Chapter 6 - THE BROTHER WHO SHOULD HAVE BEEN DEAD
Dominic had spent twenty years believing his younger brother was dead.
Antonio Moretti had disappeared at eighteen.
A car accident.
A body never recovered.
A funeral held without a corpse.
Dominic had carried the guilt for years.
Now Detective Collins had just told him Antonio was alive.
"Impossible."
She placed another photograph on the table.
A man stood outside a restaurant.
Older.
Scarred.
But unmistakable.
Antonio.
Dominic stared.
Elena looked at the photograph.
"That's him."
Dominic turned sharply.
"You know him?"
"Yes."
"How?"
"He was the reason I ran."
Dominic went silent.
Elena explained.
"Seven years ago, I discovered money transfers."
"Antonio."
She nodded.
"He was laundering money through the organization."
Dominic's jaw tightened.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because Antonio knew I was investigating."
She looked at Lily.
"He threatened to kill my baby."
Dominic's eyes darkened.
"And you thought running would protect her."
"I thought it was my only choice."
Dominic stood.
"Where is he now?"
Detective Collins answered.
"New York."
Dominic smiled without humor.
"Then he made a mistake."
Across town, Antonio Moretti sat in a penthouse overlooking Central Park.
He looked nothing like the dead brother Dominic remembered.
His face carried a long scar from his left temple to his jaw.
He held a glass of whiskey.
A man stood behind him.
"Dominic knows."
Antonio smiled.
"Of course he does."
"What do we do?"
Antonio looked through the window.
"Nothing."
"Nothing?"
"Let him come."
"Why?"
Antonio's smile disappeared.
"Because Dominic always believed he was the stronger brother."
He placed the glass down.
"He never understood that I was the smarter one."
That night, Lily couldn't sleep.
She walked downstairs.
Dominic was sitting alone in the kitchen.
"You can't sleep either?"
He looked up.
"No."
"Why?"
"Thinking."
"About Uncle Antonio?"
Dominic stiffened.
"Who told you?"
"Mom."
Lily climbed onto a chair.
"Is he bad?"
Dominic didn't answer immediately.
"He's dangerous."
"That's different."
"Sometimes."
Lily looked at him.
"Are you dangerous?"
Dominic stared at her.
"Yes."
"Have you hurt people?"
Silence.
"Yes."
Lily looked disappointed.
Dominic accepted it.
"But I've never hurt a child."
"I know."
She pushed a plate toward him.
"I made you something."
It was a sandwich.
It was badly cut.
Dominic stared at it.
"You made this?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because you look sad."
Dominic almost smiled.
"Thank you."
He took a bite.
Lily watched.
"Good?"
"Very."
It was terrible.
But Dominic ate the entire thing.
Then Lily leaned closer.
"Can I ask something?"
"Anything."
"Why does everyone look scared when you walk into a room?"
Dominic paused.
"Because I have a reputation."
"What's a reputation?"
"What people think they know about you."
"Do they know you?"
Dominic looked at his daughter.
"Not really."
Lily smiled.
"I know you."
"Do you?"
"You eat bad sandwiches."
For the first time in years, Dominic laughed.
A quiet, genuine laugh.
Then the lights went out.
Every security alarm in the mansion activated.
Dominic stood instantly.
"Stay here."
Lily grabbed his sleeve.
"Don't leave me."
Dominic looked down.
"I won't."
Gunfire erupted outside.
The windows shattered.
Dominic pulled Lily to the floor.
Security guards rushed through the hallway.
Elena screamed from upstairs.
Dominic shielded Lily with his body.
Then his phone vibrated.
One message.
I TOLD YOU I WOULD COME FOR HER.
Dominic stared at it.
Then another message arrived.
A photograph.
Elena was standing in a parking garage.
A gun pointed at her head.
The message beneath it said:
CHOOSE.
YOUR MOTHER OR YOUR DAUGHTER.
May you like
Dominic's face became completely still.
Antonio had finally made his move.
