Chapter 4 - THE MISSING ACCOUNT
Mara didn't sleep that night.
She kept staring at the photograph of her wedding.
Her father was absent from almost every picture.
She had always told herself it was because he had died when she was young.
But there had always been gaps.
Unanswered questions.
A mother who changed the subject whenever his name came up.
A locked box in her grandmother's apartment.
And now Dominic's father had apparently known something about her family.
At 7:00 a.m., Mara called her mother.
“Mom, what was Dad's real name?”
Silence.
“Mara…”
“Please.”
Her mother started crying.
That frightened Mara more than any answer could have.
“Your father wasn't Bennett.”
“What?”
“He changed his name.”
“Why?”
“Because people were looking for him.”
“Who?”
“I don't know.”
“You do know.”
Her mother whispered:
“He worked for Dominic's father.”
Mara sat down.
“How?”
“He handled money.”
“What kind?”
“I never asked.”
“You knew.”
“I knew enough to be afraid.”
Mara closed her eyes.
For nine years, she had thought Dominic's family had chosen her because she was ordinary.
Maybe they had chosen her because she wasn't.
That afternoon, Mara met Dominic at his office.
She hadn't planned to.
But she needed answers.
He stood when she entered.
“You came.”
“I have questions.”
“You can ask me anything.”
“Who was my father?”
Dominic looked down.
“His name was Thomas Bennett.”
“I know that name.”
“He worked for my father.”
“As what?”
“Financial consultant.”
Mara laughed.
“You expect me to believe that?”
“No.”
He walked toward a locked cabinet.
He opened it.
Inside was an old file.
He handed it to her.
Thomas Bennett.
There were bank statements.
Contracts.
Photographs.
And one document dated twenty-two years earlier.
CONFIDENTIAL PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT.
Mara read it.
Her father's name appeared beside Dominic's father's.
They had created a company together.
Northstar.
But the company had one purpose.
Moving money between legitimate businesses.
Mara looked at Dominic.
“Why was my father involved?”
“Because he discovered money was being stolen.”
“By whom?”
Dominic hesitated.
“My father.”
She looked at him.
“You're saying your father stole from his own company?”
“Yes.”
“And my father found out?”
“Yes.”
“What happened?”
“My father threatened him.”
“Then what?”
“Your father disappeared.”
Mara stared at the file.
“My mother said he died.”
Dominic shook his head.
“He wasn't killed.”
“What?”
“He ran.”
“Where?”
“I don't know.”
“Then why did you marry me?”
Dominic looked at her.
“Because I loved you.”
She laughed bitterly.
“Was that the only reason?”
“Yes.”
“Then why did your father pay for my wedding?”
“Because he wanted me to marry you.”
Mara froze.
“What?”
“He knew your father had hidden something.”
“What?”
“We never found out.”
She looked at him.
“And Elena?”
“What about her?”
“Did you sleep with her because you were investigating?”
Dominic looked away.
“No.”
The honesty hurt.
“Then why?”
“Because I was angry.”
“At me?”
“At myself.”
He sat down.
“I knew you were unhappy.”
“You knew?”
“I saw you changing.”
“And you cheated.”
“Yes.”
“You could have talked to me.”
“I was afraid.”
Mara stared.
“Of me?”
“Of losing you.”
She shook her head.
“You lost me when you lied.”
Dominic accepted it.
Then his phone rang.
He answered.
His expression changed.
“What happened?”
He listened.
Then stood.
“Where?”
Mara watched him.
“Dominic?”
He ended the call.
“Elena is missing.”
Mara's heart dropped.
“When?”
“Two hours ago.”
“Who took her?”
“We don't know.”
He looked at Mara.
“But whoever did it left something for you.”
He handed her a photograph.
Elena.
Bound to a chair.
Alive.
On the back:
THE ACCOUNT CLOSES TONIGHT.
Mara stared.
Then another message appeared on Dominic's phone.
TRANSFER THE MONEY OR SHE DIES.
Dominic's jaw tightened.
Mara whispered:
“How much?”
“Twelve million.”
She looked at him.
“Do you have it?”
“Yes.”
“Then pay them.”
“No.”
She stared.
“You just said Elena could die.”
“If I pay, they'll come back.”
“Then what do you suggest?”
Dominic looked at her.
“For the first time in my life?”
He took a breath.
May you like
“I don't know.”
And Mara realized the man who had spent his entire life controlling other people's fear had finally discovered what panic felt like.
