Chapter 2 - THE MAN WHO RAISED HIM WAS THE FIRST SUSPECTFor several seconds, nobody moved.
Dominic held the black envelope in one hand while staring at the two men standing in his study.
Anthony Moretti had raised him after his father died. He had taught Dominic how to negotiate, how to recognize a liar, and how to survive in a world where weakness could cost a man everything.
Victor Hail had protected the mansion for eight years.
Both men had once been considered family.
"What are you doing here?" Dominic asked.
Anthony glanced at Elena.
"Perhaps we should discuss this privately."
"No. She stays."
Victor gave a faint smile.
"Your uncle is trying to protect you, Dominic. You should appreciate that."
Dominic opened the envelope.
Inside were copies of bank transfers, photographs, and several documents bearing his father's signature. One photograph showed Anthony standing beside Raymond Cross outside a warehouse in Brooklyn.
The date was twelve years earlier.
Three months before Dominic's father died.
Dominic examined the picture again.
"Explain."
Anthony removed his gloves.
"Your father was involved in complicated financial arrangements. You were young. You don't understand what was happening."
"I understand that two million dollars disappeared from my company."
"Then you should understand that business sometimes requires discretion."
"Discretion?"
Dominic threw the photograph onto his desk.
"You were meeting Raymond Cross behind my father's back."
Anthony's expression hardened.
"Your father made mistakes."
"And you?"
"I cleaned them up."
Elena shifted nervously near the fireplace.
Victor noticed.
"Perhaps the maid should return to her duties."
Dominic turned toward him.
"Say one more word about her."
Victor fell silent.
Anthony sighed.
"Dominic, you are allowing an employee to influence your judgment. Think carefully. This woman has access to private areas of your home. She could have stolen those documents herself."
Elena's eyes filled with tears.
Dominic stepped between them.
"She didn't."
"You know that?"
"I know you are trying very hard to make me doubt the one person who had the courage to tell me something was wrong."
Anthony stared at him.
Then he smiled sadly.
"Your father said the same thing before he lost everything."
Dominic felt something cold move through his chest.
"What does that mean?"
Anthony turned toward the door.
"Ask yourself why your father trusted me with the family business after everything that happened."
He walked out.
Victor followed.
Dominic immediately called Michael.
"I want every account connected to Anthony Moretti frozen."
"Dominic, that's your uncle."
"I know exactly who he is."
"Do you have evidence?"
Dominic looked at the envelope.
"Not enough. That's why I need you to find it."
After ending the call, he turned to Elena.
"Where is your brother supposed to be?"
"At school. He usually takes the bus home."
"Call him again."
She did.
No answer.
Dominic instructed his driver to take them toward Queens. He also ordered two trusted guards to follow at a distance.
Elena sat beside him in the back of the black SUV, twisting her fingers together.
"Why are you helping me?" she finally asked.
Dominic looked through the window.
"Because someone is using my home to hurt innocent people."
"That's not what I asked."
He turned toward her.
"Then what are you asking?"
"Why do you care whether I'm hurt?"
The question remained between them.
Dominic had spent years building a life in which people approached him for money, protection, influence, or fear. He rarely allowed anyone to ask what he felt.
"I don't like bullies," he answered.
Elena gave a small, exhausted laugh.
"People like you usually have more complicated reasons."
"Perhaps."
His phone rang.
One of the guards had found Noah's school bag abandoned beside a bus stop.
A nearby shop owner reported seeing a black sedan pull away with a teenager inside.
Elena covered her mouth.
Dominic ordered the driver to speed up.
Then another call arrived.
This time, it was from Michael.
"Dominic, I found something. The company receiving your money isn't just connected to Raymond Cross."
"What is it?"
"It's registered under the name of a woman who supposedly died twelve years ago."
Dominic's eyes narrowed.
"Who?"
"Your mother."
The call ended.
Elena looked at him.
"What happened?"
Dominic stared at the phone.
His mother had died when he was twenty-six.
May you like
At least, that was what Anthony had always told him.
And now someone was using her name to steal millions from his family.
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