Chapter 9 - THE CHOICE
Dominic abandoned his empire.
That was the only way.
If he continued fighting Victor with the same weapons, innocent people would keep getting hurt.
So he did something nobody expected.
He contacted the authorities.
Not the corrupt officials on Victor's list.
Federal investigators outside the network.
He handed over everything.
Bank records.
Surveillance files.
Names.
Accounts.
Recordings.
Evidence of the operation.
The deal was simple.
Protection for Elena, Marcus, Claire, and Gabriel.
And Dominic would testify.
I watched him sign the documents.
“You're giving up everything.”
He looked at me.
“Everything I built was already broken.”
“And what about you?”
He smiled faintly.
“I don't know.”
The authorities moved us to a secure location.
But Victor wasn't finished.
He sent one final message.
COME ALONE.
Dominic did.
He walked into an abandoned warehouse at midnight.
Victor was waiting.
Rachel stood beside him.
Alive.
Dominic stopped.
“Let her go.”
Victor shook his head.
“You still don't understand.”
“What?”
“This was never about money.”
Dominic stared at him.
“Then what?”
Victor pointed toward Rachel.
“She knew too much.”
Then toward Dominic.
“You were useful.”
Then toward Marcus, visible on a security monitor.
“And he is the only person who can expose what remains.”
Dominic's expression changed.
“You're afraid of a three-year-old?”
“No.”
Victor smiled.
“I'm afraid of what people will believe when they hear what he saw.”
Victor revealed the final truth.
The surveillance system wasn't entirely destroyed.
There were copies.
Hidden accounts.
Remote backups.
People still using it.
Dominic had only destroyed the mansion network.
Not the larger operation.
Then Rachel spoke.
“Dominic.”
He looked at her.
She subtly pointed toward Victor's pocket.
A recorder.
Dominic understood.
He kept Victor talking.
“You lied to me for three years.”
Victor smiled.
“I protected you.”
“You destroyed my life.”
“I preserved your power.”
“You made me deaf.”
Victor's smile disappeared.
“Yes.”
Dominic stepped forward.
“Why?”
Victor finally answered.
“Because the night of the explosion, you were going to expose all of us.”
A recording light blinked.
Victor didn't notice.
Dominic did.
He continued.
“You could have killed me.”
“I should have.”
“Why didn't you?”
Victor looked at Rachel.
“Because she stopped me.”
Dominic's eyes narrowed.
Rachel had saved him.
Then Victor raised his weapon.
Before he could fire, the warehouse lights came on.
Federal agents surrounded the room.
Victor froze.
Dominic smiled.
“You talk too much.”
Victor was arrested.
Rachel was freed.
And for the first time in years, Dominic walked outside without anyone following him.
But there was one final problem.
May you like
His mother.
She was still missing.
