Chapter 7 - THE CHOICE
Dominic's men wanted him to stay inside.
He refused.
"Where is Elena?"
Marcus pointed toward the east wing.
"She disappeared during the attack."
Dominic's expression hardened.
"Find her."
"We're trying."
"Try harder."
Lily stood behind him.
"Is Mom okay?"
Dominic crouched.
"We're going to get her."
"Promise?"
He looked into her eyes.
"I promise."
He didn't know whether he could keep it.
But he said it anyway.
Meanwhile, Elena woke up inside a dark car.
Her hands were tied.
Antonio sat across from her.
She stared at him.
"You."
He smiled.
"Hello, Elena."
"You said you'd leave Lily alone."
"I never said that."
"You threatened me."
"I warned you."
"Why?"
Antonio leaned forward.
"Because Dominic took everything."
"He didn't take anything from you."
Antonio laughed.
"He took our father's respect."
Elena stared.
"Your father chose him."
"Exactly."
Antonio's voice became bitter.
"Dominic was always the golden son."
"Because you betrayed him."
"I was smarter."
"You almost destroyed the entire family."
"I built half of it."
Elena shook her head.
"You murdered people."
Antonio's expression hardened.
"So did Dominic."
The words hung in the air.
Elena looked away.
"You want the ledger."
"I already have it."
"Then why am I here?"
Antonio smiled.
"Because Dominic doesn't know what the ledger contains."
Elena's heart dropped.
"What?"
"The truth."
Dominic arrived at an abandoned church in Brooklyn.
Marcus followed.
"You sure about this?"
"No."
They entered.
Antonio's voice echoed from the darkness.
"Dominic."
Dominic stopped.
His brother stepped into the light.
For a moment, neither moved.
Twenty years disappeared.
Dominic whispered,
"I buried you."
Antonio smiled.
"You buried the wrong brother."
"You killed Father."
Antonio's expression changed.
"He was going to give you everything."
"He was our father."
"He was a liar."
Dominic raised his gun.
"Where is Elena?"
Antonio pointed toward the altar.
She was there.
Alive.
Tied to a chair.
Dominic took one step.
Antonio raised his weapon.
"Don't."
Dominic stopped.
Antonio smiled.
"Still protecting everyone except yourself."
"Let her go."
"You know what I want."
"The ledger."
"No."
Antonio looked toward the doorway.
"I want Lily."
Dominic's eyes changed.
"Never."
Antonio laughed.
"You don't understand."
"I understand perfectly."
"She is your weakness."
Dominic lowered his weapon slightly.
"She's my daughter."
"Exactly."
Antonio's smile widened.
"That's why you will lose."
A gunshot rang out.
The lights exploded.
Darkness.
Elena screamed.
Dominic fired.
Men rushed through the church.
When the lights returned—
Antonio was gone.
Elena was alive.
But Lily was missing.
Dominic stared at the empty doorway.
Marcus ran inside.
"Where is she?"
Dominic didn't answer.
His phone rang.
He answered.
Antonio's voice whispered:
"Now you know how it feels."
Dominic closed his eyes.
Then he heard Lily's voice in the background.
"Dad?"
Dominic's entire body froze.
Antonio laughed.
May you like
"Come find us."
The call ended.
