Chapter 6 - The Man Dominic Trusted Most
Dominic became frighteningly quiet.
Not violent.
Quiet.
That was worse.
Enzo Caruso had stood beside him for thirteen years.
Managed family disputes.
Protected Sofia.
Carried Leo at Sofia’s funeral when Dominic could barely stand.
If Enzo was working with Carlo, the danger had been inside Dominic’s house the entire time.
Dominic called him once.
No answer.
Twice.
Nothing.
The third call connected.
“Where is Marco?”
Enzo sounded exhausted.
“Safe.”
“From whom?”
“From you.”
Dominic stood.
I watched something dark move across his face.
Then he caught himself.
“Explain.”
“Not over the phone.”
“Enzo.”
“You promised Sofia something.”
Dominic went still.
“What?”
“That if Alessia was ever found, you would let her choose.”
“I never knew Alessia existed.”
“No.”
Enzo paused.
“But Sofia knew you well enough to predict what you’d do.”
Dominic’s jaw tightened.
“Where are you?”
Enzo gave an address.
A closed church in Brooklyn.
Dominic wanted me to stay behind.
I refused.
He did not argue.
Progress.
Marco was sitting inside the church when we arrived.
Alive.
Angry.
Enzo stood near the altar.
“You kidnapped him?” I demanded.
Marco answered.
“No.”
I looked at him.
“I went willingly.”
“Why?”
“Because someone searched my apartment tonight.”
My stomach tightened.
Enzo placed a recorder on a pew.
“Sofia gave this to me four days before she died.”
Dominic stared at him.
“You kept something from me?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because she ordered me to.”
“You worked for me.”
“I loved her too.”
The room changed.
Not romantically.
Family.
Sofia had apparently been the only Rinaldi who treated Enzo like a person instead of an employee.
Enzo pressed play.
Sofia’s voice filled the church.
If you’re hearing this, I either lost my nerve or I ran out of time.
Dominic closed his eyes.
I stopped breathing.
Sofia continued.
I found Alessia.
Her name is Alina Valdez.
She looks like me enough that Leo smiled at her picture.
My throat tightened.
That explained something.
Leo had seen my photograph.
Sofia had shown him.
Maybe repeatedly.
Babies remember faces.
Maybe that was why he reached.
The recording continued.
Do not tell Dominic yet.
He will move too fast.
He’ll surround her with guards, drag her into a war she doesn’t understand, and call it protection.
Dominic looked away.
Accurate.
Then Sofia’s voice softened.
If something happens to me, tell him I’m sorry.
But tell Alina the truth before anyone asks her for anything.
Not the money.
Not the company.
Not loyalty.
Nothing.
She has had twenty-seven years stolen already.
Do not steal another choice.
I started crying silently.
Then Sofia said the name.
“Carlo knows I’m searching.”
Dominic opened his eyes.
“He warned me to stop.”
There it was.
But the final sentence shocked all of us.
“Carlo is dangerous, but he isn’t the only reason Alessia disappeared.”
A pause.
“My father knew.”
Dominic whispered:
“Vittorio?”
Sofia’s father.
My father.
The man who had supposedly spent decades grieving his missing daughter.
Sofia’s recording ended with:
Ask my mother what really happened in that hospital.
I stared at Dominic.
“My mother is dead.”
He looked at Enzo.
Enzo slowly shook his head.
“No.”
Then he placed a recent photograph on the pew.
An older woman stood beside a window overlooking the Atlantic.
Same dark eyes.
Same cheekbones.
Mine.
Sofia’s.
The photograph was dated last month.
May you like
Enzo whispered:
“Elena Bellini is alive.”
