Chapter 13 - THE WOMAN BENEATH THE MARBLE
Dominic had been told his mother died from cancer.
Elena knew the truth.
“She discovered Sebastian was stealing from Father,” Elena said from the ambulance.
“He poisoned her.”
Dominic stared.
“No.”
“He paid the doctor.”
Norah squeezed his hand.
Elena continued.
“Thomas Hastings found proof.”
“Then why didn’t he go to police?”
“Because Sebastian owned half the department.”
Dominic’s face hardened.
The Castile mausoleum sat beneath a private cemetery outside Chicago.
Rain fell heavily when they arrived.
Federal agents waited at the perimeter.
Dominic entered with Norah, Julian, Mateo, and two investigators.
Behind his mother’s marble memorial they found a hidden compartment.
Inside sat a waterproof case.
The original ledgers.
Audio tapes.
Bank records.
Photographs.
Enough evidence to imprison Sebastian for life.
But one item did not belong.
A recent photograph.
Norah picked it up.
It showed her leaving Dominic’s apartment.
Taken two weeks earlier.
“Sebastian was still watching us.”
Dominic’s expression darkened.
Then Mateo noticed writing on the back.
SHE IS THE LEVER.
Dominic swore.
His phone rang.
Sebastian.
“Beautiful place, isn’t it?”
Dominic looked around.
“You’re here.”
“Yes.”
A gunshot exploded.
One of the overhead lights shattered.
Agents moved.
Norah felt Dominic grab her.
Then smoke filled the mausoleum.
Sebastian appeared behind them.
He seized Norah.
Cold metal pressed against her neck.
“Drop it.”
Dominic froze.
Sebastian smiled.
“There we are.”
Norah’s heart hammered.
Dominic lowered his weapon.
“Let her go.”
“No.”
“You want me.”
“I want control.”
“You lost it.”
Sebastian’s grip tightened.
“Then I’ll take something from you.”
Dominic’s face changed.
Norah looked at him.
She had never seen fear in his eyes like that.
“Dom.”
“Don’t.”
Sebastian smiled.
“She knows.”
Norah understood.
This wasn’t about money anymore.
Sebastian wanted Dominic broken.
Just as he had broken Elena.
Just as he had broken their father.
Norah slowly shifted her weight.
Her injured foot screamed.
She ignored it.
Dominic noticed.
His eyes moved down.
Silver heel.
The damaged one.
Norah had insisted on wearing it.
Because Gavin Pierce’s blood still stained it.
And because hidden inside the heel was a tiny blade Mateo had given her.
Sebastian didn’t know.
Norah whispered:
“Sorry I’m late.”
Sebastian frowned.
Dominic understood.
Norah drove the blade backward.
Sebastian screamed.
Dominic moved.
The gun fired.
Julian tackled Sebastian.
Agents rushed forward.
Within seconds, it was over.
Sebastian lay handcuffed on the marble floor.
Dominic reached Norah.
“Are you hit?”
“No.”
He searched her anyway.
“Dominic.”
“You’re bleeding.”
“My foot.”
“Again?”
She laughed shakily.
“You really hate these shoes.”
He pulled her into his arms.
She buried her face against his chest.
For the first time in days, she felt safe.
Then Sebastian began laughing from the floor.
Dominic looked at him.
“What?”
Sebastian smiled through blood.
“You think this ends with me?”
Dominic’s eyes narrowed.
Sebastian looked at Norah.
“Ask her father what he promised before he died.”
Norah froze.
“My father is dead.”
Sebastian laughed harder.
“No, sweetheart.”
May you like
Then he said the one sentence that changed everything.
“Thomas Hastings is alive.”
