Chapter 3 - The Name on the File
Bella didn't sit down.
“Who?”
Dominic gestured toward the chair.
“Sit.”
“No.”
“Bella,” Isabella said softly.
Bella ignored her.
“Who is looking for me?”
Dominic opened a thin folder.
“Victor Hale.”
Bella’s expression changed.
Dominic noticed.
“You know him.”
“He owns the building where I live.”
“He owns considerably more than that.”
Bella swallowed.
“What does he want?”
“That’s what I’m trying to determine.”
Dominic pushed a document across the table.
Bella read it.
Her rent balance was listed.
So was a penalty she had never seen.
Then another document.
A notice claiming she owed nearly twelve thousand dollars for property damage.
“This is fake.”
“I assumed so.”
“I never damaged anything.”
“Three other tenants in your building received similar notices.”
Bella looked at him.
“Why do you care?”
“Because Victor Hale is using shell companies to purchase properties on my mother’s neighborhood block.”
Isabella spoke quietly.
“He wants the entire area.”
Bella looked between them.
Dominic continued.
“Anyone who refuses to leave suddenly develops debts.”
“So call the police.”
Dominic gave her a look.
Bella sighed.
“Right. Stupid question.”
“Not stupid. Optimistic.”
She dropped the paper.
“What does this have to do with yesterday?”
Dominic leaned back.
“My mother owns the last building Hale needs.”
Isabella smiled.
“And I’m not selling.”
Bella understood.
“You thought he sent me.”
“Yes.”
“And now?”
“Now I think you accidentally became useful.”
Bella’s eyes narrowed.
“I hate that sentence.”
“So do I.”
Isabella stood.
“My son is terrible with people.”
“I noticed.”
Dominic ignored them.
“Hale’s people have been pressuring tenants. I need someone willing to tell me exactly what they’re doing.”
Bella laughed.
“No.”
“Bella—”
“No. Yesterday I picked up oranges. Today I’m apparently in a property war with the mafia.”
Isabella frowned at her son.
“See what you've done?”
Dominic rubbed his jaw.
Bella grabbed her coat.
“I’m going to work.”
Dominic stood.
“Your landlord may lock you out today.”
“Then I’ll call a lawyer.”
“With what money?”
The words hit harder than he intended.
Bella’s face changed.
Dominic immediately knew it.
Bella nodded once.
“Thank you for reminding me what you found in your investigation.”
She left.
Isabella waited until the door closed.
Then she turned toward her son.
“You’re an idiot.”
Dominic looked offended.
“I’m trying to protect her.”
“You humiliated her.”
“I told her the truth.”
“There are ways to tell the truth without using it like a hammer.”
Dominic stared toward the door.
Isabella pointed after Bella.
“Fix it.”
That evening, Bella returned to her apartment.
Her key didn't work.
A new lock had been installed.
“What the hell?”
A voice came from behind her.
“Miss Marino?”
Two men stood near the stairs.
Neither smiled.
One held an envelope.
“Management terminated your lease.”
“You can't do that.”
“You received notice.”
“No, I didn't.”
He handed her the envelope.
“Now you have.”
Bella looked at the date.
It claimed delivery had occurred two weeks earlier.
“This is fraud.”
“Take it up with Mr. Hale.”
“My belongings are inside.”
“You can collect them tomorrow.”
Bella pulled out her phone.
One man took a step closer.
“I wouldn't make this difficult.”
Bella stared at him.
Then another voice came from downstairs.
“She doesn't have to.”
Everyone turned.
Dominic Romano climbed the stairs.
No overcoat this time.
Black shirt.
Sleeves rolled slightly.
Tattoos visible across his hands.
Two bodyguards followed.
Dominic looked at Bella.
“I came to apologize.”
Bella stared.
“You have terrible timing.”
“I disagree.”
His eyes shifted toward the two men.
“Open the door.”
One laughed nervously.
“This is private property.”
Dominic nodded.
“Correct.”
He produced a document.
“As of forty-three minutes ago, I own it.”
Silence.
Bella blinked.
“What?”
Dominic looked at the men.
“You work for Hale?”
Neither answered.
“Then tell him something.”
Dominic's voice stayed quiet.
“He doesn't evict another tenant from this building.”
One man stepped forward.
“You don't know who you're interfering with.”
Dominic almost smiled.
“I was about to say the same thing.”
They left.
Bella stared at Dominic.
“You bought my building?”
“Yes.”
“To help me?”
“No.”
She folded her arms.
“Dominic.”
He sighed.
“Partly.”
“That is insane.”
“My mother said I needed to fix it.”
Bella stared at him.
“Your mother scares you.”
“More than anyone alive.”
For the first time, Bella laughed around him.
Dominic unlocked her apartment with the new master key and handed it to her.
“No eviction.”
Bella accepted it cautiously.
“And the fake debt?”
“Gone.”
“I can't accept twelve thousand dollars from you.”
“You aren't. The debt never existed.”
She looked at him.
“Why are you really doing this?”
Dominic became serious.
“Because Hale isn't going to stop.”
A phone rang.
One of Dominic's men answered.
His expression changed.
“Boss.”
Dominic turned.
“What?”
The bodyguard lowered the phone.
“Mrs. Romano’s driver just called.”
Dominic went still.
“What happened?”
“The car was followed.”
Bella’s stomach tightened.
“Isabella?”
The bodyguard nodded.
“She’s safe.”
Dominic's face became ice.
May you like
“But somebody just made a very serious mistake.”
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