Chapter 5 - Isabella's Confession
Isabella didn't deny it.
She sat in Dominic's study with Elena's ledger on the desk.
“I helped her.”
Dominic stared at his mother.
“For twenty-six years you said nothing?”
“I was trying to keep Sofia alive.”
“By letting Costa run half of New York?”
“By keeping him convinced the evidence was gone.”
I stepped forward.
“What happened to Elena?”
Isabella looked at me.
“Costa found her before I could.”
“Did he kill her?”
“We never found her body.”
“That's not an answer.”
“No.”
Isabella's voice cracked.
“It isn't.”
Dominic paced toward the window.
“Why target you at the gala?”
“Because Victor realized Sofia was Elena's daughter.”
“How?”
Isabella looked toward the ledger.
“Someone told him.”
Enzo entered.
“I know who.”
Dominic turned.
“Who?”
Enzo placed a phone on the desk.
“Anthony Vale.”
Dominic's longtime security chief.
The man who had controlled access to the Aster Crown ballroom.
Dominic became frighteningly calm.
“Bring him.”
Anthony arrived twenty minutes later.
He saw the ledger and stopped.
Dominic sat behind the desk.
“You sold Sofia's identity.”
Anthony said nothing.
“You arranged the fake catering employee.”
Silence.
“You gave Costa the ballroom security plan.”
Anthony finally spoke.
“I had debts.”
Dominic's eyes turned cold.
“So did Sofia.”
Anthony looked confused.
Dominic stood.
“She worked two jobs.”
He moved around the desk.
“She worried about rent while you earned more in a month than she earned in a year.”
Anthony swallowed.
“Dominic—”
“She still didn't sell anyone.”
Anthony looked toward me.
“I didn't know they'd shoot her.”
“You put her there.”
“I thought Costa wanted the necklace.”
I stepped forward.
“Seven bullets.”
Anthony looked away.
“Look at me.”
He did.
“Seven.”
His face tightened.
“I'm sorry.”
I shook my head.
“Don't waste that word.”
Dominic told Enzo, “Take him downstairs. No one touches him. Tomorrow he goes to federal investigators with everything he knows.”
Anthony blinked.
“You're turning me over?”
“Yes.”
“You don't do that.”
Dominic glanced at me.
“Things change.”
After Anthony was removed, Enzo's phone rang.
His expression changed.
“What?”
He listened.
Then looked at me.
“Sofia.”
“What?”
“Your aunt's treatment center called.”
My stomach dropped.
“Ellen?”
“She disappeared forty minutes ago.”
Dominic was already moving.
“Lock down every airport, station and highway route Costa controls.”
I grabbed his arm.
“He has her because of me.”
“No.”
“Yes.”
Dominic turned toward me.
“He has her because he's losing.”
My phone rang.
Unknown number.
Dominic said, “Don't.”
I answered.
Costa's voice came through.
“Bring the ledger.”
I closed my eyes.
“Let Ellen go.”
“Midnight. Pier seventeen.”
Dominic took the phone.
“If you hurt her—”
Costa laughed.
“Bring your wife, Rossi.”
The call ended.
Dominic looked at me.
“You're not going.”
“Yes, I am.”
“No.”
“He wants me.”
“He wants the ledger.”
“He wants both.”
“Sofia—”
I stepped closer.
“You made me your wife because you thought it would protect me.”
“Yes.”
“Then start treating me like your wife instead of your prisoner.”
Dominic stared at me.
“What are you suggesting?”
I looked toward Enzo.
“We give Costa exactly what he asked for.”
Enzo frowned.
“The ledger?”
I shook my head.
May you like
“A woman he still thinks is just a waitress.”
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