leaving, he looked at Chloe.
"Your father was annoying."
Chloe almost laughed.
"He'd probably consider that a compliment."
"He should."
Then Varga disappeared through the doors.
Outside, Sam hugged Dominic.
Dominic froze.
He clearly had no idea what to do.
Chloe watched, exhausted.
Finally Dominic awkwardly put one hand on Sam's shoulder.
"You're okay."
"I knew you'd come."
Dominic looked at Chloe over Sam's head.
Something inside her shifted.
For the first time, safety didn't feel like a room with locked doors.
It felt like people who showed up.
Weeks passed.
The investigation expanded.
Mercer was charged.
Varga cooperated in exchange for consideration.
Businesses were examined.
Old cases reopened.
Dominic voluntarily turned over records connected to his father's operations.
Some advisers called him insane.
He didn't care.
Laura remained open.
Chloe remained manager.
Not because she owed him.
Because she chose to.
One evening, she found Dominic alone at the bar.
"Sam has a school project."
"That's unfortunate."
"He needs to interview someone about their career."
"Pick Elena."
"He picked you."
Dominic looked genuinely alarmed.
Chloe laughed.
"He wants to know what you do."
"I own restaurants."
"That's what I told him."
"What did he say?"
"That you mostly stare at people until they become nervous."
Dominic considered it.
"Accurate."
She sat beside him.
"You know what scares me?"
"What?"
"This."
He looked at her.
"What is this?"
"I don't know."
"That's helpful."
She smiled.
Then became serious.
"For months, everything between us started because I owed you."
"You don't anymore."
"I know."
"Then what's the problem?"
She looked into his eyes.
"Now if I stay, it's because I want to."
Dominic said nothing.
"That scares you too, doesn't it?"
"Yes."
It was the most vulnerable answer he'd ever given her.
Chloe reached across the bar.
She took his hand.
Dominic looked down at their fingers.
Then at her.
No promises.
No ownership.
No debt.
Just choice.
He leaned closer.
The front doors suddenly opened.
Paulie rushed inside.
"Dominic."
They separated.
"What?"
"Someone broke into the apartment."
Chloe stood.
"Sam?"
"He's with Elena. Safe."
Relief hit first.
Then fear.
"What did they take?"
Paulie looked at Dominic.
"Nothing."
"Then why break in?"
"They left something."
He handed Chloe a photograph.
It showed Michael Bennett standing beside Dante Rossi.
On the back was a fresh message.
Chloe read it aloud.
"Your fathers didn't tell you everything."
Dominic turned the photograph over.
There was an address underneath.
May you like
And tomorrow's date.
Someone wanted them there at midnight...
