Chapter 6 - Dominic Vale's Choice
“You knew this could happen.”
Dominic stood beside the windows overlooking Lake Michigan.
“Yes.”
“And you still arrested him.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
He looked toward Audrey.
She was sitting on the floor teaching Marco how to sign the word rabbit.
“Because five years ago I chose power over questions.”
He turned back to me.
“I won't do it again.”
Daniel approached.
“If Victor's archive becomes public, prosecutors could build cases stretching back fifteen years.”
Dominic nodded.
“How much time?”
“For you?”
“Yes.”
Daniel hesitated.
“Potentially decades.”
Audrey noticed the conversation.
She approached.
What's wrong?
Dominic looked at me.
“Don't translate.”
I frowned.
He knelt.
Then signed himself.
Slowly.
Imperfectly.
Daddy made bad choices.
Audrey watched.
Daddy must fix them.
She frowned.
Will you leave?
Dominic stopped.
His hands lowered.
I knelt beside him.
“You have to answer.”
He looked at me.
Then signed.
Maybe.
Audrey's eyes filled.
She hugged him.
Dominic closed his eyes.
That was the moment I finally understood him.
Chicago feared Dominic Vale because of what he could do to people.
Audrey loved him because she still believed he could become someone better.
Dominic stood.
“Daniel.”
“Yes?”
“Send everything.”
Daniel stared.
“Everything?”
“Victor's records. Mine too.”
“Dominic—”
“To federal prosecutors.”
Marco stepped forward.
“Boss, think carefully.”
“I have.”
“You could lose the organization.”
“Good.”
Marco looked shocked.
Dominic continued.
“I built an empire because I thought power could protect my family.”
He looked at Audrey.
“It didn't.”
He turned toward me.
“Thomas Mercer died because he tried to expose Victor. Sophia died doing the same.”
He exhaled.
“If I bury evidence now, I'm no better than the man who killed them.”
Daniel nodded.
“I'll send it.”
The investigation exploded across Chicago.
Victor Kane was charged with conspiracy, murder, attempted murder, financial crimes and multiple counts connected to the bombing.
Peter testified.
Financial records corroborated his story.
The memory card proved Sophia had discovered Victor's operation before her death.
And Audrey never had to face Victor in court.
Dominic cooperated.
Completely.
He surrendered illegal assets.
Provided records.
Named corrupt officials.
Several charges against him remained.
Others were reduced because of his cooperation.
Months later, we stood outside the federal courthouse.
Reporters shouted questions.
“Mr. Vale!”
“Dominic!”
“Are you going to prison?”
He ignored them.
Audrey held one hand.
I held the other.
Before entering, Dominic stopped.
“Claire.”
“Yes?”
“If things go badly—”
“No.”
“You don't know what I'm going to say.”
“Yes, I do.”
I looked at him.
“You're going to ask me to take care of Audrey.”
He nodded.
“I will.”
“Thank you.”
“But you're coming back.”
His expression softened.
“You can't promise that.”
“No.”
I squeezed his hand.
“But Audrey taught me something.”
“What?”
I smiled.
“Sometimes the people everyone has stopped believing in surprise you.”
Audrey tugged his jacket.
She signed:
Come home, Daddy.
Dominic swallowed.
Then signed back.
May you like
I will try.
And walked into court.
