Chapter 13 - Dominic’s Final Choice
Dominic had one minute to decide whether to stop it.
Liam could.
Marcus’s phone was unlocked.
One button would cancel the transfer.
The files would remain hidden.
The Russo empire would survive.
Clara watched Dominic.
This was the real choice.
Not between her and Victoria.
Not between love and fear.
Between the man his father had trained him to be and the man Dominic claimed he wanted to become.
“Thirty seconds,” Liam said.
Dominic looked at Clara.
She said nothing.
She would not choose for him.
Twenty seconds.
Dominic took the phone.
Marcus smiled from the floor.
“You'll stop it.”
Dominic looked at the screen.
Ten.
Nine.
Eight.
Then he handed the phone back.
“Let it send.”
Marcus's smile vanished.
The message transmitted.
Within hours, newspapers had the files.
Dominic voluntarily contacted federal investigators.
He surrendered records.
Properties.
Accounts.
He admitted what he knew.
He refused to hide behind his father's name.
Several Russo businesses were seized.
Others survived because they were legitimate.
Dominic stepped away from every questionable operation his family had controlled.
People called him weak.
Others called him strategic.
Clara called it necessary.
Months passed.
Charles Mercer was indicted.
Marcus and Anthony faced charges.
Victoria testified against her father.
Bradley Sr. finally returned publicly to his son.
Isabella began the difficult work of becoming Dominic’s mother again.
And Clara’s stomach grew.
Dominic attended every appointment he was invited to.
He missed none.
He never assumed invitation.
At seven months, Clara stood in her apartment trying unsuccessfully to assemble two cribs.
Dominic arrived carrying dinner.
He looked at the instructions.
“You put that backward.”
“Leave.”
He removed his jacket.
“Move.”
Two hours later, both cribs stood perfectly.
Clara stared.
“You've done this before.”
“No.”
“You secretly hired someone.”
“No.”
“You threatened the manufacturer.”
Dominic smiled.
“Possibly.”
She laughed.
Then silence settled.
Comfortable this time.
Dominic looked at her.
“I sold Blackwood Lodge.”
Clara blinked.
“Why?”
“Too many ghosts.”
She understood.
“What will you do now?”
“I bought something.”
“That sounds ominous.”
“A house.”
“Where?”
“Near the ocean.”
Clara stared.
Dominic reached into his pocket.
Not a ring.
A key.
“You once told me you'd never seen it.”
Her eyes filled.
“I remember.”
“The house is yours.”
“No.”
His expression fell.
“Our children's,” she corrected.
Something softened in his face.
“And you?”
Clara looked at him.
“We'll see.”
He nodded.
No pressure.
No demand.
That was why she kissed him.
Dominic froze.
Then kissed her back carefully.
When they separated, his forehead rested against hers.
“Clara.”
“Don't ruin it.”
“I wasn't going to.”
“You were about to say something dramatic.”
“I was going to say thank you.”
“That’s worse.”
He laughed.
She had almost never heard Dominic Russo laugh before.
Then Clara suddenly stopped smiling.
A sharp pain crossed her abdomen.
Dominic noticed immediately.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
Another pain came.
Stronger.
She gripped the table.
Dominic's face changed.
“Clara?”
She looked down.
Water spread across the floor beneath her.
May you like
The twins were coming.
Eight weeks early.
