Chapter 4 - THE UNCLE WHO KNEW EVERYTHING
"Uncle Anthony?"
Penelope stared at the security photograph.
She had known him her entire life.
He attended Christmas dinner.
Remembered her birthday.
Brought expensive gifts when business was good.
And every Sunday, he stopped by her father's bakery for espresso.
Dominic watched her carefully.
"Penelope, I need you to tell me something. Has Anthony contacted you recently?"
She nodded slowly.
"Yesterday. He asked whether I was going to Bianca's party."
Dominic's expression hardened.
"What else?"
"He wanted to know what I planned to wear."
Lorenzo exchanged a look with Dominic.
Penelope suddenly remembered the conversation.
Anthony had laughed when she mentioned the red dress.
He had said red always suited women in their family.
At the time, she hadn't thought anything of it.
Now the memory felt poisonous.
Dominic called Gabriel, his head of digital security.
"Trace every recent communication from Anthony Russo to Penelope's accounts."
Minutes later, Gabriel called back.
"Boss, there's a hidden account monitoring her social media."
Dominic's jaw tightened.
"How long?"
"Almost eighteen months."
Penelope felt sick.
"Eighteen months?"
Gabriel continued.
"The account downloaded every public photograph she posted."
Dominic looked at Penelope.
"And tonight?"
"Tonight, someone used one of those photographs to activate a location alert."
Penelope remembered the anonymous comment.
Delete it.
She turned toward Dominic.
"You knew someone was watching me."
"I suspected."
"Then why didn't you tell me?"
"Because I had no proof."
She shook her head.
"You should have trusted me with the truth."
Dominic lowered his gaze.
"You're right."
Before he could say more, Penelope's phone rang.
UNCLE ANTHONY.
Everyone went still.
Dominic nodded toward the phone.
"Answer it. You decide what to say."
Penelope accepted the call.
"Uncle Anthony?"
His familiar voice filled her ear.
"Sweetheart. I heard you had an exciting evening."
She forced herself to sound normal.
"Just dinner plans."
"With Dominic Vitiello?"
Her heart stopped.
"How would you know that?"
Anthony laughed.
"Chicago is a small city."
Then his voice became cold.
"Tell Dominic to stop searching for Amelia."
Penelope gripped the phone.
"She's alive?"
A pause.
"Your sister has been safe for years."
"Where is she?"
Anthony ignored the question.
"Ask Dominic why his family paid to keep her hidden."
The call ended.
Penelope turned toward Dominic.
His face had gone pale.
May you like
And suddenly she understood.
Her uncle wasn't the only man who had been keeping secrets.
