Chapter 3 - What My Father Left Behind
By sunrise, Dominic knew more about my father than I had learned in twenty years.
His name was Daniel Carter.
Accountant.
Gambler.
Coward.
Apparently, also a man who had spent eight months secretly moving money through companies connected to the Castellanos.
Dominic placed a file on the table.
“My father investigated these accounts before he died.”
I looked up.
“Your father?”
“Yes.”
“Are you saying my father worked for the Castellanos?”
“Not exactly.”
Leo slid another page toward me.
“He worked for a legitimate accounting firm. Castellano-controlled businesses were clients.”
I scanned the numbers.
“And then?”
Dominic answered.
“He found something.”
“What?”
“We don’t know.”
I laughed bitterly.
“So my father vanished, left me his debt, and now people are trying to kill you because of something he found?”
“That’s our working theory.”
“Great.”
I pushed the file away.
“My family continues to exceed expectations.”
Dominic watched me.
“Did he leave anything?”
“No.”
“Think.”
“I have been thinking for six months!”
My voice cracked.
I stood.
“He left unpaid rent. He left collection notices. He left people following me home.”
Dominic remained silent.
“And you know the worst part?”
“What?”
“I still worried about him.”
The anger drained out of me.
“I kept thinking maybe he was hurt.”
Dominic looked down.
When he spoke again, his voice had changed.
“My father died before I could ask him several questions too.”
I looked at him.
For the first time, Dominic Russo didn’t look dangerous.
He looked thirty-two.
“You miss him?”
“Every day.”
Leo’s phone interrupted us.
He answered.
“Yeah?”
His expression tightened.
“We found Thomas.”
Dominic stood.
“Alive?”
“Yes.”
“Bring him somewhere safe.”
Leo glanced at me.
“He’s asking for Emma.”
“Why?”
“He says her father gave him something.”
An hour later, Thomas sat across from us in one of Dominic’s offices.
He looked wrecked.
“I didn’t poison it,” he said immediately.
I folded my arms.
“You handled the decanter.”
“I switched it.”
Dominic leaned forward.
“Explain.”
Thomas swallowed.
“Paul told me Castellano people were paying him. They wanted your drink prepared before you arrived.”
“Why take their money?”
“They threatened my brother.”
“And the envelope?”
“Cash Paul gave me to keep quiet.”
I stared at him.
“You ran.”
“I panicked.”
“What did my father give you?”
Thomas reached inside his coat.
Dominic’s men tensed.
Thomas slowly produced a small brass key.
“He came to the Onyx Room months ago. Told me if anything happened, I should give this to Emma.”
My throat tightened.
“Why didn’t you?”
“I was scared.”
“You let me work beside you for six months!”
“I know.”
I took the key.
A number was engraved on it.
317.
Dominic looked at Leo.
“Grand Central lockers?”
Leo nodded.
“Could be.”
I closed my fingers around the key.
Dominic stood.
“We go together.”
I shook my head.
“No.”
His eyebrows lifted.
“My father left it for me.”
“And the Castellanos may know it exists.”
“Still mine.”
Dominic stepped closer.
“So you want to walk into Grand Central alone?”
“Yes.”
“No.”
“Was that a mafia order?”
“Yes.”
“I don’t work for you.”
His eyes held mine.
“Emma.”
“Dominic.”
May you like
Leo looked between us.
“This is going to be a long week.”
