Chapter 3 - The Secret in My Father's Grave
Three days later, I could sit upright.
Dominic was still there.
Every morning.
Every night.
Always sitting near the window, answering calls in a low voice while two guards waited outside.
I finally snapped.
“Don't you have crimes to organize?”
Dominic lowered his phone.
“Several.”
“Then go.”
“No.”
“You're incredibly annoying.”
“So I've heard.”
I pointed at the ring.
“And we're getting this annulled.”
“When you're safe.”
“Stop saying that.”
“Then stop asking.”
I stared at him.
“You know, most husbands bring flowers.”
He glanced toward the enormous arrangement covering half the windowsill.
“Those are mine.”
I looked.
“Fine. Most husbands don't marry unconscious strangers.”
“That criticism is fair.”
The door opened.
Isabella entered carrying soup.
“You're arguing. Excellent.”
“Why is that excellent?”
“It means you're recovering.”
She kissed my forehead.
I liked her despite myself.
That was inconvenient.
While Isabella poured soup, Dominic's phone rang.
He answered.
“Enzo.”
His expression changed.
“When?”
Pause.
“Don't touch anything.”
He hung up.
“What happened?” I asked.
“Nothing.”
“Dominic.”
He looked at his mother.
Isabella sighed.
“Tell her.”
Dominic's jaw tightened.
“Someone broke into your apartment.”
My stomach dropped.
“What?”
“Nothing was stolen.”
“Then why?”
“They were looking for something.”
“What?”
Dominic remained silent.
I shoved the blanket aside.
Pain ripped through my ribs.
“Claire.”
“Don't touch me.”
“You can't walk.”
“Watch me.”
I lasted exactly one step.
Dominic caught me before I hit the floor.
I gasped against his chest.
“Put me down.”
“Gladly.”
He returned me carefully to bed.
“You're impossible.”
“And you're lying.”
I grabbed his wrist.
“Tell me about my father.”
Dominic froze.
Isabella stopped moving.
That was enough.
“How did you know?”
I pointed toward his jacket.
“The photograph.”
He looked down.
Part of the old picture protruded from his inner pocket.
Dominic closed his eyes.
“Damn.”
“Who is Thomas Bennett?”
“Your father.”
“I know that.”
I swallowed.
“My mother told me he died in a car accident.”
“He didn't.”
The room became very quiet.
“What happened?”
Dominic pulled a chair beside me.
“Twenty years ago, Thomas Bennett handled financial records for my father, Salvatore Rossi.”
“Accountant?”
“More than that.”
Dominic looked directly at me.
“He discovered Salvatore was moving money through Victor Costa's businesses.”
“For what?”
“Enough illegal operations to send powerful people to prison.”
My fingers tightened around the blanket.
“What did my father do?”
“He copied the records.”
“And?”
“He planned to testify.”
My mouth went dry.
“Your father killed him.”
Dominic didn't hide.
“Yes.”
I slapped him.
Pain exploded through my side.
Isabella gasped.
Dominic didn't move.
I stared at the red mark forming across his cheek.
“You knew.”
“I discovered it six months ago.”
“You knew who I was.”
“Yes.”
“At the hotel?”
“Yes.”
“Why were you watching me?”
“Because someone else had started searching for Thomas Bennett's daughter.”
“Costa.”
“Yes.”
I fought tears.
“You should have told me.”
“I wanted to.”
“When?”
“When telling you wouldn't put a target on your back.”
I laughed bitterly.
“Great plan.”
“Claire—”
“Get out.”
Dominic remained seated.
“Get out!”
He stood.
At the door, he stopped.
“My father's sins belong to him.”
I looked away.
“But protecting you belongs to me.”
“Why?”
His answer came quietly.
“Because six months ago I learned what my family stole from yours.”
He looked at the ring.
“And three nights ago, you nearly died saving the only parent I have left.”
Dominic left.
Isabella stayed.
After several minutes, I whispered:
“Why didn't he tell me?”
“Because Dominic believes secrets are armor.”
She took my hand.
“He hasn't yet learned they can become knives.”
---
That night, someone cut power to the private floor.
Every monitor went black.
Then the emergency lights turned red.
A guard shouted outside.
The door opened.
I expected Dominic.
It wasn't Dominic.
A man wearing hospital scrubs entered.
He locked the door behind him.
Then smiled.
May you like
“Hello, Claire.”
---
