Chapter 4 - The Enemy at the Table
Dominic Romano had helped raise Vincent.
After Vincent's father died, Dominic taught him everything.
Business.
Loyalty.
Survival.
Never trust a man who smiles while asking what you own.
Never make threats you aren't willing to carry out.
And above everything:
Family protects family.
Vincent stared at the photograph until the edges bent beneath his fingers.
"Explain."
Arturo looked older than he had an hour earlier.
"Dominic knew Gabriel."
"How?"
"He approached Gabriel after discovering the financial records."
"To help him?"
Arturo hesitated.
Vincent understood.
"To buy his silence."
Elena whispered, "Did Dominic kill my husband?"
"I don't know."
"That's not good enough."
"It's the truth."
They returned to Romano Estate after dark.
Vincent ordered Dominic brought to the library.
His uncle arrived smiling.
The smile disappeared when Vincent placed the photograph on the table.
"Where did you get that?"
"Wrong question."
Dominic looked at Arturo.
"You should've burned everything."
Elena stepped forward.
"Did you kill Gabriel?"
"No."
"Did you know who did?"
Dominic remained silent.
Vincent approached him.
"Answer her."
Dominic sighed.
"Gabriel was playing a game with men who didn't lose."
"Names."
"Vincent—"
"Names."
Dominic finally gave them.
Two businessmen.
A former police commander.
A judge.
And Carlo Vescari.
Vincent knew the last name.
Everybody did.
Vescari had spent decades building legitimate businesses on foundations that were anything but legitimate.
Gabriel's ledger could destroy him.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
Dominic laughed sadly.
"Because you were twenty-eight and angry at the world."
"I would've handled it."
"Exactly."
Elena interrupted.
"What happened to Gabriel?"
Dominic looked at her.
"He was supposed to meet federal investigators."
Her eyes filled.
"He never arrived."
"His car went off a bridge."
"You knew it wasn't an accident."
"I suspected."
"And you said nothing."
"I kept you alive."
Elena laughed bitterly.
"Apparently every man in my life decided lying to me was protection."
Vincent felt that accusation even though it wasn't directed at him.
Then Sofia appeared in the doorway.
Diesel beside her.
"You shouldn't be awake," Elena said.
"I heard yelling."
Diesel stared at Dominic.
His body stiffened.
Dominic stepped backward.
"Get that animal away from me."
Sofia touched Diesel's neck.
"He's scared of you."
"I'm not scared of a dog."
Sofia shook her head.
"I meant Dee."
Everyone became silent.
Diesel remembered Dominic.
Vincent saw it.
"Did you hurt him?"
Dominic looked offended.
"No."
"Then why does he react to you?"
"I don't know."
Arturo suddenly whispered, "The warehouse."
Dominic's face changed.
Vincent saw it.
"What warehouse?"
Nobody answered quickly enough.
Vincent grabbed Dominic's jacket.
"What warehouse?"
Dominic pushed his hand away.
"Gabriel left Diesel there after he realized Vescari's men were following him."
"But that's where I found Diesel."
"Yes."
Vincent froze.
That wasn't coincidence.
Dominic had arranged for Vincent's men to find the dog.
"Why?"
"Because I couldn't take him."
"Why me?"
Dominic looked at Diesel.
"Because Gabriel asked me to."
The revelation landed heavily.
Gabriel had known Vincent?
Not personally.
But he knew enough.
According to Dominic, Gabriel believed Vincent was ruthless but possessed one quality rare in their world.
He protected what belonged under his roof.
Gabriel had trusted that Diesel would survive with him.
Elena sat slowly.
Her dead husband had somehow placed a piece of his life in Vincent Romano's hands.
And neither of them had known.
Then Sofia tugged her mother's sleeve.
"Mommy?"
"What?"
"My music box isn't at home."
Arturo turned.
"Where is it?"
Sofia pointed upstairs.
"I brought it."
Elena stared.
"In your backpack?"
Sofia shook her head.
"Grandpa's suitcase."
Arturo's face went blank.
"I packed it because you told me I could bring one special thing."
Everyone looked toward the staircase.
Vincent spoke first.
"Where's the suitcase?"
Arturo whispered:
"Guest room."
They ran.
The room had been searched.
Drawers open.
Mattress moved.
Suitcase emptied.
The music box was gone.
But on the mirror, someone had written a message.
BRING THE GIRL IF YOU WANT IT BACK.
Elena made a sound somewhere between anger and terror.
Vincent stared at the words.
Someone had entered his home.
Someone had bypassed his security.
Which meant there was still a traitor inside the estate.
Then Diesel began growling at one of Vincent's guards.
A man Vincent had trusted for eleven years.
May you like
And the guard suddenly reached inside his jacket.
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