Chapter 17 - The Last Deal Dominic Russo Ever Made
The payment was not criminal.
That was the first surprise.
Alex spent two days tracing it.
Thomas Mercer had sold an investment property.
Taxes paid.
Funds legitimate.
Then he had transferred two hundred thousand dollars to Elena Russo.
Why?
The answer was hidden inside a letter federal investigators recovered from Victor’s private archive.
Thomas had written it.
Elena,
If Michael fails to stop Victor, take this money and disappear with Dominic. He deserves a life outside all of this. If I can convince Sarah to leave with Alex, we’ll join you.
Alex stopped reading.
Sarah.
Her mother.
Dominic sat beside her.
Their parents had planned to escape together.
Not romantically.
Not secretly for themselves.
For their children.
Thomas wanted Alex out.
Elena wanted Dominic out.
Michael had finally decided to dismantle the criminal side of the Russo organization.
Victor learned.
Everything followed.
Thomas died.
Michael died.
Elena remained behind, trying to protect Dominic.
Six months later she died from illness.
The money remained untouched in an account Victor never found.
Interest had turned it into nearly four hundred thousand dollars.
Dominic stared at the statement.
“My mother had enough to leave.”
“She stayed for you.”
“She could’ve taken me.”
“Maybe she was afraid Victor would follow.”
Dominic looked toward Elena’s final letter.
He read.
My son believes strength means staying. I hope one day he learns that sometimes strength is leaving before darkness convinces you it is home.
Dominic closed his eyes.
Alex took his hand.
“She knew.”
“What?”
“That you could become more than this.”
For once Dominic allowed himself to cry.
No dramatic collapse.
No shame.
Just quiet tears for a mother who had been dead eight years and had somehow reached him exactly when he needed her.
A week later Dominic met federal prosecutors.
He provided records.
Testimony.
Information regarding illegal businesses he had controlled.
In return, there were no magical promises.
No instant forgiveness.
Dominic accepted responsibility.
Alex respected that.
He faced charges involving financial violations and historical operations, though cooperation and the evidence against Victor substantially changed the case.
Months of negotiation followed.
Dominic sold controlling interests in clubs associated with illegal activity.
Several businesses closed.
Legitimate restaurants transferred to employee ownership groups.
Construction firms entered compliance agreements.
Money went toward restitution and community programs.
People called it weakness.
Dominic stopped caring.
His final meeting with old associates happened at Russo headquarters.
Marco stood beside him.
The office was nearly empty.
Furniture sold.
Art removed.
Only the city remained beyond the windows.
“This building is sold Friday,” Dominic said.
One captain asked, “What happens to us?”
“What do you want to happen?”
They looked confused.
Dominic continued.
“You want legitimate work, Marco has contacts. You want to leave, leave. You want to keep committing crimes, understand I won’t protect you.”
A younger man asked, “And you?”
Dominic looked around.
“I’m done.”
The words felt strange.
Then freeing.
After everyone left, Marco remained.
“What about me?”
Dominic smiled.
“You hate fishing.”
“Correct.”
“I need somebody to run the legitimate security company.”
Marco stared.
“You’re offering me a job?”
“I’m offering you paperwork.”
“That’s worse.”
“Alex says paperwork builds character.”
“Alex is dangerous.”
“Yes.”
Marco accepted.
That evening Dominic returned to Alex’s apartment.
The old beige sofa was still there.
He had offered to replace it twelve times.
Alex refused every time.
“It has historical significance.”
“I bled on it.”
“Exactly.”
“That is a troubling standard for sentimental value.”
Alex handed him coffee.
Dominic sat.
No ruined shirt.
No guards.
No emergency calls.
Only rain.
Again.
He looked toward the window.
“Do you remember the first night?”
“You insulted my apartment.”
“It deserved criticism.”
“You tried to buy the building.”
“You wouldn’t let me buy the couch.”
“I still won’t.”
He smiled.
Then reached inside his coat.
Alex narrowed her eyes.
“If that’s another real estate contract—”
It was not.
A small velvet box.
Alex stopped.
Dominic immediately said, “I’m not proposing.”
She stared.
“That is usually the opposite of what men say while holding those.”
“Just listen.”
He opened it.
Inside was Elena’s ring.
Simple.
Old.
Elegant.
“My mother left this for me.”
Alex looked at him.
“There was a note.”
“What did it say?”
“That if I ever found someone who made me want peace more than power, I should stop being an idiot.”
Alex laughed.
“Your mother wrote that?”
“Not exactly.”
“I knew it.”
“Conceptually.”
Dominic removed the ring.
“I’m not asking tonight.”
“Why not?”
He froze.
Alex smiled.
For the first time in their relationship, Dominic Russo looked completely unprepared.
“You said you weren’t proposing.”
“I’m not.”
“Why?”
“Because I thought you needed time.”
“I’ve had time.”
“Alex.”
“You spent six months sitting outside my apartment.”
“That sounds worse when repeated.”
“You reorganized half your life.”
“Not for you.”
“I know.”
“That matters.”
“It does.”
She stepped closer.
“But there’s something else that matters.”
“What?”
“I love you.”
Dominic stopped breathing.
Alex had never said it.
Neither had he.
Not directly.
He touched her cheek.
“Say it again.”
“No.”
“Alex.”
“You heard me.”
“Please.”
She smiled.
“I love you.”
Dominic closed his eyes.
When he opened them, there was no armor left.
“I love you too.”
Alex looked at the ring.
“So are you going to ask me?”
“Now?”
“You have someplace else to be?”
Dominic laughed.
Then moved down onto one knee.
Alex immediately started crying.
“This is unfair.”
“You started it.”
“Dominic.”
He held the ring.
“Alex Mercer, you were the first person who looked at me and saw a man instead of a reputation.”
Her tears fell.
“You challenged everything I thought strength meant.”
His voice shook.
“You made me want mornings.”
Alex covered her mouth.
“You made me want ordinary days.”
He smiled.
“And apparently terrible coffee for the rest of my life.”
She laughed through tears.
“Will you marry me?”
“Yes.”
The answer came before he finished breathing.
Dominic slid Elena’s ring onto her finger.
Alex pulled him up.
Kissed him.
The radiator slammed violently.
They both jumped.
Dominic looked toward the wall.
“I’m buying this building.”
Alex laughed harder.
“No.”
“The radiator is attacking us.”
“No.”
“I’m calling someone tomorrow.”
“That’s allowed.”
“Progress.”
They stood at the window.
Rain over the city.
Third floor.
Left light glowing.
Dominic wrapped his arms around her.
For years he had thought power meant making sure nobody could take anything from him.
Now he understood.
Real power was choosing what he would give away willingly.
Control.
Fear.
The throne.
All of it.
For a life he had once considered impossible.
But Dominic still had one final obligation.
May you like
The next morning he entered federal court.
And for the first time in his life, he would answer for Dominic Russo without money, men, or fear standing between him and the truth.
