Chapter 6 - The Betrayal Inside the Family
Dominic arrived at the hospital twenty-six minutes later.
He entered the consultation room without his usual composure.
His tie was loosened.
His hair was damp from the rain.
Gabriel followed him, then stopped outside the door.
Dominic looked at the photograph lying on the table.
For a moment, he didn't touch it.
“Where did you get this?”
“Sofia Vale.”
His jaw tightened.
“She's been looking for answers.”
“And you've been avoiding her.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because I couldn't give her the answers she deserved.”
I folded my arms.
“Then start with me.”
Dominic picked up the photograph.
His expression changed.
Not recognition.
Confusion.
He moved closer to the window, examining the woman's face.
“This isn't my mother.”
I blinked.
“She looks exactly like her.”
“She looks like my aunt.”
“Your aunt?”
“My mother's younger sister. Elena Bellini.”
I stared at him.
“You never mentioned an aunt.”
“Because I thought she died.”
The room fell silent.
Dominic sat down.
“When my mother died, Elena disappeared. My father told me she had gone back to Italy. Two years later, he said she'd been killed in a car accident.”
I looked at the photograph again.
“Why would she be meeting Thomas Vale?”
“I don't know.”
“Then maybe it's time we found out.”
Dominic studied me.
“You shouldn't be involved in this.”
I felt my temper rise.
“Someone photographed us inside our car. A woman came to my workplace with evidence of a murder. Your uncle is threatening hospital funding, and someone is digging through your medical history.”
“I know.”
“Then stop pretending I'm outside this.”
His expression softened.
“Claire—”
“No. You don't get to decide what I can handle.”
He lowered his eyes.
For several seconds, he said nothing.
Then he nodded.
“You're right.”
It was one of the things I loved most about him.
Dominic could be stubborn, frightening, and occasionally impossible.
But when he knew he was wrong, he could admit it.
Not always quickly.
But honestly.
We contacted Evelyn Hart through the secure number she had provided.
She agreed to meet us at a federal office the following morning.
Sofia came too.
The meeting lasted almost four hours.
Evelyn examined the payment authorization, the photograph, and the files from Sofia's flash drive.
Then she asked Dominic a question.
“Who had access to your signature authorization system thirteen years ago?”
Dominic frowned.
“My father. Victor. Our finance director.”
“Anyone else?”
“Gabriel handled some documents.”
I looked up.
Gabriel?
The man who had protected Dominic since he was twenty-one?
The man who had stood beside us at our wedding?
Evelyn wrote something down.
“Did Gabriel know about the transfer to Thomas Vale?”
Dominic hesitated.
“Yes.”
“Did he personally arrange it?”
Dominic's expression changed.
“He did.”
A cold feeling settled in my stomach.
Sofia leaned forward.
“Then he knew my father was trying to escape.”
“Yes,” Dominic said.
“And my father died before he could leave.”
No one spoke.
Evelyn closed the folder.
“We need to examine the original banking records.”
Dominic looked toward the door.
“Gabriel is outside.”
Evelyn nodded.
“I know.”
When the meeting ended, Gabriel was waiting in the hallway.
He looked at Dominic.
“Everything all right, boss?”
Dominic studied him.
For one long second, I thought he would confront him.
Instead, he said, “Drive Claire home.”
Gabriel nodded.
“Of course.”
I opened my mouth.
Dominic gave me the smallest shake of his head.
Not here.
Not yet.
We traveled in silence.
Gabriel sat in front.
I watched him in the rearview mirror.
He looked exactly as he always had.
Calm.
Professional.
Loyal.
But now I noticed things I had ignored.
How often he answered Dominic's phone.
How many routes he chose.
How easily he knew our movements.
At the house, Gabriel opened my door.
“Mrs. Kessler.”
I stepped out.
“Thank you.”
He smiled.
“Always.”
The word chilled me.
That evening, Dominic called from his office.
“Are you alone?”
“Yes.”
“Lock the bedroom door.”
My heart accelerated.
“Why?”
“Gabriel isn't answering his phone.”
I stood.
“What happened?”
“Evelyn's team discovered something.”
“Dominic?”
His voice lowered.
“The transfer to Thomas Vale was intercepted. The money went to an account controlled by Gabriel's brother.”
I stared at the wall.
“His brother?”
“Victor's former accountant.”
I could barely breathe.
“Does Gabriel know?”
“I think he's known for thirteen years.”
A sound came from downstairs.
The front door.
I froze.
“Claire?” Dominic whispered.
“Someone's here.”
“Where are you?”
“Upstairs.”
“Lock the door. Now.”
I ran into the bedroom and turned the lock.
Footsteps sounded below.
Then Gabriel's voice rose through the hallway.
“Mrs. Kessler?”
My blood turned cold.
He wasn't supposed to be inside.
I pressed the phone against my ear.
“Dominic, it's Gabriel.”
“I know.”
“What do I do?”
“Stay where you are. Police are coming.”
The footsteps reached the stairs.
“Claire,” Gabriel called gently. “We need to talk.”
I backed away from the door.
“About what?”
“About your husband.”
My heart hammered.
Gabriel stopped outside the bedroom.
Then he said something I would never forget.
“Dominic isn't the only Kessler who knows how to keep a secret.”
I looked toward the window.
The backyard was empty.
The room was on the second floor.
No easy escape.
“Gabriel,” I said, forcing my voice to remain steady, “what do you want?”
A long silence followed.
Then his answer came through the door.
“I want you to tell Dominic that his aunt is alive.”
I froze.
“You know where she is?”
“Yes.”
“Where?”
Gabriel laughed softly.
“Ask your husband why his father made sure she never came home.”
I heard a faint metallic sound.
He was trying the lock.
Then another voice came from downstairs.
“Federal agents! Step away from the door!”
Gabriel stopped moving.
For one terrible second, everything was silent.
Then footsteps thundered.
A man shouted.
Something heavy struck the wall.
I crouched beside the bed, shaking.
Dominic was still on the phone.
“Claire?”
“I'm here.”
“Don't move.”
A minute later, someone knocked.
“Mrs. Kessler? Federal agent. You're safe.”
I opened the door only after confirming with Dominic.
Two agents stood outside.
Gabriel was gone.
He had escaped through the rear service entrance before the officers reached the stairs.
I sank onto the bed.
Dominic arrived twelve minutes later.
He crossed the room and pulled me into his arms.
For a long time, neither of us spoke.
Then I whispered, “He knew about your aunt.”
Dominic went still.
“What?”
“He said she's alive.”
Dominic slowly released me.
His face had changed.
Not with fear.
With recognition.
“Claire,” he whispered, “my father didn't just tell me she was dead.”
I waited.
May you like
Dominic looked toward the open bedroom door.
“He made me identify her body.”
