Chapter 5 - What Caroline Did the Night Rachel Died
“Give me my baby.”
Elena’s voice didn’t shake.
Caroline held Jamie carefully against her chest.
The gun remained pointed at Dominic.
“Elena, listen.”
“Give him to me.”
“Not until Dominic lowers his weapon.”
Elena looked at Dominic.
His pistol was aimed at Caroline.
“Put it down,” Elena said.
“Elena—”
“She has Jamie.”
Dominic slowly placed the gun on the floor.
Caroline kicked it away.
Jamie cried harder.
Elena moved forward.
Caroline stepped back.
“Stop.”
Elena froze.
“You raised me.”
Caroline’s face crumpled.
“I know.”
“You held me when I cried after Mom died.”
“I know.”
“You taught me to drive.”
“I know.”
“You were there when I graduated.”
“I know.”
“Then give me my son.”
Caroline’s eyes filled.
“I’m trying to keep him alive.”
“By holding him at gunpoint?”
“The gun isn’t for him.”
“It’s still next to his head!”
Caroline lowered the weapon slightly.
Dominic said, “Who are you afraid of?”
Caroline looked at Julian.
Elena turned.
Julian had moved into the hallway behind them.
He raised both hands.
“Not me.”
Caroline laughed bitterly.
“You always were a good liar.”
Julian’s face hardened.
“Tell her.”
Elena looked between them.
“Tell me what?”
Caroline’s mouth trembled.
“The night your mother died.”
Silence.
“You were there?” Elena asked.
Caroline nodded.
Elena felt something inside her break quietly.
“You told me you were at work.”
“I lied.”
“Why?”
“Because I followed Rachel.”
“To where?”
“Harbor 19.”
Dominic closed his eyes.
Elena looked at him.
“What is Harbor 19?”
He answered this time.
“An old shipping warehouse my father used.”
Caroline continued.
“Rachel planned to meet Dominic’s father, Vittorio.”
“Why?”
“To give him a copy of the ledger.”
Dominic stared.
“That makes no sense.”
“She wanted the war over.”
“My father would have used it.”
“She knew.”
“Then why give it to him?”
“Because Antonio had found out she was trying to leave.”
Elena’s voice cracked.
“My uncle.”
Caroline nodded.
“Antonio was going to kill Rachel. She thought Vittorio was the only man powerful enough to stop him.”
Dominic looked sick.
“What happened?”
Caroline swallowed.
“Vittorio never arrived.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know.”
“You expect me to believe that?”
“No.”
Caroline looked at Elena.
“Because I know something worse.”
Elena waited.
Caroline’s eyes filled.
“I told Antonio where Rachel was going.”
Elena stopped breathing.
“What?”
“I was scared. Antonio said he would kill you if Rachel betrayed him. I thought if I told him, he’d scare her and stop her.”
“You gave him her location.”
“Yes.”
“And she died.”
“Yes.”
Elena’s face emptied.
Caroline cried.
“I didn’t know he would send men after her.”
“You knew what he was.”
“I was twenty-five.”
“My mother was dead because of you.”
“I know.”
“You let me love you.”
“I know.”
“You let me call you Aunt Caroline.”
“I loved you.”
Elena shook her head.
“Don’t use that word.”
Caroline’s hand trembled around the gun.
Jamie wailed.
Elena’s instincts took over.
She stepped forward.
This time Caroline did not retreat.
Elena took Jamie into her arms.
The second his body pressed against hers, her knees nearly gave out.
“My baby.”
She kissed his hair over and over.
“I’m here. Mama’s here.”
Jamie grabbed her dress.
Dominic watched.
Relief flickered across his face.
Then Julian said, “We need to leave.”
Dominic turned.
“Why?”
Julian looked at his watch.
“Because Caroline wasn’t the only one tracking the key.”
Caroline’s face changed.
“You told them?”
“No.”
“Who?”
Julian looked toward the dark garage.
“The man who sent me to Elena.”
Elena held Jamie tighter.
“Name.”
Julian hesitated.
Dominic stepped toward him.
“Name.”
Julian exhaled.
“Victor Moretti.”
Dominic went completely still.
“My uncle.”
Elena looked at him.
“You have an uncle?”
“Yes.”
Caroline said, “Vittorio’s younger brother.”
Dominic’s voice dropped.
“He’s been in Switzerland for ten years.”
Julian shook his head.
“No. He’s been everywhere.”
Dominic looked at him.
“He ordered you to find Rachel’s key?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because he killed her.”
Silence.
Caroline’s mouth opened.
“No.”
Julian looked at her.
“You thought Antonio’s men caused the crash.”
“They did.”
“No.”
“How do you know?”
“Because I worked for Victor.”
Dominic stepped forward.
Julian raised his hands.
“I was nineteen when he recruited me.”
Dominic’s face twisted.
“You targeted Elena for my uncle.”
“Yes.”
“You knew she was a DeLuca.”
“Yes.”
“You got her pregnant.”
“That wasn’t part of the assignment.”
Dominic nearly hit him.
Elena spoke first.
“Enough.”
Everyone looked at her.
Jamie had stopped crying.
He clung to her shoulder.
Elena’s eyes were ice.
“I don’t care who hates who. I don’t care which dead man started what. I care about my son.”
She looked at Julian.
“If Victor wants the ledger, why hasn’t he killed us?”
“Because he needs to know who else has copies.”
Elena looked at the black notebook.
“Are there copies?”
Julian nodded.
“Rachel was smart.”
“Where?”
“I don’t know.”
Caroline said, “Samuel might.”
Dominic looked up.
Elena’s heart sank.
“Samuel.”
Julian’s face changed.
“What?”
Dominic grabbed his phone.
No signal.
“Marco.”
Nothing.
They returned toward the garage.
Outside, Dominic’s SUV remained parked.
Driver’s door open.
Marco gone.
Caroline whispered, “Oh God.”
Dominic ran.
A phone lay on the pavement.
Marco’s.
The screen was cracked.
A message waited.
BRING THE LEDGER TO PIER 9.
MIDNIGHT TOMORROW.
NO POLICE.
DOMINIC COMES ALONE.
Below it was a photograph.
Samuel.
Tied to a chair.
And beside him—
Marco.
Elena looked at Dominic.
May you like
He read the final line twice.
THEN WE DISCUSS WHAT HAPPENS TO ELENA AND THE BOY.
