Chapter 7 - THE WOMAN WHO KNEW TOO MUCH|
Dominic returned to the estate with Samuel's photograph in his inside pocket and a question he could no longer ignore.
Marco was waiting in the study.
He stood beside the desk, one hand resting near his holster. His expression was controlled, but Dominic noticed the sweat at his temple.
“You said the trust named Elena,” Dominic began.
“It does.”
“Why?”
“Your father created it before he died. He believed Elena's family had a legitimate claim to part of the shipping business.”
“My father hated her family.”
“He hated her father. He didn't hate Elena.”
Dominic placed the photograph of Grace on the desk.
Marco stared at it.
“Where did you get that?”
“From Samuel Ortiz.”
Marco's face went still.
“You found him?”
“Someone killed him before he could tell me everything.”
“Then we need to find the shooter.”
“We need to find my daughter.”
Marco looked at the photograph again.
For a moment, something like grief crossed his face.
“Dominic, there may be a reason you were told the baby died.”
“Don't.”
“I'm trying to help.”
“You've been trying to help for three years. Laura vanished, and you told me she wanted to be left alone. You knew about the tunnel. You knew about the trust. You knew my father had hidden money.”
“I didn't know about Laura.”
“Then why did Samuel tell me to ask you about Dr. Bell?”
Marco's silence lasted too long.
Dominic drew his gun.
“Answer me.”
Marco slowly raised his hands.
“I introduced Dr. Bell to your father. He handled medical matters for the family. That's all.”
“Where is he?”
“I don't know.”
Dominic struck the desk with his palm.
“Stop giving me answers that sound like they were prepared by a lawyer.”
Marco's eyes hardened.
“You want the truth? Your father didn't trust you. He believed you would destroy the family trying to make it respectable. He set up the trust to keep the business from passing entirely into your hands.”
“And Elena was supposed to control it?”
“She was supposed to be a neutral administrator.”
“Then why was she photographed with me?”
Marco looked away.
“Because the Salazars believed she had access to your accounts. They thought she was your lover. It made her useful.”
Dominic lowered the gun a fraction.
“Who arranged the photographs?”
“Your father’s old associates.”
“My father has been dead for twelve years.”
“His people are not.”
Dominic turned toward the window. Beyond it, the estate's gardens were black beneath the night sky.
He remembered Laura asking him to end the performance. He had told her soon. He had believed that keeping her ignorant was a form of love.
Now he understood how easily silence could become a weapon.
“Call Elena,” he said.
Marco reached for his phone.
“No,” Dominic added. “Use mine.”
When Elena arrived, she did not sit.
“You found Samuel,” she said.
“You knew he was alive?”
“I suspected.”
“Did you know my daughter was alive?”
Elena's expression changed.
“Dominic—”
“Answer me.”
“I knew there was a possibility.”
He stepped toward her.
“You let me believe my child was dead.”
“I was trying to keep her safe.”
“From whom?”
Elena glanced at Marco.
Dominic followed her gaze.
“Say it.”
She swallowed.
“From the people who controlled the trust.”
“Who?”
“Your cousin.”
The room became silent.
Marco did not move.
Elena continued, her voice shaking now.
“Marco knew about the trust. He knew the baby would inherit the controlling shares. He knew Laura had found the ledger. He was the one who arranged for Dr. Bell to take her.”
Dominic pointed his gun at Marco.
“Tell me she's lying.”
Marco stared at him.
Then he slowly removed his own weapon and placed it on the desk.
“You should hear the rest before you decide.”
Dominic's voice was almost a whisper.
“Where is my wife?”
Marco looked directly at him.
“Three years ago, Laura didn't leave you.”
He paused.
“She was taken because she refused to sign away your daughter's inheritance.”
Dominic's finger tightened around the trigger.
“And you let me believe she abandoned me.”
May you like
Marco lowered his eyes.
“No. I made sure you believed it.”
