Chapter 6 - The Woman Costa Underestimated
Pier seventeen looked abandoned.
It wasn't.
Federal investigators had copies of Elena's evidence.
Enzo's men watched from distant positions.
And Dominic hated every second of the plan.
Before I left the car, he caught my wrist.
“You stay beside me.”
“I know.”
“If anything changes—”
“I know.”
“Sofia.”
“What?”
His expression softened.
“I shouldn't have married you without permission.”
I blinked.
“This is an interesting time to apologize.”
“I thought we might not get another.”
“Don't say that.”
“Then promise me something.”
“What?”
“When this ends, I'll give you an annulment.”
For reasons I didn't understand, that hurt.
I nodded anyway.
“Okay.”
Costa waited inside the warehouse.
Ellen sat in a chair beside him.
Alive.
“Mom.”
“Sofia!”
I started toward her.
Costa raised one hand.
“Ledger.”
I held up the bag.
“Ellen first.”
Costa smiled.
“You sound like a Rossi already.”
“I sound like a woman who's tired of you.”
Dominic almost smiled.
Costa didn't.
“Your mother had that same mouth.”
“My mother beat you twenty-six years ago.”
His expression hardened.
“No.”
“Yes. She preserved the evidence. Ellen kept me alive. Isabella hid the truth. And you spent twenty-six years terrified of a waitress's necklace.”
Costa stepped closer.
“You think Dominic loves you?”
I glanced at Dominic.
“I think that's none of your business.”
Costa laughed.
“He married you because your name protects his empire.”
Dominic answered.
“I married her because seven bullets couldn't stop her from protecting my mother.”
Costa's smile vanished.
“And what happens when she's no longer useful?”
Dominic didn't hesitate.
“She becomes free.”
I looked at him.
He meant it.
Costa demanded the bag.
I handed it over.
He opened it.
Blank paper.
His face changed.
I said, “The real evidence was delivered two hours ago.”
Sirens sounded outside.
Costa looked toward Dominic.
“You called federal agents?”
“No,” Dominic said.
“Sofia did.”
Costa stared at me.
“You.”
“Just a waitress.”
The warehouse doors opened.
Federal agents entered.
Ellen ran toward me.
I caught her.
She held my face.
“Are you hurt?”
“I've been better.”
She saw Dominic.
Then my ring.
Her eyes widened.
“That conversation might take a while.”
Dominic actually laughed.
Costa was taken away with Anthony's testimony, Elena's financial records, and evidence tying him to the Aster Crown attack.
But before officers placed him inside the vehicle, I asked one question.
“My biological mother.”
Costa looked at me.
“Is Elena dead?”
For once, he didn't smile.
“I don't know.”
That answer would haunt me.
But it also gave me hope.
Outside, Ellen hugged Isabella.
Dominic stood apart from everyone.
I walked toward him.
“What's wrong?”
“It's over.”
“That's usually good.”
“For you.”
He looked at my ring.
“Tomorrow my attorney will arrange the annulment.”
I stared at him.
“You're serious.”
“I promised.”
“And if I don't want it?”
Dominic stopped breathing for a second.
“What?”
I looked at the ring.
“You're still an arrogant criminal who married an unconscious woman.”
“Accurate.”
“You're controlling.”
“Yes.”
“Infuriating.”
“Often.”
“And your mother likes me more than she likes you.”
“That was true before you arrived.”
I smiled.
Then became serious.
“I don't want an annulment tomorrow.”
Dominic stepped closer.
“Why?”
“Because if we're going to end this marriage…”
I looked directly into his eyes.
“…I'd like to experience being conscious for part of it first.”
May you like
For the first time since I'd met him, Dominic Rossi had absolutely nothing to say.
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